Gassel-Tropfsteinhöhle (cave) in Ebensee

The Gassel-Tropfsteinhöhle is located inside the Gasselkogel, a mountain near Ebensee.

From Rindbach near Ebensee walk along the Forststrasse through the Rindbach valley as far as the mouth of the Karberalpe, to the Grassltropfsteinhöhle hut (1,200m asl), on the east slope of the Gasslkogl. Access from Ebensee, 2-2.5 hours, mostly through forests.

A cave visit takes a whole day, as it is necessary to walk to the cave. From the village Rindbach the ascend along the Rindbach valley takes about two hours. The tour is picturesque and includes a visit of the Rindbach waterfall. A hut called Gasselhütte, right at the cave, is a nice place for a meal and a beautiful view. And it is necessary to rest after nearly 800m ascend.

This cave is famous for its speleothems. Beneath normal stalactites and stalagmites, there are cave coral, helictites and rare cave pearls. Thousands of cave pearls in the Dome of Pearls have a diameter of 3 to 10mm. There are also seven very big pearls, with the biggest one having a diameter 0f 38mm. This is one of the biggest cave pearls ever found in Austria. Unfortunately for the visitor, fortunately for the speleothems: the most extraordinary speleothems are in the so called new part which is not open to the public.

In the entrance region many bones were found, including the complete skeleton of a cave bear (Ursus spelaeus).

The cave consists of a series of halls and clefts which are unusually rich with speleothems. From the Entrance Hall one descends to the Bone Shaft and from there via the High Cleft to the so-called Pulpit Hall which offers an impressive view down into the abyss of the Pergar Hall and the Leopold Dome, a lower level of the cave which is not accessible.

Refreshments and accommodation are available at the hut when the cave is open.