Odelsteinhöhle

Useful Information

Location:	Near Johnsbach, at the Gesäuse. Start at the Köblwirt, 45 min walk to the cave. (47.5240843, 14.6113335)
Open:	MAY to OCT Wed, Sat 9, reservation mandatory. [2025]
Fee:	Adults EUR 12. [2025]
Classification:	Karst Cave
Light:	no light, headlights and helmets provided.
Dimension:	A=1,085 m ü.A.
Guided tours:	D=4 h, Min=7.
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:	Dagmar Maria Wolf (2006): Die Odelsteinhöhle - Höhlenkundliche Charakteristik und die Bedeutung der Schauhöhle in regionalen Projekten Speldok17, Wien 2006. Volker Weißensteiner (2006): Die Forschungs- und Erschließungsgeschichte der Odelsteinhöhle (1722/1) bei Johnsbach, Stmk. In: Die Höhle – Zeitschrift für Karst- und Höhlenkunde. Jahrgang 57, 2006, S. 117–124. pdf Josef Hasitschka (2003): Die Odelsteinhöhle im Johnsbach einst & jetzt Eigenverlag Kölblwirt, 2003. online Günter STUMMER (2005): Karst- und höhlenkundliche Streiflichter aus der Region Nationalpark Gesäuse, Naturpark Eisenwurzen und westlicher Hochschwab, Speldok14, Karst- und höhlenkundliche Abteilung des Naturhistorischen Museums in Wien, Wien - Weng, September 2005. pdf
Address:	Gasthof Kölbwirt, Fam. Berghofer-Wolf, A-8912 Johnsbach, Tel: +43-3611-216. 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

1909	at the suggestion of Hans Kottnigg and Dr. Josef Draxler explored by members of the Speleological Society, 600 metres of the cave surveyed.
14-AUG-1910	opened to the public by the owner, the landlord of the Köblwirt Franz Berghofer.
1931	declared a natural monument.
2002	reopening by the current Köblwirt.

Description

The Odelsteinhöhle was opened for the public only a few years ago, although it is a very old show cave. The first time it was developed and opened was in 1910, but after some decades as a show cave it was closed. Unfortunately in this time several break-ins by mineral collectors happened, with bad destructions to the most famous feature of the cave: this is the only show cave in Austria with an iron based speleothem locally called Eisenblüte. This mineral is typically blue or white.

The cave was now closed by a stable door, to prevent further destruction, and it is again open to the public. But access is only possible in small groups and with a cave guide. The cave has no paths and no light, but it is easy to visit. Visitors should wear appropriate clothes and good walking shoes. Helmets with headlamps are provided.

The tour takes about four hours, which includes the 45-min walk to the cave. The first part is at last head high and very easy to visit. Then a very low passage, only one metre high, makes it necessary to crawl a bit. The last part of the cave includes a descent, which is possible with a modern aluminium ladder.

The cave has been known for a long time, partly because of its extraordinary speleothems. Mining has been carried out in the area since the Middle Bronze Age due to the presence of ore. Archaeologists have found numerous tunnels and smelting sites. Originally, copper was mined, then iron from the 12th century onwards, and later mercury. However, mining was finally discontinued in 1834.

Exploration began in 1909 at the suggestion of Hans Kottnigg, headmaster from Johnsbach, and Dr Josef Draxler from Vienna. Members of the Speleological Society explored the cave. The first map was drawn up by caving pioneer Rudolf Freiherr von Saar and indicates a length of 600 metres. He had surveyed the cave with brothers Dr. Rudolf and Otto Polland from Graz. Engineer Hermann Bock, engineer Julius Pollak, Georg Lahner and Leopold Potisek were able to reach a continuation in the High Cathedral using ladders and discovered the treasure chamber. Both the original suggestion and the various research expeditions were reported in newspapers, which dramatically increased the cave's popularity. In the same year, the Odelstein Cave was converted into a show cave by its owner, the Kölblwirt Franz Berghofer. He probably wanted to capitalise on its popularity, and on the very first day he had 100 visitors. This show cave was closed in the late 1930s, presumably as a result of the Second World War. However, it was not reopened after the war.

The special feature of this cave is definitely its mineralogy. Iron flowers and aragonite crystals coloured by dissolved metals, i.e. iron, nickel, cobalt and copper compounds. Prof. Sigmund, curator of the Mineralogical Department at the Joanneum in Graz, carried out the first identification of the minerals in 1909. Dr. Felix Ronner, Graz University of Technology, examined a mineral sample in 1962 and identified the blue mineral as zeiringite.