Nixhöhle

Nix Cave


Useful Information

Location: Rosenbühelrotte 21, 3213 Frankenfels.
A1 exit Ybbs, B25 south through Scheibbs, Neubrück. Turn left on B28 up and then B39 down the valley to Frankenfels. Parking 1 km from Frankenfels. 20 minutes walk from the parking lot uphill.
(47.974676, 15.308564)
Open: MAY Sun, Hol 11, 13, 14:30.
JUN Sat 14, Sun, Hol 11, 13, 14:30.
JUL to AUG Wed 11, 14, Fri, Sat 14, Sun, Hol 11, 13, 14:30, 16.
SEP Sat 14, Sun, Hol 11, 13, 14:30.
OCT Sun, Hol 11, 13, 14:30, 16.
[2023]
Fee: Adults EUR 7, Children EUR 5.
Groups (10+): Adults EUR 7, Children EUR 5.
[2023]
Classification: SpeleologyKarst Cave. Speleothemmoonmilk.
Light: LightIncandescent
Dimension: L=1,410 m, VR=70 m, T=6 °C.
Guided tours: D=60 min., St=1,090, VR=70 m.
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address: Nixhöhle Frankenfels, Rosenbühelrotte 21, 3213 Frankenfels, Tel: +43-2725-245-14.
Marktgemeinde Frankenfels, Markt 10, A-3213 Frankenfels, Tel: +43-2725-245, Fax: +43-2725-245-22. 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

1926 footpath built.
1962 electric lighting installed.
1972 new passage, called Bärengang (Bears' passage) opened.

Description

The name of the Nixhöhle tells about the most outstanding feature of this cave, although it is not easy to understand. The local dialect of German uses the word Nix to name a certain white, soft rock. And this rock is rather common in the cave, so it was named Nix cave. This nix is today known under a different name, in German Mondmilch, in English moonmilk.

The Nixhöhle lies at the hillside, above the valley and the village of Frankenfels. On the upper end of the village is a big car park and on the other side of the road a trail leads up the hill to the cave entrance. This path is a Waldlehrpfad (forest trail), which means there are numerous boards explaining the trees, plants and animals of the forest.

The cave is entered through a sort of entrance shaft. An iron staircase leads steeply down from the ticket office into a sloping corridor. This first part open and may be visited outside the open hours. And it is so romantic, it is definitely worth a visit. In winter this sack like cavity catches cold air and contains ice "dripstones". The lower part and the cave entrance are then covered by ice. That's the reason, why the open hours in spring and autumn depend on the weather.

The cave itself are three passages in different direction. First the tour visits a side passage with a huge hall at the end. At this place the cave has several leads. The next passage leads down to the deepest point of the tour. The last passage leads back upward towards the surface. This part has most of the speleothems.

This cave was visited by cave bears, during the exploration bones were found. Some of these bones are shown at the start of the tour, at the ticket office.

As already mentioned, the cave seems to be a bit wry. All passages have a slope of 30 to 45°, even the chambers are so. That's why the path goes up or down most of the time.

Although this cave is well developed and has electric light, the steps are hewn out of the rock and rather irregular sometimes. And there are many steps, 1,090 all together, and the tour includes a height difference of 70 m, which is a bit strenuous. Visitors should definitely wear good shoes and be fit enough for the height difference. Then this cave is an impressive adventure.