The Spannagel Cave, the highest show cave in Europe, is located in the area of the Hintertux Glacier.
Image gallery: Spannagel Cave
In the rear Tuxertal, a side valley of the Zillertal valley, lies the Spannagel Cave: 13 km of it have been explored. The show cave section in the entrance area of the cave, a 500 m long tour, has been open to the public since 1994. The cave lies in a marble vein (crystalline limestone), a geological peculiarity of the Alps: This marble layer replaces the primary rock and extends from Hintertux to the Spannagel Mountain Hut. Both simple guided tours and longer tours are available: On the treks you explore parts of the cave that otherwise only speleologists get to see.
From Hintertux, the Glacier Cable Cars 1 and 2 take you up to the Tuxer Fernhaus Mountain Hut, which lies at 2,660 m a.s.l. A 10-minute walk away is the Spannagel Mountain Hut, where you can get the equipment for a descent into the cave. Winter-proof clothing and shoes are required.
The cave was discovered in 1919 by Alois Hotter, at that time innkeeper of the Spannagel Mountain Hut. It was named after Dr. Rudolf Spannagel, president of the Austrian Tourist Club from 1902-1904. Already in 1964, this cave system was placed under monument protection.
Contact info
- Spannagel Mountain Hut (2,531 m a.s.l.) - 6293 - Tux
- +43 5287 87251
- info@spannagelhoehle.at
Opening times
Despite careful control we cannot guarantee the correctness of the provided data.
Admission
tour 1 - show cave tour (approx. 1 hour):
€ 18.00 adults
€ 18.00 young people (16-18 years)
€ 10.00 children (6-15 years, min. 1.20 m)
discount with the guest card
tour 2 - easy trekking without climbing (approx. 2 hours):
€ 50.00 per person (from 14 years on)
tour 3 - sportive trekking tour (approx. 3 hours):
€ 75.00 per person (from 16 years on)
tour 2 and 3 all year round only on request
ascent and descent by Glacier Cable Car 1 and 2:
€ 28.50 adults
€ 28.50 young people (16-18 years)
€ 18.00 children and young people (10-15 years)
free for children under 10 years
More information
Surefootedness and to not suffer from claustrophobia are necessary for all tours.
From the 1st of June, 2022, daily show cave tours without reservation:
June 1 - July 9 at 11 am, noon time, 1 pm and 2 pm
July 10 - Sept 9 at 10 am, 11 am, noon time, 1 pm, 2 pm and 3 pm
Sept 10 - Oct 14 at 11 am, noon time, 1 pm and 2 pm
The Spannagel Cave stays open all year round, in winter and spring (October 15 to May 31) daily guided cave tours on request, reservation till the day before at 3 pm.
