Enter Buchen’s underworld – the stalactite cave in the Eberstadt quarter of Buchen has been discovered by accident. On December 13th in 1971, in the course of a blasting in the lacustrine limestone quarry, a 1 metre high and 2 metres wide gap opened up.
Already the first careful explorations gave an indication of the breathtaking beauty of this natural monument, a unique occurrence in southern Germany. With its variety of forms, the Eberstadt stalactite cave has an unforgettable effect on every visitor.
The cave is easily accessible and with a little bit of assistance it can also be visited by walking-impaired persons and wheelchair users. On well-constructed tracks you can get from the parking space to the back end of the cave without a single step. The cave is 600 metres long and its width varies from 2.5 metres to 8 metres. Within the cave the temperature is at a constant 11 degrees Celsius and the humidity level is around 95%.
The age of the Eberstadt stalactite cave is thought to be between one and two million years. During this time all the forms of sinter formation on the walls or the cave floor have developed. This includes stalactites – dripstones hanging from the cave’s ceiling and stalagmites – dripstones growing upwards from the bottom of the cave.
Entrance gate to the UNESCO Geopark Bergstraße-Odenwald
The network of European Geoparks has designated the stalactite cave of Eberstadt to be one of only five so-called entrance gates in the Odenwald Geopark; with its more than 70,000 annual visitors it constitutes one of the biggest tourist attractions in the south-eastern Odenwald. Thus Buchen holds a key position in the Geopark district.
For more information on the UNESCO Geopark Bergstraße-Odenwald visit: www.geo-naturpark.net
Please take note of the seasonal change of opening times from March 2009!
From the 1st of March until the 31st of October: daily from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. (guided tours usually start on the hour, the last tour begins at 4 p.m.) – in March/April as well as September/October the cave is closed on Mondays, specially arranged tours are, however, possible.
Opening times from the 1st of November 2008 until the 28th of February 2009: Saturdays and Sundays and various public holidays from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m.
Special tours are also available outside regular opening times with prior arrangement and subject to an additional charge.
Tickets and information via:
Tourist Office • Platz am Bild • 74722 Buchen • Germany
Phone +49 6281 2780 or +49 6281 31155 • Fax +49 62812732 • This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Admission only in combination with a guided tour! The tour takes approximately one hour – guided tours usually start on the hour. Groups should book in advance to avoid queuing. It is not permitted to bring animals or take pictures inside the cave! Admission:
Adults: 5.00 Euro
Groups with a minimum of 20 adults: 4.50 Euro each
Children and adolescents (3-15 years): 4.00 Euro
Severely handicapped people: 4.00 Euro
Family-Card: 16.00 EuroKiosk at the stalactite cave Eberstadt phone and fax +49 6292 578
More detailed information:
Tourist Office • Platz am Bild • 74722 Buchen • Germany
Phone +49 6281 2780 or +49 6281 31155 • Fax +49 6281 2732 • This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
