Fertőrákosi Barlangszínház

Fertőrákosi Kőfejtő

Useful Information

Location:	Fertőrákos, 10 km from Sopron.
Open:	APR to OCT daily 8-19. NOV to MAR daily 10-16. [2010]
Fee:
Classification:	Limestone Mine Cave Church Room and Pillar Mining
Light:	Incandescent
Dimension:
Guided tours:
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:	Fertőrákosi Kőfejtő, Fő utca 1, 9421 Fertõrákos, Tel: +36-99-355026.
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

Roman times	beginning of quarrying in the area.
1628	quarry opened.
1944	transit/labour camp established in a quarry by the Germans.
1948	end of quarrying.
1970	first concert in the quarry.
2001	inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Description

The Fertőrákosi Kőfejtő (Fertorakos Quarry) is an ancient limestone quarry. The Leitha limestone is of Middle Miocene Badenian age, it was named after the Leithagebirge just across the border in Austria. The limestone was quarried since Roman times, and many buildings in the area and in Vienna were constructed using this rock. But the limestone was rather deep below a cover of other rocks and soil. So after a long time of open cast quarrying, the limestone was finally mined underground. The result were huge underground chambers, almost rectangular, with 12 m to 15 m high ceilings which are supported by huge pillars. The quarry was mined in the ancient room and pillar technique.

The quarrying ended in 1948, and for many years it was unused. Then the great accoustics of the place was discovered. The nearby city of Sopron has a music festival once a year, and since 1970 there are regular concerts in the quarry. The chamber which is used as a concert hall is called Fertőrákosi Barlangszínház (Fertörakos Cave Theatre). During summer, it is also used for theatre performances. The chamber is big enough to seat 743 persons.