Closed Show Caves

Closed Show Mines


There are sites which are listed on showcaves.com and if they are closed for visits we mark the page and the links to the page. For sites which are already closed when we hear about them, we do not create a page. In most cases there is not enough literature available, but actually it does not make sense to list sites which are inaccessible. So we add the site on this list with a comment why they are closed, if available. The idea is, to provide some background for people finding outdated info on closed sites in guidebooks or on the web.


Name Location Coordinates Comment
Knappenlöcher Fieberbrunn OpenStreetMapOpenStreetMap A series of old mine tunnels, former copper mines, were renovated and opened to the public, but unfortunately the visits are discontinued. The site is listed on various lists including Wikipedia, but is not accessible any more. The coordinates are also wrong, they are in the middle of the road, close to the train station, but the tunnels are as far as we know on the hill above.
CaveKohlerhöhle Erlaufboden OpenStreetMapOpenStreetMap Opened in 1930 as a show cave, closed again during the Second World War. Until 2016, the owner of the Rußwurmalm showed his cave to interested visitors, but the alm is no longer operated and the cave is no longer open to the public.
CaveKolowrathhöhle Untersberg OpenStreetMapOpenStreetMap It is actually called the Gamslöcher-Kolowrath System and is located on the Untersberg. Developed as early as 1870 with financial support from Count Kolowrat-Liebsteinsky, the access route was only blasted into the rock 6 years later. A typical Austrian show cave, with a 2-hour climb and alpinistic challenges. Due to neglect, both the access path and the path inside the cave have been largely destroyed and can only be visited by cave explorers.
Wetterloch am Schafberg St. Wolgang am Wolgangsee OpenStreetMapOpenStreetMap Discovered in 1865, it was opened as a show cave in 1895 and closed again in 1906 due to lack of profitability.
Tropfsteinhöhle im Mönchsberg Salzburg OpenStreetMapOpenStreetMap In 1889, a very small cave was discovered on the west side of the Mönchsberg during work on a timber yard. The landowner Wiesbauer immediately had the entrance to the cave extended and a door installed in front of the entrance. Electric lighting was also installed, opening up the 8 m long crevice to the public. It was quite popular until the 1920s when it was closed and forgotten.
CaveBruneckerhöhle Salzburg OpenStreetMapOpenStreetMap This was never a show cave, but it was guided for some year by a certified cave guide (an Austrian specialty). However, after he stopped the tours its not possible to visit any more and the cave is gated.
MineSchaubergwerk Pertisau OpenStreetMapOpenStreetMap The rock oil mine in Pertisau was originally opened as a show mine. Stricter safety regulations made this impossible, but rock oil is still being extracted and the adjoining museum remains open.
Silbergrube Mitteldorf Virgen, Tirol OpenStreetMapOpenStreetMap The mining of copper, iron, silver and gold dates back to ancient times and reached its peak around 1600. The most significant ore deposit in Virg was located in Glaurat in the innermost Mullitztal valley.
Bad Ischler Salzberg Bad Ischl OpenStreetMapOpenStreetMap The Bad Ischl Salt Mine is a salt mine in the municipality of Bad Ischl. It was already a tourist attraction for visitors to the Bad Ischl spa in the 19th century. The exhibition mine in the Theresia Tunnel was closed in 2000 due to lack of profitability.
MineSchaubergwerk Arthurstollen Sankt Johann im Pongau OpenStreetMapOpenStreetMap
Stollenbahn im Imhofstollen Neuberg an der Mürz, zwischen dem Gasteiner Tal und Rauris OpenStreetMapOpenStreetMap The Imhofstollen was developed as a show mine around 1990, but was closed again in 1993. New safety requirements imposed by the ministry, low profitability and reservations on the part of the Rauris population led to its closure. A reopening is unlikely.
Carl-Borromäus-Unterbau Neuberg an der Mürz OpenStreetMapOpenStreetMap The exhibition mine has been closed since 1999, but the Montanarum mining museum and the mining history nature trail are still open.
MineSchaubergwerk Hofergraben Hopfgarten in Defereggen OpenStreetMapOpenStreetMap
Vötternstollen Rohrmoos-Untertal Mining was carried out in Rohrmoos from the early Middle Ages until the 19th century, primarily for silver, nickel and zinc.
Fallwindesstollen Kals, Osttirol This show mine is mentioned in some lists, but unfortunately no information about it can be found.
Knappengruben Blindis (Schaubergwerk Blindis) Knappengruben im Tögischtal, St. Jakob in Defereggen OpenStreetMapOpenStreetMap At an altitude of approximately 2,350 metres, there are mining ruins and spoil tips. The above-ground facilities are freely accessible.
Grafitbergwerk Kaisersberg Bergmannstraße 39, 8713 St. Stefan ob Leoben OpenStreetMapOpenStreetMap The mine is in operation and produces graphite. In the 20th century, it was probably shown to interested parties as a kind of show mine, but this is no longer possible following the tightening of legislation.
Erlebnis Bergbau Hinterschlagen Hinterschlagen 17, 4843 Hinterschlagen OpenStreetMapOpenStreetMap Coal mining ceased in 1991, and from 1995 onwards, tours were offered through the Rudolfstollen tunnel on the mine railway under the name Bergbau-Erlebniswelt Hinterschlagen (Hinterschlagen Mining Experience). The operator was unable to finance the stricter safety regulations, and so operations had to be discontinued around 2000. The facilities and mine railways have been falling into disrepair ever since.