In the hidden depths of the Glatt valley, under the watchful eye of the Helfenberg ruins, lies the mysterious saltpeter cave. A place whose name once conjures up the crackling of burning saltpeter in the winds of days gone by.
Until the dawn of the new millennium, the Saltpeter Cave was a magnet for adventurers and dreamers who sought stories of times past in its shadows. But in May 1998, the earth shook and the cave's ceilings fell in a silent dance of decay. Since that day, an invisible band has forbidden access, for fear of the deadly grip of the falling rocks.
Nevertheless, the Glatt valley still holds its secrets and treasures. Hiking trails meander like silver ribbons through the surrounding splendor of nature, and in the sheltered vicinity of the forbidden cave, a spacious fireplace blazes, welcoming hikers and those resting with its warm glow.
Some also call it Columban's Cave or Saint Columban's Cave, in reference to the Irish saint. But the truth is lost in the mists of time, and it remains unclear whether another, smaller cave further down the Glatt bears its name.
Access
The cave is closed.
