List of show caves in Germany

Show caves in Germany

The list of show caves in Germany contains all 51 show caves in Germany which are hosted by the German Speleological Federation. (German: Verband der Deutschen Höhlen- and Karstforscher)

Background

As of 2008, there have been 51 show caves in Germany, which are hosted by the German Speleological Federation (German: Verband der Deutschen Höhlen- and Karstforscher).[1] A show cave is defined as a natural, underground cavity, which has been equipped for visitors, is accessible on foot using walkways and steps and is fitted with lighting. Show caves have regular opening times, usually with regular guided tours of about 30 to 45 minutes duration and are almost all electrically lighted. Only the Easter Cave and the Schellenberg Ice Cave still use carbide lamps. In 1884 the Olga Cave was the first German show cave to be equipped with electrical lighting and the second in the world to be thus fitted. Only the Kraus Cave in the Styria in Austria was equipped earlier, in 1883.

Not included on this list are the artificially created caverns Schlossberg Caves and Saalfeld Fee Grottos, although these are listed with the German Speleological Federation, as their operators are paying members.

Also not in the main list is Balve Cave, because it has no regular guided tours or visits. Included is the Dienstedt Karst Cave, which is not part of the German Speleological Federation, but fulfils all the conditions of a show cave.

The cave which had the first guided tours was Baumann's Cave in the Rübeland; Tours of this cave were organised as early as 1646 and it was visited by Goethe. The latest to be opened as a show cave was the Autumn Labyrinth in 2009.

More than half the show caves are dripstone caves. The Wimsen Cave is the only show cave in Germany accessible by boat, for a distance of 70 metres. The Goetz Cave is the only fissure cave in the list and the largest publicly accessible cave in Europe. The Laichingen Vertical Cave is the only shaft cave that can be viewed in Germany, having a depth of 55 metres below the entrance and reaches the greatest depth of any German show cave. The Schellenberg Ice Cave is the only ice cave in Germany that can be visited. In the Barbarossa Cave, which is formed of anhydrite stone, loose layers of plaster hang like wallpaper from the ceilings and walls.

Legend

The Atta Cave – Germany’s most-visited show cave
  • Name of the show cave : states the name of the show cave.
  • Location: gives the location of the show cave.
  • State: gives the state in which the show cave is found.

BR
BE
BW
BY
HE

Brandenburg
Berlin
Baden-Württemberg
Bayern
Hesse

MV
NI
NW
RP
SH

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
Lower Saxony
North Rhine-Westphalia
Rhineland-Palatinate
Schleswig-Holstein

SL
SN
ST
TH

Saarland
Saxony
Saxony-Anhalt
Thuringia

  • Location: gives the coordinates of the show caves.
  • Geological classification: states the geological type of cave. It may be a limestone cave, rock cave, karst cave or other type.
  • Length (m): gives the total length of the show cave in metres including all branches.
  • GR (m): gives the total length of the guided route in metres, ignoring any doubling of walkways. It does include any artificial access walkways that are not part of the total length of the cave. So the guided route may be longer than the total length of the cave.
  • Height: gives the height of the entrance above sea level.
  • Discovery: is the date of discovery of the show cave. Most show caves were known by the local population much earlier, because they sometimes had a natural entrance accessible on foot. In these cases the year the cave is first mentioned in the records is shown in brackets.
  • Show caves : gives the start of its operation as a show cave. Subsequent problems with safety, the impact of war, financial issues or changes of owner may have led to long interruptions in its use as a show cave.
  • Electr. Light: states the year when electrical lighting was first installed.
  • Visitors (annual): gives the latest (2004 to 2008) average, annual visitor numbers. If the number is in brackets it indicates the recent, average number of visitors, over a different, unspecified period.

Table

Name of
show cave		 Location State
 Location
 Geological classification Len-
gth
(m)
 GR
(m)
 Height
 Dis-
cov-
ery
 Show
Cave
 Electr.
Light
 Visi-
tors
(/yr)
Agger Valley CaveEngelskirchenNW50°59′37.21″N 7°26′59.29″E / 50.9936694°N 7.4498028°E / 50.9936694; 7.4498028 (Aggertal Cave)Rock cave1,071270200177319301930(5,000)
Altenstein CaveSchweinaTH50°49′43″N 10°20′47″E / 50.82861°N 10.34639°E / 50.82861; 10.34639 (Altenstein Cave)Rock and active stream cave1960280360179918021905(6,000)
Atta CaveAttendornNW51°07′44″N 7°55′25″E / 51.12895°N 7.92348°E / 51.12895; 7.92348 (Atta Cave)Limestone cave6,670560190719071907(350.000)
Autumn LabyrinthBreitscheidHE50°41′16″N 8°12′21″E / 50.68778°N 8.20583°E / 50.68778; 8.20583 (Herbstlabyrinth)Karst cave5,800120417199320092009
Barbarossa CaveRottlebenTH51°22′54″N 11°02′13″E / 51.38167°N 11.03694°E / 51.38167; 11.03694 (Barbarossa Cave)Karst cave im anhydrite stone1,100600154186518661895(70.000)
Bear's CaveSonnenbühlBW48°22′15″N 9°12′55″E / 48.37083°N 9.21528°E / 48.37083; 9.21528 (Bear's Cave)Limestone cave29227180018341834193498,500
Baumann's CaveRübelandSA51°45′18″N 10°50′36″E / 51.75500°N 10.84333°E / 51.75500; 10.84333 (Baumanns Cave)Limestone cave1,98060037815361646189289,000
Bilstein CaveWarsteinNW51°25′34″N 8°19′24″E / 51.42611°N 8.32333°E / 51.42611; 8.32333 (Bilstein Cave)Limestone cave1,700450350188718881925(40.000)
Bing CaveStreitbergBY49°48′44″N 11°13′01″E / 49.81222°N 11.21694°E / 49.81222; 11.21694 (Bing Cave)Limestone cave30030037519051906190835,800
Charlotte's CaveHürbenBW48°35′14″N 10°12′22″E / 48.58722°N 10.20611°E / 48.58722; 10.20611 (Charlotten Cave)Limestone cave58753248818931893189341,900
Dechen CaveIserlohnNW51°21′56″N 7°38′41″E / 51.36556°N 7.64472°E / 51.36556; 7.64472 (Dechen Cave)Limestone cave870360250186818681926(60.000)
Devil's CavePottensteinBY49°45′17″N 11°25′12″E / 49.75472°N 11.42000°E / 49.75472; 11.42000 (Teufels Cave bei Pottenstein)Limestone cave1,500800400192219231923161,500
Devil's CaveSteinauHE50°20′17.23″N 09°27′17.96″E / 50.3381194°N 9.4549889°E / 50.3381194; 9.4549889 (Teufels Cave bei Steinau)Limestone cave137174310158419271927(16,000)
Dienstedt Karst CaveDienstedtTH50°48′50″N 11°10′28″E / 50.81389°N 11.17444°E / 50.81389; 11.17444 (Dienstedter Karst Cave)Karst cave350155340195319941994(1,200)
Easter CaveTrondorfBY49°31′08″N 11°39′50″E / 49.51889°N 11.66389°E / 49.51889; 11.66389 (Oster Cave)Limestone cave185130(1630)1905not yet(5,000)
Eberstadt Stalactite CaveEberstadtBW49°28′57″N 09°20′52″E / 49.48250°N 9.34778°E / 49.48250; 9.34778 (Eberstadter Limestone cave)Limestone cave61658834119711973197362,700
Erdmann's CaveHaselBW47°38′57″N 7°53′45″E / 47.64916°N 7.89592°E / 47.64916; 7.89592 (Erdmanns Cave)Limestone cave2,146356(1271)1773189931,100
Goetz CaveMeiningenTH50°33′54.75″N 10°24′27.37″E / 50.5652083°N 10.4076028°E / 50.5652083; 10.4076028 (Goetz Cave)Fissure cave242485328191519341934(15,000)
Gußmann's CaveGutenbergBW48°32′33.72″N 09°31′11.64″E / 48.5427000°N 9.5199000°E / 48.5427000; 9.5199000 (Gußmanns Cave)Limestone cave91556801890189119224,400
Gutenberg CaveGutenbergBW48°32′25.44″N 09°31′13.8″E / 48.5404000°N 9.520500°E / 48.5404000; 9.520500 (Gutenberg Cave)Limestone cave1801106901889189019674,400
HeimkehleUftrungenSA51°29′50.78″N 10°57′17.86″E / 51.4974389°N 10.9549611°E / 51.4974389; 10.9549611 (Heimkehle)Large gypsum karst cave2,000750200(1357)19201920(20.000)
Heinrich's CaveHemerNW51°22′46″N 7°46′26″E / 51.37944°N 7.77389°E / 51.37944; 7.77389 (Heinrich's Cave)Limestone cave2,984300250(1771)19051905(15,000)
Hermann's CaveRübelandSA51°45′17″N 10°50′50″E / 51.75472°N 10.84722°E / 51.75472; 10.84722 (Hermanns Cave)Limestone cave2,73380037818661890189089,000
Hohler FelsSchelklingenBW48°22′45.3″N 09°45′19.9″E / 48.379250°N 9.755528°E / 48.379250; 9.755528 (Hohler Fels)Large rock dome12068534(1830)19071955(4,000)
Iberg Dripstone CaveBad GrundNI51°49′03″N 10°15′10″E / 51.81750°N 10.25278°E / 51.81750; 10.25278 (Iberger Limestone cave)Limestone cave35122043417231874191260.500
Kittelsthal Dripstone CaveKittelsthalTH50°55′26″N 10°23′31″E / 50.92389°N 10.39194°E / 50.92389; 10.39194 (Kittelsthaler Limestone cave)Limestone cave726158348188818961918(6,000)
Klutert CaveEnnepetalNW51°17′57″N 7°21′17″E / 51.29917°N 7.35472°E / 51.29917; 7.35472 (Klutert Cave)Rock cave5,4971,080193(1586)1884195144,500
Kolbing CaveKolbingenBW48°2′25″N 8°55′5″E / 48.04028°N 8.91806°E / 48.04028; 8.91806 (Kolbing Cave)Limestone cave33088790(1879)19131950(7,500)
König-Otto Dripstone CaveVelburgBY49°15′17″N 11°41′24″E / 49.25472°N 11.69000°E / 49.25472; 11.69000 (König-Otto-Limestone cave)Limestone cave45027059018951896195420.700
Kubacher Kristall CaveKubachHE50°28′16″N 08°17′45″E / 50.47111°N 8.29583°E / 50.47111; 8.29583 (Kubacher Kristall Cave)Crystal filled crevice cave200350231197419811981(40.000)
Laichingen Vertical CaveLaichingenBW48°28′43″N 09°41′31″E / 48.47861°N 9.69194°E / 48.47861; 9.69194 (Laichinger Tiefen Cave)Shaft (vertical cave)1,253320780189219201936(35,000)
Marienglas Cave [note 1]FriedrichrodaTH50°51′48.51″N 10°32′32.14″E / 50.8634750°N 10.5422611°E / 50.8634750; 10.5422611 (Marienglas Cave)Large gypsum crystal geode300122450178419031929(75,000)
Maximilian's GrottoKrottenseeBY49°37′43″N 11°35′18″E / 49.6285°N 11.5884°E / 49.6285; 11.5884 (Maximiliansgrotte)Limestone cave1,200400500(1596)18781994(20.000)
Nebel CaveSonnenbühlBW48°25′1″N 9°13′15″E / 48.41694°N 9.22083°E / 48.41694; 9.22083 (Nebel Cave)Limestone cave813450808(1486)1803192249,900
Niedaltdorf Dripstone CaveNiedaltdorfSL49°20′22.4″N 6°35′42.5″E / 49.339556°N 6.595139°E / 49.339556; 6.595139 (Niedaltdorfer Limestone cave)Primary cave in tufa20080188019331933
Olga CaveHonauBW48°24′36″N 9°15′35″E / 48.41000°N 9.25972°E / 48.41000; 9.25972 (Olga Cave)Primary cave in tufa [note 2]17090557187418841884
Recken CaveBalveNW51°22′13″N 7°51′49″E / 51.37028°N 7.86361°E / 51.37028; 7.86361 (Recken Cave)Limestone cave450300220188818901890(15,000)
Schellenberg Ice CaveMarktschellenbergBY47°42′48″N 13°00′16″E / 47.71333°N 13.00444°E / 47.71333; 13.00444 (Schellenberg Ice Cave)Ice cave3,6215001,570(1826)1925not yet(9,000)
Schertel's CaveWesterheimBW48°32′05″N 09°35′18″E / 48.53472°N 9.58833°E / 48.53472; 9.58833 (Schertels Cave)Limestone cave212160775(1470)19021953(15,000)
Schillat CaveOldendorfNI52°12′17″N 9°17′17″E / 52.20472°N 9.28806°E / 52.20472; 9.28806 (Schillat Cave)Limestone cave340305199220042004(32,000)
SchulerlochEssingBY48°55′40″N 11°49′01″E / 48.92778°N 11.81694°E / 48.92778; 11.81694 (Schulerloch)Limestone cave420180390(1782)18281953(50.000)
Segeberg Kalkberg CaveBad SegebergSH53°56′7.75″N 10°19′3.8″E / 53.9354861°N 10.317722°E / 53.9354861; 10.317722 (Segeberger Kalkberg Cave)Gypsum karst cave2,260400191319191919(35,000)
Sontheim CaveSontheimBW48°26′06″N 9°41′03″E / 48.43506°N 09.684101°E / 48.43506; 09.684101 (Sontheim Cave)Limestone cave530192720(1488)15161957(4,000)
Sophie's CaveAhorntalBY49°49′36.9″N 11°22′33.0″E / 49.826917°N 11.375833°E / 49.826917; 11.375833 (Sophie's Cave)Limestone cave900220405183318341971(30.000)
Sturmann's CaveObermaiselsteinBY47°26′12″N 10°14′8″E / 47.43667°N 10.23556°E / 47.43667; 10.23556 (Sturmanns Cave)Active stream cave460287978(1815)19051905(30.000)
Dragon's CaveSyrauSN50°32′34.71″N 12°04′56.09″E / 50.5429750°N 12.0822472°E / 50.5429750; 12.0822472 (Dragon's Cave, Syrau)Limestone cave550350460192819281928(45,000)
Tschamber CaveKarsauBW47°35′18″N 07°49′07.5″E / 47.58833°N 7.818750°E / 47.58833; 7.818750 (Tschamber Cave)Active stream cave1,550600189018901966
Unicorn CaveScharzfeldNI51°38′06.05″N 10°24′14.59″E / 51.6350139°N 10.4040528°E / 51.6350139; 10.4040528 (Unicorn Cave)Large rock cave610270370(1541)18951928(15,000)
Wendelstein CaveBrannenburgBY47°42′12″N 12°0′47″E / 47.70333°N 12.01306°E / 47.70333; 12.01306 (Wendelstein Cave)Alpine rock cave5231701,711186419211962(30.000)
Wiehle Dripstone CaveWiehlNRW50°56′18″N 07°32′53″E / 50.93833°N 7.54806°E / 50.93833; 7.54806 (Wiehler Limestone cave)Limestone cave868400260186019271927(26,000)
Wimsener HöhleHayingenBW48°15′23.4″N 09°26′53.52″E / 48.256500°N 9.4482000°E / 48.256500; 9.4482000 (Wimsen Cave)Water cave72370557(1447)18031927(35,000)

Disputed Show Caves

Several caves are sometimes described in the literature as show caves, although they do not meet the criteria. These include the Saalfeld Fairy Grottoes and Schlossberg Caves which are no natural caverns, but mines, and the Zwiefaltendorf Limestone Cave and the Balve Cave, which have no regular guided tours.

Name of
show cave		 Location State
 Geological classification Len-
gth
(m)
 GR
(m)
 Dis-
cov-
ery
 Show-
Cave
 Electr.
Light
 Visi-
tors
(/yr)
Balve CaveBalveNRWLarge rock cave138138(1690)  
MorassinaSchmiedefeldTHDripstone filled show mine2000tbd.168319931993tbd.
Saalfeld Fairy Grottoes [note 3]SaaleTHDripstone filled show mine1100600191319141914175,000
Schlossberg Caves [note 4]HomburgSLMine in Bunter sandstone5000800(1708)1930193533,500
Zwiefaltendorf Limestone Cave [note 5]ZwiefaltendorfBWPrimary cave in tufa272718921892 

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Schauhöhlen". Verband der Germann Höhlen- and Karstforscher e.V. Retrieved 12 August 2008.

Notes

  1. ↑ Marienglas Cave – a former mine with a natural cavern, the so-called Gipskristalldruse or Crystal Grotto (Kristallgrotte). This crystal grotto is the main attraction of the mine, which is why it is viewed more as a show cave. – Although the literature overwhelmingly sees it as a show cave, it calls itself a show mine.
  2. ↑ Tufa caves (tuff caves) are a special type of cave. Tufa forms wherever springs rise to the surface with calcium in the water. In the deposited limestone, overhangs and half-caves can occur, until further tufa deposits lead to entirely enclosed caverns.
  3. ↑ Saalfeld Fairy Grottoes – A former mine, in the shafts of which wonderfully colourful dripstone has formed. – Sometimes described in the literature as show caves and sometimes as a show mine and is a paying member of the German Speleological Federation. Refers to itself as a show mine.
  4. ↑ Schlossberg Caves – Galleries cut through Bunter sandstone by human effort, so that it is more like a mine. – Mainly described in the literature as show caves and a member of the German Speleological Federation. Refers to itself as a mine shaft.
  5. ↑ The cave may only be visited in combination with a visit to the restaurant. It is shown in the literature occasionally as a show cave, but is not listed by the German Speleological Federation.

Bibliography

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  • Stephan Kempe, Wilfried Rosendahl: Höhlen – Verborgene Welten. Primus Verlag, Stuttgart 2008 ISBN 978-3-89678-611-1
  • Hans Binder, Anke Lutz, Hans Martin Lutz: Schauhöhlen in Deutschland. Hrsg. v. Aegis Verlag, Ulm 1993 ISBN 3-87005-040-3
  • Stephan Kempe Welt voller Geheimnisse – Höhlen. Reihe: HB Bildatlas Sonderausgabe. Hrsg. v. HB Verlags- and Vertriebs-Gesellschaft, 1997 ISBN 3-616-06739-1
  • Hans Binder: Herbert Jantschke: Höhlenführer Schwäbische Alb. Hrsg. v. DRW-Verlag, Leinefelden-Echterdingen 2003 ISBN 3-87181-485-7
  • Hans Binder: Höhlen der Schwäbischen Alb. Hrsg. v. DRW-Verlag, Leinefelden-Echterdingen 1995 ISBN 3-87181-366-4
  • Friedrich Herrmann: Höhlen der Fränkischen and Hersbrucker Schweiz. Hrsg. v. Verlag Hans Carl, Nürnberg 1991 ISBN 3-418-00356-7
  • Friedhart Knolle, Wilhelm Marbach: Bergwerke & Höhlen im Harz. Hrsg. v. Studio Volker Schadach, Goslar 1998 ISBN 3-928728-24-5
  • Stephan Lang: Höhlen in Franken. Wanderführer in die Unterwelt der Fränkischen Schweiz mit neuen Touren. Hrsg. v. Fachverlag Hans Carl, Nürnberg 2006 ISBN 978-3-418-00385-6
  • Stephan Lang: Höhlen in Franken. Ein Wanderführer in die Unterwelt der Hersbrucker Schweiz und des Oberpfälzer Jura. Hrsg. v. Verlag Hans Carl, Nürnberg 2002 ISBN 3-418-00390-7
  • Hardy Schabdach: Unterirdische Welten, Höhlen der Fränkischen- und Hersbrucker Schweiz. Hrsg. v. Verlag Reinhold Lippert, Ebermannstadt 2000 ISBN 3-930125-05-6
  • Helmut Seitz: Schaubergwerke, Höhlen und Kavernen in Bayern. Hrsg. Rosenheimer Verlagshaus, Rosenheim 1993 ISBN 3-475-52750-2
  • Volker Sklenar, K. R. Hoffmann, I. Pustal, G. Kuhn, M. Meissner, A. Nestler, R. Cebulla, R. Fohlert, J. Bodenstein, G. Holzhey: Thuringia Untertage. Hrsg. v. Thüringer Landesanstalt für Umwelt und Geologie, Jena 2006 ISBN 3-9806811-4-9
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