Show cave operation of the Eisriesenwelt: then and now: a journey through time
Caves of all kinds have fascinated people for thousands of years. The Eisriesenwelt is considered the largest ice cave open to the public in the world. This is why the ice part of the 40-kilometre-long cave system is visited and explored by over 150,000 visitors every year. Here we take a look at the development of the show cave operation of the Eisriesenwelt: from its opening in 1920 to the year 2024.
Opening of the show cave: 400 visitors in 1920
ince the discovery of the Eisriesenwelt in 1879 by the Austrian explorer and speleologist Anton von Posselt-Czorich, the ice cave has been intensively explored and scientifically researched. However, less than 50 years after the discovery, tourist development was accelerated:
On 30 July 1920, the general assembly of the Salzburg Cave Association decided to open up the cave and approve the construction of the path. Friedrich Oedl was in charge of this.
In September of the same year, the general assembly of the German and Austrian Alpine Association met. This event provided the perfect opportunity to present the show cave to the members for the first time. On 26 September 1920, the Eisriesenwelt was opened to this select circle for the first time. Around 180 people were the first tourists to visit the Eisriesenwelt:
- Erwin Angermayer
- Friedrich Oedl
- Robert Oedl
By the end of 1920, the show cave had been visited by around 400 people.
What did the show cave look like back then?
Compared to today, visiting the cave was a tedious task: it takes at least 3 hours to get to the inside of the cave. It was only over the course of time that the show cave was further developed and equipped with appropriate facilities (especially safety measures). In 1920, the paths in the cave were only partially secured with wire ropes and temporary steps were hacked into the ice.
The development of the show cave operation in fast forward
In the following years, the Eisriesenwelt was further expanded for tourist visitors. The operators had all sorts of ideas to make the tour even more exciting and safer for tourists. From "weight-reducing balloons" to simplify the ascent to the construction of a cave railway.
Between 1920 and 1955, the number of visitors was naturally limited due to the difficult ascent. In addition, the financial resources were often only sufficient to pay the cave guides.
The "grand tour" until 1970
But even then, tourists were only allowed to enter if accompanied. At weekends, there were usually two to three guided tours per day. On the so-called "grand tour", visitors could explore the rear, ice-free areas of the cave. However, this tour lasted up to ten hours and has no longer been offered since 1970 for organisational and liability reasons.
Securing the paths in the cave
While a certain amount of alpine experience and the wearing of crampons was still necessary in the early years, the paths in the Eisriesenwelt were constantly being extended. As early as 1925, the paths were lined with planks.
From 1963 onwards, perforated profiled iron stanchions with inserted steel cables were used. As these rusted in just 20 years due to the high humidity, stainless NIROSTA railings are now used in the ice cave.
So that tourists can now visit the cave as comfortably and safely as possible, the width of the path has been increased to one metre. Efforts have also been made to equalise the differences in incline. Since 2023, the expansion of the entire tour route with this system has been completed.
Commissioning of the cable car in 1955: the breakthrough
Although a cable car was already being considered in the 1920s, this project was only realised in the 1950s. The decision was made to build a passenger cable car from the Wimmerhütte (500 metres above the Salzach Valley) to the immediate vicinity of the Schutzhaus. Over the course of time, the cable car also developed further:
- 8. August 1955: Opening of the cable car
- 9. Oktober 1961: Destruction by mountain pine fire
- Beginning of 1962: Reopening
- 1977/78: Technical upgrade of the cable car to 250 passengers per hour
- 2014/15: General renovation
Thanks to the passenger cable car and the roads built in parallel, significantly more people were able to reach the cave and take part in a guided tour. As a result, more and more visitors have come over the years, totalling more than 8 million to date.
Visitor numbers of the show cave in comparison:
Until the cable car was built, the number of visitors per year was around 10,000. With easier access, the number of visitors increased rapidly and reached its temporary peak in 1993 with over 190,000 visitors per year.
While there were initially one or two tours on weekdays and usually three tours at weekends, the number of tours per day increased to over 50 in 2024. At times, up to 3,000 people visit the show cave.
- 1971: Total number of visitors exceeds 1,000,000
- 2000: Total number of visitors exceeds 5,000,000
- 2020: Total number of visitors exceeds 8,000,000
Smaller groups for better guided tours
In the beginning, guided tour groups could consist of more than 70 visitors. Since 1991, the group size has been limited to a maximum of 50 and since 2004 to a maximum of 40 people. This ensures a better quality of the tour and a smooth process. During the coronavirus pandemic, groups were not allowed to be larger than 20 people at times.
In addition to the German-language "expeditions", the team at Eisriesenwelt now also offers guided tours in foreign languages. The guides / cave guides speak a variety of foreign languages on request and the information material is also available in all common languages.
Opening hours and non-operating time in winter
The snow situation simply makes it too dangerous for tourists to visit the show cave in winter. Winter is also needed to carry out maintenance and expansion work. For this reason, the Eisriesenwelt has generally been open to visitors from 1 May to 26 October since 1998.
In the 1920s, the cave was open from April to November.
Over 50 employees for your Eisriesenwelt experience
While the show cave is open during the summer months, over 50 employees work at the Eisriesenwelt. The permanent staff, who are also permanently employed outside opening hours, comprises around 15 employees. To ensure maximum safety, annual training and further training in the areas of first aid, cable car rescue, fire extinguishing, rescue measures and cave tour content are part of the compulsory programme.
The charm of nature for everyone to experience in the Eisriesenwelt
Much has changed since 1920. But what has remained the same is the fascination for the natural wonder of the Eisriesenwelt. The ascent to the entrance has become more comfortable and is now accessible to almost everyone. Visiting the inside of the cave is safer and more accessible than ever before. However, the object of the visit - the ice cave itself - is exclusively subject to natural change.