A cave to rave about
It begins with a train journey. On a seemingly toy-town type of train: a chugging yellow one, with lots of carriages. The passengers fit snugly inside, each one wrapped in a towelling robe. It’s a strange feeling sitting knee to knee with a stranger as the train sets off, deep into a mountain. For while this journey is not termed a joyride, it can and does in its own way, bring joy – and relief – to many.
This is the train into the Radhausberg Mountains. It burrows its way deep into the heart of the mountain into caves that were originally revered for their streams of gold. Now the mountains are near bereft of gold, but these caves are offering up treasure of another kind.
For low-dosage radioactive radon gas that has been found is believed by scientists and doctors to have a therapeutic effect on respiratory and skin diseases, as well as on muscular dysfunctions such as rheumatism and arthritis. This is why almost 80,000 visitors a year take the train into caves where the temperature rises to over 105F/41C to find relief from pain.
While the experience does not claim to cure, it has been proven that radon reduces pain quite dramatically, thereby cutting down dependence on medication, which is why it is also recommended by many European health-insurance companies. Most sufferers claim the pain relief can last from 10 to 12 months, which is why so many return as often as they can.
All new visitors must first undergo a medical examination to decide what regime is best for them. There are four different heat chambers and you work your way through to the hottest and most humid over your visit. While a three-week course is recommended, with some 10 sessions in the caves, interspersed with baths in the natural radon waters, you can also experience the effects in a week or 10 days.
The caves may sound rather daunting, but they are not. You are issued with a dressing gown (you rent them) and a locker for each visit. You travel by train in your bathing suit under the robe, and at the first stop you are advised to take off the robe to cope with the heat and humidity as you travel deeper into the mountains. At your allotted stop, you have a clean sheet, which you take to the designated area (men and women are separated), find a day bed and lie down. There’s no need to panic as there are doctors and nurses at each stop. In 40 minutes, it’s all over.
The best way to enjoy a stay here is to base yourself at one of the many spa hotels in the Gastein Valley – one of the prettiest areas in Austria. I recommend the Grand Park Hotel in Bad Hofgastein, which has a spa with treatment rooms, whirlpools and swimming pool, all fed by the valley’s thermal waters, plus a staff of trainers, therapists and doctors. It is here, too, that you can have your medical consultation for the Healing Caves with Dr Liane Weber, who works at the caves but also consults at the hotel and is available for acupuncture and tuina massage.
The Grand Park also offers a healthy lifestyle menu at mealtimes, and will organise transport to and from the caves (15 minutes away) each day. If you stay for a week, you can have three/four cave treatments, depending on what Dr Weber advises. And while it may sound daunting, your time in the caves is actually very relaxing.
There are great walks and hikes in summer, skiing in winter and it’s only an hour from Salzburg, so you can always go sightseeing. If you can bear to leave the caves, that is.
A seven-night programme costs from €1,536, excluding flights. BA flies daily to Salzburg: www.ba.com and Gastein is an hour’s drive away. The Grand Park Hotel: + 43 6432-63560, www.grandparkhotel.at
This is the train into the Radhausberg Mountains. It burrows its way deep into the heart of the mountain into caves that were originally revered for their streams of gold. Now the mountains are near bereft of gold, but these caves are offering up treasure of another kind.
For low-dosage radioactive radon gas that has been found is believed by scientists and doctors to have a therapeutic effect on respiratory and skin diseases, as well as on muscular dysfunctions such as rheumatism and arthritis. This is why almost 80,000 visitors a year take the train into caves where the temperature rises to over 105F/41C to find relief from pain.
While the experience does not claim to cure, it has been proven that radon reduces pain quite dramatically, thereby cutting down dependence on medication, which is why it is also recommended by many European health-insurance companies. Most sufferers claim the pain relief can last from 10 to 12 months, which is why so many return as often as they can.
All new visitors must first undergo a medical examination to decide what regime is best for them. There are four different heat chambers and you work your way through to the hottest and most humid over your visit. While a three-week course is recommended, with some 10 sessions in the caves, interspersed with baths in the natural radon waters, you can also experience the effects in a week or 10 days.
The caves may sound rather daunting, but they are not. You are issued with a dressing gown (you rent them) and a locker for each visit. You travel by train in your bathing suit under the robe, and at the first stop you are advised to take off the robe to cope with the heat and humidity as you travel deeper into the mountains. At your allotted stop, you have a clean sheet, which you take to the designated area (men and women are separated), find a day bed and lie down. There’s no need to panic as there are doctors and nurses at each stop. In 40 minutes, it’s all over.
The best way to enjoy a stay here is to base yourself at one of the many spa hotels in the Gastein Valley – one of the prettiest areas in Austria. I recommend the Grand Park Hotel in Bad Hofgastein, which has a spa with treatment rooms, whirlpools and swimming pool, all fed by the valley’s thermal waters, plus a staff of trainers, therapists and doctors. It is here, too, that you can have your medical consultation for the Healing Caves with Dr Liane Weber, who works at the caves but also consults at the hotel and is available for acupuncture and tuina massage.
The Grand Park also offers a healthy lifestyle menu at mealtimes, and will organise transport to and from the caves (15 minutes away) each day. If you stay for a week, you can have three/four cave treatments, depending on what Dr Weber advises. And while it may sound daunting, your time in the caves is actually very relaxing.
There are great walks and hikes in summer, skiing in winter and it’s only an hour from Salzburg, so you can always go sightseeing. If you can bear to leave the caves, that is.
A seven-night programme costs from €1,536, excluding flights. BA flies daily to Salzburg: www.ba.com and Gastein is an hour’s drive away. The Grand Park Hotel: + 43 6432-63560, www.grandparkhotel.at