The Schlossberghöhlen in Homburg, Europe’s biggest new red sandstone cave, is a super place to visit. It is the perfect little excursion for the whole family.
What makes the tour so fun is not only do you get to explore but everyone gets to wear a helmet, so everyone looks like they are ready to mine! Helmets are, of course, worn for safety reasons and not your friends’ entertainment.
The temperature in the caves stays around 10 degree Celsius all year long so it is best to dress in layers. Before you start your tour, you will receive a quick introduction on what will await you once inside as well as the ‘house’ rules. I am sure we have heard the saying, “you can look but not touch” and these rules also apply down below. Once everyone is below, the tour guide will give you a brief summary on how these man-made tunnels came to be and everyone gets to look for a fossil.
The caves were originally made for mining quartz in the 17th Century but then closed for some time. It was rediscovered by a little boy who fell down a hole in the 1930s.
The caves are open from April until October from 9 a.m to 5 p.m. Entry for adults is €5 and children up to the age of 16 is €3. It is best to call for reservations and also for an English tour. We strongly advise to bring a baby carrier for those with infants as you will need to walk down a few staircases and the cave is mainly sand.
Once you have been through the tour of the caves you can walk up to the Hohenburg ruins which lie right above the caves and offer a spectacular view of Homburg.
Getting There
The ‘museum’ is a circa 30-minute drive from the KMC, 2.5 hours from Stuttgart and just under 1.5 hours from Wiesbaden.
If these caves interest you check out their website. www.homburger-schlossberghoehlen.de or call 06841-101166-101169
Schlossberghöhlen Homburg
Schlossberg-Höhen-Straße
66424 Homburg
Telefon +49 (0) 6841 / 20 64
Fax 06841-9930589
Pictures provided by Isabell Smith
