Geo Info Kapfenstein

On the tracks of the volcanoes

Lava flows and ash showers as well as "olivine bombs" tell of a dynamic development in the Styrian Volcanic Land. Files The exhibition in Kapfenstein provides insights into the landscape changes of a region with a lot of (earth) history.

On the tracks of the volcanoes

Lava flows and ash showers as well as "olivine bombs" tell of a dynamic development in the Styrian Volcanic Land. Fossils bear witness to a sea and its coasts, subtropical swamp forests and river landscapes. The exhibition in Kapfenstein provides insights into the landscape changes of a region with a lot of (earth) history.


Rocks from 16 million years

They tell of changes in periods of time that are difficult for us humans to imagine. Geology - a science that thinks in space and time - tries to make these changes comprehensible and to show the importance for us humans. Especially fossils - fossilized remains of prehistoric life - tell us about changes in living conditions, climate fluctuations and events that document a living history of the earth, sometimes dramatically, sometimes continuously.

Geo-Info Kapfenstein is a museum for the presentation of the geological development in and around Kapfenstein, as well as the Styrian Volcanic Land. Based on the regional geological collection of Prof. Dr. Arthur Winkler-Hermaden, Geo-Info Kapfenstein provides insight into the landscape changes of a dynamic region with a lot of (earth) history. For example, mineral bombs from the earth's mantle, so-called olivine bombs, can be marveled at. About 2 million years ago, these bombs came to the earth's surface with rising magma from a depth of about 60 km and were hurled through the air during explosive volcanic eruptions. Olivine, a light green mineral, is a trademark of the Kapfenstein volcano and gives its name to a red wine that thrives particularly well on the fertile soil.

Tip: Combine a visit to the Kapfenstein Geo-Info with a hike along the Geo-Trail (length 2.6km) with stations on the theme and a magnificent view of the volcanic land at Kapfenstein Castle.