Fürstenbrunner Quellhöhle

Useful Information

Location:	Kugelmühlweg 4, 5082 Grödig. A10/E55 exit 2 Salzburg South, towards Grödig, then Fürstenbrunn. At the end of the town, turn left towards the Untersberg Museum Grödig-Fürstenbrunn. Katasternummer 1339/10. (47.7383011, 12.9948339)
Open:	no restrictions. [2025]
Fee:	free. [2025]
Classification:	Karst spring
Light:	n/a
Dimension:	Ymin= 50 l/s. A=595 m asl, T=7 °C.
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Höhlenverein Salzburg, Schloß Hellbrunn, Objekt 9, 5020 Salzburg, Tel: +43-662-82-39-82. 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

16th century	First attempt to transport water to Salzburg using wooden water pipes fails.
1875	Spring catchment built.

Description

The Fürstenbrunner Quellhöhle (Fürstenbrunn Spring Cave) is located in Fürstenbrunn, a part of Grödig, at the foot of the Untersberg. This is the largest karst spring on the Untersberg and was equipped with a spring catchment as early as 1875. Since then, the water has been used to supply the nearby city of Salzburg. The water obviously flows from a water-filled cave, which is why the name “Quellhöhle” (spring cave) has become established. However, it is also referred to as the Fürstenbrunner Quelle(Fürstenbrunn Spring). It is sometimes enthusiastically referred to as the Fürstenbrunner Wasserschloss (Fürstenbrunn moated castle) because the structure almost resembles a castle, having been built in the historicist style. The cave is a river cave, meaning it has a river running through it, but it is filled with air. In other words, you don’t have to dive to explore it. The cave has been explored to a length of 2,200 m. It can only be explored with a special permit from the Salzburg drinking water supply authority. For obvious reasons, this permit is only granted rarely.

Around 2015, the Höhlenverein Salzburg (Salzburg Cave Association) offered guided tours of the Fürstenbrunn spring cave. Although this is no longer available, the program is certainly recommended for every visitor. Parking is available at the Untersberg Museum parking lot, from where a footpath leads along the stream, an easy hike of about 700 m to the spring. On the way, you can visit the historic ball mill and the cave entrances of Karlsohr and Grasslhöhle. We recommend visiting an abandoned marble quarry; just follow the path further. From here, you can return on the other side of the stream.