Discover the site
The Steigelfadbalm Cave is an important Ice Age site. Excavations in the early 20th century led to the discovery of a significant amount of 30'000 year-old fauna. The site has been neglected for some time, but in the course of the next few years it will be studied again by scientists from the Universities of Bern and Vienna (Austria) as well as by the Cantonal Archaeological Service of Luzern. The finds consists mainly of cave bear bones, but there are also remains from cave hyenas, ibex, and deer, as well as rare chipped stone tools which suggest that Neanderthals were once present here as well. This is the only cave of its kind in central Switzerland.
Practical information
The path to the site is challenging. The site can only be accessed by a mountain hiking trail. Therefore you need good shoes and appropriate clothing. Panels give you information on the site.
Access & Contact
To get to the cave, you may take the Vitznau-Rigi train to station Grubisbalm and follow the hiking trail in direction of Vitznau-Hinterbergen for ca. 1h30. You can also access the site directly from Vitznau Boat Station. It's also a walk of ca. 1h30.
Contact:
Kantonsarchäologie Luzern
Libellenrain 15
6002 Luzern
Tel 041 228 65 95
sekretariat.archaeologie@lu.ch
Links
www.rigi.com
www.rigi.ch
www.da.lu.ch