Hermannshöhle

Hermann’s Cave

Useful Information

Location:	Ofenbach 56, 2880 Ofenbach. Near Kirchberg am Wechsel. (2871/7) (47.6171941, 15.9820947)
Open:	APR Sat, Sun 9-16:30. Holy Week daily 9-16:30. MAY to SEP daily 9-16:30. OCT Sa, So 9-16:30. Tours 9:30, 11, 13:30, 15, 16:30. [2025]
Fee:	Short tour: Adults EUR 12, Children (6-18) EUR 7, Children (0-5) frei, Students EUR 10. Groups (15+): Adults EUR 10, Children (6-18) 5, Students EUR 5. Long tour: Adults EUR 15, Children (6-18) EUR 10, Children (0-5) frei, Students EUR 13. Groups (15+): Adults EUR 13, Children (6-18) 8, Students EUR 8. [2025]
Classification:	Karst Cave Mesozoic limestone.
Light:	Incandescent
Dimension:	L=4,430 m, VR=73 m, T=7 °C, A=627 m asl.
Guided tours:	Short tour: D=45 min, L=270 m, Min=2. Long tour: D=75 min, L=350 m, V=43 m, Min=2, Max=6.
Photography:
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:	Prof. Dr. Friedrich Anton Kolenati (1857): Eine Excursion in die Herrmannshöhle bei Kirchberg am Wechsel in Steiermark, Wiener Entomologische Monatsschrift, pp 133-135. online
Address:	Hermannshöhle, A-2880 Kirchberg am Wechsel, Tel: +43-2641-2326. E-mail: Hermannshöhlen-Forschungs- und Erhaltungsverein, Rudolf Zeller-Gasse 50-52/3/1, A-1238 Wien, Tel: +43-1/8873555
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1790	a small boy fell into the shaft called Teufelsloch while hunting pigeons.
23-JUN-1836	first exploration by the writer J. A. Krickel.
1838	report of the first exploration published.
1843	exploration, buy and development by Hermann Steiger von Amstein.
1844	sold to Freiherr von Dietrich.
1844	opened to the public.
1845	first description of the cave now called Hermannshöhle.
28-JUN-1868	reopening.
1869	book Der kundige Begleiter in der Hermannshöhle by Dr. R. Hellbach published.
1871	new leaseholder R. Schlosser developed new parts of the cave.
1895	new leaseholder M. Donhauser, owner of the Restaurant Zur 1000jährigen Linde.
1922-1926	new parts found by cavers from Vienna.
03-JUN-1931	Hermannshöhle declared a Natural Monument.
1940	new parts, called Kyrlelabyrinth, found by two boys from Kirchberg.
1957	electric light installed.
1968	bought by the caving club Hermannshöhlen-Forschungs- und Erhaltungsverein.
1987	five-year temperature measurement by Heinrich Mrkos.
2025	five-year temperature measurement by BatLife Österreich.

Description

Flow stones called Spitzenvorhang (curtain of lace) from the book **Der kundige Begleiter in der Hermannshöhle** by **Dr. R. Hellbach** (1869).

The Hermannshöhle has two natural entrances, one called Teufelsloch (Devils Hole) high on the Eulenberg and a second one on the east slope called Windloch (Wind Hole). 1790 a small boy fell into the shaft called Teufelsloch while hunting pigeons. After his rescue the Teufelsloch was also called Taubenloch (Pigeon Hole). The first exploration of the Teufelsloch by the writer J. A. Krickel took place in 1836. It was published two years later. He explains that he descended 66 Klafter (ca.125 m) into the shaft. On the second exploration 1843 Hermann Steiger von Amstein, the custodian of castle Feistritz, found the link to the Windloch. He was very impressed by the cave, so he bought the whole area and the right to develop the cave. He started developing the cave immediately, but he didn't have enough money to complete it. 1844 he had to sell the cave to his employer, the owner of Burg Feistritz, Freiherr von Dietrich. But the name Hermannshöhle after Hermann Steiger survived.

The Eulenberg or Eigenberg (740 m asl) lies nortwest of Markt Kirchberg am Wechsel. On top of granites and slate lies a 1 x 2 km large area of slightly metamorphic Mesozoic limestones. Das Gebiet ist sehr stark verkarstet und es gibt eine Vielzahl von Höhlen. Die Hermannshöhle ist die einzige Schauhöhle.

Hermannshöhle is the most important bat hibernation site in Lower Austria. It offers optimal conditions for the hibernation of many different bat species. Of course, the main factor is the cave temperature, and this is likely to increase over the next few decades due to global warming. BatLife Austria, in cooperation with the Central Institute for Meteorology and Geodynamics (ZAMG), has started a five-year temperature measurement programme in Hermannshöhle. Heinrich Mrkos had already carried out such a programme in 1987. The aim is, of course, to compare the two measurements and thereby quantify the warming that has already taken place. Counts of hibernating bats have been carried out since 1945 and were standardised in 1985 to make the figures comparable. Counting dates, counting routes and methodology were defined for this purpose. In 2015, however, all four openings were fitted with so-called bat light barriers. This means that the number of bats flying in and out can be accurately recorded. And finally, since 2016, the bats have been recorded on cameras when they fly through the light barriers, allowing species identification.

There are two different tours in the cave. The short tour lasts 45 minutes, the long one 75 minutes. The extended tour includes the Kyrle-Labyrinth, which is richly decorated with sinter formations. However, it is only offered under special circumstances, availability of guides and a maximum group size of 6 are the most important.