Lurgrotte Peggau

Useful Information

Location:	Lurgrottenstrasse 1/2, 8120 Peggau. 25 km north of Graz. Near Peggau in the Steiermark (Styria) right beside the federal highway S35 between Bruck/Mur and Graz. (47.2162983, 15.3433740)
Open:	APR to OCT daily 10-16. Guided tours: Weekdays 11, 14, 15, weekends every hour on the hour, summer holidays every hour on the hour. Abenteuerführungen (adventure tours): DEC to MAR Sat, Sun 9:45, only with reservation. [2022]
Fee:	Adults EUR 12, Children (15-18) EUR 8.50, Children (0-14) EUR 8. Groups (20+): Adults EUR 10, Children (15-18) EUR 7.50, Children (0-14) EUR 7. Long tour: Adults EUR 17, Children (15-18) EUR 11.50, Children (0-14) EUR 11. Groups (20+): Adults EUR 15, Children (15-18) EUR 9.50, Children (0-14) EUR 9. Abenteuerführungen (adventure tours): Per Person EUR 80. [2022]
Classification:	Karst Cave river cave.
Light:	LED
Dimension:	L=10,833 m, VR=259 m, T=10 °C, A=420 m asl.
Guided tours:	Regular tour: L=2,000 m, D=1 h, Min=2. Long tour: L=4,000 m, St=450, D=2 h, Min=10. Abenteuerführungen (adventure tours): L=8,000 m, D=5-6 h, Min=6, Max=10. cave guides as pdf available in various languages on the website Übersetzungen
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:	Ralf Benischke (1994): Festschrift Lurgrotte 1894-1994, 332 pp 82 B&W & 14 colour photos 4 surveys. In 1894 this cave became world famous when 7 cavers were trapped underground for a week by a flash flood. This book tells the story of the rescue with excerpts and photos from old news papers, diaries etc. The history of exploration, geology and hydrology, flora and fauna etc are all covered in this detailed monograph. Trevor Shaw describes some early cave "Stamps" sold to raise funds for exploration work. Nicely produced on art paper SB
Address:	Lurgrottengesellschaft Peggau, Lurgrottenstrasse 1/2, 8120 Peggau, Cell: +43-68023-24281. E-mail:
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

1601	first picture of the cave entrance.
1822	first mentioned.
01-APR-1894	Max Brunello, an Italian speleologist, explored the Semriach entrance of the cave.
1894	seven cavers trapped underground for a week by a flash flood.
29-APR-1896	six cave explorers were trapped inside the cave by a flood.
1912	Lurgrottengesellschaft, a company to develop the cave, founded.
1913	drainage adit provided access from Peggau.
1924	the link between the Peggau an Semriach part was discovered.
1935	first through-trip through both parts, Peggau and Semriach, by J. Gangl and 15 other cavers.
1937	start of development of Peggau part.
1957	Peggau part opened to the public.
1962	cave through tour with a length of 5 km developed and opened to the public.
1963	a flood of the century destroyed the paths, which were soon repaired.
1975	once again, a flood damaged the paths, this time the paths were not restored.
2025	new LED light system installed.

Description

The Lurgrotte (Lur Cave, also Lurgrotte Cave) is said to be Austria’s largest and most beautiful stalactite cave. It is a through-cave and an active river cave. The water of the Lurbach (Lur Brook) enters the cave near Semriach at 640 m asl and leaves at a resurgence near Peggau at 400 m asl. The cave system in between is 6 km long, on both ends of the cave is a show cave. The show cave at Semriach is privately owned, the show cave at Peggau is maintained by a Grotto. The description on this page is for the Peggau show cave.

On this side originally only a spring was visible, the resurgence of the water which enters the cave at Semriach. In 1913 a drainage tunnel hit the cave behind the spring and thus made it accessible from Peggau. In 1924 the two cave systems were connected. Eleven years later, in 1935 the first through trip was made by the Steirischer Höhlenklub (Cave club of Styria), lead by J. Gangl. Explorers were now able to climb the cave from Peggau to Semriach.

The development of the cave as a show cave started at the end of World War II. At this time there was only one show cave, and it took almost 20 years to complete the trails through the cave. In the 1960s it was possible to cross the cave to the other end, a 5 km long tour, but the frequent floods destroyed parts of the trail. After some reconstructions the futility was finally realized, and since the mid-1970s there is no regular tour any more. A few decades ago through trips were still offered, most of the trip was on the trails and a few sections where the trail is destroyed, were easy canyoning. Unfortunately the current operators of the two show caves despise each other, so each one offers special tours into this passage, but not to the other show cave.

From this side, you can explore 2 km of the cave passage. There is a standard tour that covers 1 km with electric lighting. Since you have to return the same way, the total distance is 2 km. This tour is offered hourly and does not require advance booking. The long tour covers the entire 2 km, but there is no lighting in the second part, so visitors are provided with LED lamps. You are also allowed to bring your own lamps, so we recommend a powerful headlamp. The operators point out that torches and oil lamps are not allowed, as visitors seemed to think this would be a good idea. As always, only lamps that do not produce exhaust fumes or soot are permitted, so a modern LED lamp is the obvious choice. In addition, you should register for this tour at least two days in advance, and a minimum of ten participants is required. From December to March, there is also an adventure tour of the historical part, which is only partially developed and has no electric lighting. It is only offered in winter because heavy rain is not possible then and there is therefore no risk of flooding. The tour explores the cave to a depth of 4 km, resulting in a total length of 8 km. Caving equipment, including a caving overall and helmet, is provided. You should bring a change of clothes, a towel, a plastic bag for wet clothes, good hiking boots or rubber boots, knee pads and gloves. Photography is allowed, but we think a waterproof camera is a good idea.

The ticket to the cave also includes the visit of the Urgeschichtliches Museum Peggau (Museum of Prehistory Peggau). There is also an exhibition called Eiszeitliche Rentierjägerstation (Ice Age Hunter Station). Finds found during archaeological excavations at this site are exhibited here. A 7 m thick layer of sediment was deposited over a period of 160,000 years. The finds come from a 30,000-year-old layer containing quartz stone artefacts and a reindeer bone with clear signs of decomposition. It is therefore assumed that the cave entrance was used as a camp site by Ice Age reindeer hunters. And there is a Höhlenmuseum (Cave Museum) at the entrance. The cave is regularly used for rescue exercise by the Höhlenrettung (cave resue) of the VÖH, the Austrian caving society.