Show cave
A show cave is a cave that is used for tourism. The term goes back to the development of cave tourism in the 19th century, especially in the Danube Monarchy . This term was therefore primarily defined by Austrian karst researchers, for example Hubert Trimmel .
Concept of the show cave
One can speak of a show cave if the cave essentially has the following properties:
- Path network : Caves are usually very difficult to enter. It is therefore necessary to create paths out of wood , metal and concrete with considerable effort . Very few caves have a level floor, so that artificial paths over certain stretches can be dispensed with. You can almost never do without artificial changes entirely.
- Guided tours : Traditionally, a guided tour , i.e. a visit with a guide who teaches and supervises, is an important sign.
- Entrance fee : The operator wants to earn money with the cave. At least he has to earn as much money as is needed for the maintenance of the cave, the renewal of the paths, the lighting and the power supply.
- Closure : An important protective aspect is the closure of show caves by the operator. So the cave can no longer be visited freely, but only as part of the guided tours. This prevents vandalism and ensures that no one is harmed. However, research is also made more difficult.
- Opening times : Regular opening times, i.e. predetermined, regularly recurring times at which the cave can be visited.
- Light : A cave is dark. In order to be able to use it for tourism, it must be illuminated. Nowadays it is usually electric light, so that one can speak of a show cave with electric lighting. Basically there are also alternatives. Hand lamps can be issued to visitors. Usually these are electric flashlights , carbide lamps or, in exceptional cases, helmet lamps . Torches were also used until the 20th century. This can be recognized by black deposits in old show caves. In some caves, the use of unsuitable fluorescent tubes with UV light leads to the formation of undesirable lamp flora in the form of algae and moss growth .
In Germany , Austria and Switzerland , show caves are mostly run by associations. Often these are cave clubs founded specifically for this purpose , sometimes also the hiking club (Albverein), alpine clubs , nature lovers or other nature-loving associations. Then the entrance fees are mostly only used to maintain the cave and a lot of the work is done by volunteers.
Protection thoughts
The conceptual distinction is made between the natural cave , access to which is reserved for scientific research - cave exploration ( speleology in the narrower sense) and biotope research ( flora , fauna and habitats ) as well as archeology / anthropology , in terms of sites .
natural reserve
In general, caves are under strict nature protection in most countries .
The concept of the show cave can be compared to that of a nature park : parts of the cave are released for tourist use, in addition to the mundane purpose of financing further cave exploration, in order to bring the nature conservation aspects and the value of a cave closer to the visitors as well as to spread environmental awareness - what represents an implementation of modern protection concepts, the economic viability and anchoring in the consciousness of the local population (through local added value as well as pride in natural beauties) and also the tourist guests in the sense of a well-known tourist profile of a region (as an area with attractive natural offerings) as an important pillar of nature conservation deems.
The show cave can be compared to the concept of the core and buffer zone of a national park or the concept of a strict nature reserve : The entrance areas are accessible, the deeper parts are available for research and the undisturbed biotope. UNESCO also followed these ideas with the declaration of the Škocjan Caves - which have been visited by tourists for over 100 years and have even been opened from the "wrong" end through an artificially created tunnel and opened up for inspection along the entire length of a branch since 1933 - to the world natural heritage .
archeology
The Chauvet cave has been protected since its discovery in 1994 in front of visitors and even archaeologists and only one group only by the hour granted access of about 20 scientists, so that for about 20,000 years, almost unchanged surfaces and paintings preserved a unique condition.
Similar regulations were also introduced in the Lascaux and Altamira caves in the late 1960s and late 1970s, but only after the destruction caused by the streams of visitors had become obvious.
Economic recovery
In some countries show caves are often privately owned. They can be sold and operated economically. In addition to a higher level of admission prices, this is often associated with advertising . Colorful lighting, fairytale scenes for children and multimedia shows also belong to this group of topics. In these countries there is usually no literal equivalent of the term show cave , one speaks of Commercial Caves (commercial caves) or Tourist Caves (tourist caves).
Events are held in some caves, such as St. Michael's Cave in Gibraltar , which has an auditorium for performances. It has around one million visitors a year.
See also
- List of show caves in Germany
- List of show caves in Austria
- List of show caves in Poland
- Seegrotte Hinterbrühl (former gypsum mine in Austria)
Web links
Single receipts
- ↑ Duquesa - St. Michael's Cave ( Memento of the original from July 11, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. .
