Wasserfall zum Toten Weib, Natural cascade in Neuberg an der Mürz, Austria

Wasserfall zum Toten Weib is a waterfall fed by a karst spring near Neuberg an der Mürz, in the Styrian Alps of Austria, where water emerges directly from a cavity in the limestone rock. The water then drops over the rock face and flows into the forested valley below.

The karst spring formed over thousands of years as rainwater slowly carved channels through the limestone beneath the ground. These underground channels eventually brought water to the surface at the point where the waterfall now stands.

The name's origin is uncertain: legends tell of a woman who fell from the rock wall and lay dead in the gorge below, but it more likely derives from the Celtic god Teutates, to whom springs were sacred as gateways to the otherworld. A memorial plaque for Empress Elisabeth, who broke through a rotten bridge plank here on 26 August 1883, was placed by her daughter Marie Valerie on 27 July 1884 and rediscovered in 2020.

The waterfall is reached by following marked trails from Neuberg an der Mürz through forested terrain. Sturdy footwear is a good idea since the path can be slippery and uneven, especially after rain.

The water emerges directly from a cave in the rock face before it falls, making the spring itself visible to anyone standing at the foot of the waterfall. This means you can see exactly where the water comes from, which is not the case with most waterfalls fed by surface streams.