11 Magical Caves In Germany You Can Visit

Although it’s easy to focus on Germany’s larger cities and medieval villages when planning a trip, the country’s beautiful landscapes are equally fascinating. There are many complex cave systems all across Germany, and a lot of them have been opened to the public. Here are the most magical.

Laichinger Tiefenhöhle

Visitors have to climb several flights of stairs to descend 55 metres (180 feet) deep into the ground to explore the world of the Laichinger Tiefenhöhle. It’s Germany’s only pit cave open to visitors, and is made of a complex system of tunnels, shafts and halls. Between March and November, tours take visitors on a discovery of fossilised reefs and bizarre limestone deposits along the way.

Höhleweg, Laichingen, Germany, +49 0733 3558 6

Laichinger Tiefenhöhle I Courtesy of Höhlen- und Heimatverein Laichingen e.V.

Saalfeld Fairy Grottoes

Between the 16th and 19th centuries, an alum mine drilled into the rock in Saalfeld. The mine was eventually abandoned and forgot about until the chambers were rediscovered in 1910. These days, the Saalfeld Fairy Grottoes are known as some of the world’s most colourful caverns and grottos. The mineral components of the rock have resulted in formations in all shades of beige, brown, red and grey that are reflected by the underground pools of water.

Feengrottenweg 2, Saalfeld/Saale, Germany, +49 3671 5504 0