Lurgrotte Cave

The Lurgrotte karst cave, located in Styria, Austria, is the largest cave in the Eastern Alps. The location of the area is approximately 16 km (9.9 mi) north of Graz, and it spans across the Tannenben karst region. The cave can be accessed through two entrances, one located in the village of Semriach and the other in the village of Peggau.The Lur River enters the cave at the entrance of Semriach. The Schmelz River emerges from a cave at the Peggau entrance and flows westward, eventually joining the Mur River.

Tourism

It is no longer possible to cross through the caves from one side to another since the flooding in 1975. Alternatively, visitors have the option to explore a condensed section at both ends of the cave. Regular guided tours from Peggau allow visitors to explore the cave up to a distance of 1 km (0.62 mi). However, during the winter season, longer tours of up to 4 km (2.5 mi) can be arranged by appointment.

Tourists from Semriach can explore around 2 km (1.2 mi) of the cave, which includes the impressive Big Dome or Bear Grotto. This name is derived from the discovery of cave bear bones in this area. With dimensions of 120 m (390 ft) in length, 80 m (260 ft) in width, and 40 m (130 ft) in height, this underground room stands as one of the largest in Central Europe.

Hydrology

The Lurgrotte is a multi-level cave system that serves as a drainage system for the expansive Tanneben karst area. The cave’s hydrology is poorly understood due to its complexity and the challenges associated with exploring its numerous underground channels.

The Lur River enters at the Semriach entry, while the Schmelz River exits from the Peggau side. During periods of heavy rainfall, the Lur system can experience an overflow of excess water into the Schmelz system. This confirms the existence of a high-water connection between the two systems. However, the specific location and extent of this connection are currently unknown.

Dye tracing experiments have revealed that the water from the Lur cave emerges in springs located to the south, whereas the flow of the Schmelz cave seems to originate from sources located to the north of the Lurgrotte cave.

History

Archaeologists have discovered evidence of human habitation dating back to the Paleolithic era in and around the cave. One specimen, specifically a reindeer bone with tool markings, has undergone radiocarbon dating and has been determined to be approximately 52,000 years old.

On April 1, 1894, the cave was initially scientifically explored by Max Brunello, an Italian cave explorer. Although the upper sections of the cave were already familiar to the locals, Brunello was the first person to uncover the lower portion of the cave.The subsequent attempt to explore further resulted in a disastrous outcome.

On April 29, 1894, seven cavers bravely ventured into the Lurgrotte cave, undeterred by the heavy rainfall. They were trapped for ten days after a flash flood occurred while they were inside.Emperor Franz Joseph I gave his approval for a rescue operation that involved a significant number of workers, miners, and divers. Their task was to remove the water and successfully rescue the cavers who were trapped.

In February 1905, a group of members from the Austrian Tourist Club conducted a survey of 1,002 meters (3,287 feet) of passages within the Lurgrotte.

During the 1920s, Hermann Mayer collaborated with his father to enhance the Peggauer section of the Lurgrotte cave for the purpose of accommodating visitors.Furthermore, they attempted to establish a connection between the Peggauer entry and the Semriach entry.Explosives were used to clear the route on November 26, 1924. However, it took until 1935 for the first crossing to become possible.

Leopoldine Fuhrich, a trailblazing female cave explorer, tragically lost her life on May 23, 1926. She fell approximately 20 meters (66 feet) while exploring Lurgrotte.Inside the cave, there remains a memorial plaque dedicated to her.

On February 24, 1927, the city of Frohnleiten organized an auction for the grotto. The auction included a restaurant, two mansions, and 35,359 m2 (380,600 sq ft) of land. The purpose of the auction was to ensure the preservation of the Lurgrotte as a local business. The Lurgrotte was auctioned by the District Court of Frohnleiten on July 8, 1927. The successful bidder was Pezzi, a wine-trader. Pezzi had a plan to transform the Lurgrotte into a captivating show cave, complete with a railway running through its depths.

The first successful complete crossing of a cave that was approximately 5 km (3.1 mi) long took place in 1935. Over the years, the Lurgrotte underwent development to transform it into a show cave. Infrastructure, including bridges, walkways, and lights, was added to enhance the experience for visitors.Visitors were able to explore the entire cave starting from 1962. However, in 1975, a powerful storm caused significant damage to parts of the infrastructure, preventing further access.Due to the annual occurrence of flooding, the entire infrastructure has never been fully repaired.