Kapfenberg: City History, Castle and Cave

Kapfenberg can be explored from different perspectives: the city’s cultural history, the natural formations of Rettenwand Cave and Oberkapfenberg Castle. A walk through the old town also leads to historical themes. When planning your stay, it helps to distinguish between these highlights: the museum, cave and castle each present different aspects, while the old town’s information boards highlight historical features.

City History at the Museum

The Kapfenberg City Museum covers the city’s cultural and historical development across an exhibition area of around 350 m². Its exhibits span a period from Neolithic finds from Rettenwand Cave to the history of the Böhler stainless steel plant. The museum therefore presents both early archaeological finds and the history of industry in Kapfenberg.

The tour of Kapfenberg Museum begins with prehistory and early history, continues through the Middle Ages and the modern era, and also includes a museum kitchen from the 1920s. The sequence provides a chronological framework for the museum visit, with different periods of the city’s history following one another. The museum’s origins also lead back to Rettenwand Cave: Kapfenberg Museum originated as the Cave Museum, founded in the 1920s to display archaeological finds from the cave.

Rettenwand Cave: Stalactite Formations and Guided Tours

Rettenwand Cave in Kapfenberg is an electrically lit stalactite cave. Along the developed visitor path, you can see stalactites, stalagmites and columns of stalactites. Tours are led by a trained cave guide. This visit differs from a walk through exhibition rooms: the focus is on the formations inside the cave and viewing them along the visitor path.

The walk from the car park by the PEWAG plant on the B 20 to Rettenwand Cave takes about 20 minutes. Allow for this approximate time when planning your visit. As trail conditions may change, check them before you go.

Oberkapfenberg Castle: Exhibitions and Events

Oberkapfenberg Castle is a day-trip destination high above Kapfenberg. It houses a castle falconry, as well as exhibition and event spaces. Castle tours and medieval games are offered to visitors. If you would like to include a tour or medieval game in your travel plans, check the dates in advance.

The multimedia exhibition “Grenzgänge” offers a distinct perspective on the castle. It tells the story of the castle and takes visitors on a virtual journey through time to the Crusaders and alchemists. The exhibition thus combines historical content with a multimedia format. Castle tours, medieval games and “Grenzgänge” each offer a different focus; you can decide which ones to prioritize during your stay based on your interest in history, events or the castle falconry.

Historical Features of the Old Town

The walk through Kapfenberg’s old town features 25 information boards about the city’s historical features. Unlike the museum tour, which is arranged chronologically, the old town walk explores the city’s history through boards along the route. This offers another way to discover Kapfenberg’s history when planning a trip, without limiting your visit to a single museum or exhibition.

The attractions present their stories in different ways: the museum tour takes you through different eras, 25 boards provide historical context in the old town, and the focus at Rettenwand Cave is on its stalactite formations. Oberkapfenberg Castle adds the history of the castle, falconry and events. These differences can help you choose a focus for your stay and plan visits to suit your interests.

Discover more destinations: Untertal, Turnau, Sankt Ilgen, Bruck An Der Mur, Sankt Lorenzen im Mürztal, Pernegg an der Mur, Sankt Jakob-Breitenau, Oberaich.

Back to the regional travel overview: Bruck An Der Mur.