Kobelwald Kristallhöhle, Show cave in Oberriet, Switzerland

The Kobelwald Kristallhöhle is a show cave in the municipality of Oberriet in the St. Gallen Rhine Valley, at the foot of the Alpstein area. Its front section is developed as a show cave, while the rear section is reserved for cave researchers. A larger entrance area was built in the second half of the 20th century.

A hunter discovered the cave in 1682, and scholar Johann Jakob Scheuchzer first documented its calcite crystals in 1702 in a scientific work. This early mention in academic literature made the site noteworthy for understanding Swiss geology.

The cave's name, Kristallhöhle, refers to the calcite crystals that gave it fame after Johann Jakob Scheuchzer described them in 1702. Since the later 20th century a larger entrance area has been built for visitors, while the rear section stays closed to the public and reserved for cave researchers.

The cave is open to visitors from Easter through late October on Sundays and holidays, offering guided tours through the interior. The site is accessible on foot via good pathways, and the passages are walkable for people of average fitness.

The cave holds one of Switzerland's largest deposits of calcite crystals, with specimens formed through an uncommon combination of water pressure and mineral chemistry. Visitors can view these enormous, sparkling crystals up close, making them a rare sight.