Caving in the Fränkische Schweiz
Caves in Franconian Switzerland, Bavaria, Germany
The Fränkische Schweiz (Franconian Switzerland) in Bavaira, Germany is
famous for its caves including the Teufelshöhle (Devil’s Cave), Binghöhle,
and Sophienhöhle.
© Tourismuszentrale Fränkische Schweiz
The Fränkische Schweiz has around a thousand Höhlen (caves). Some are very
small and although it is claimed that it is worth seeing 200 of these
caves, most visitors would be satisfied by seeing any of the three
largest. All are famous for their stalagmites and stalactites, are well
lit, and do not require visitors to crawl through narrow passages.
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Teufelshöhle (Devil’s Cave)
The most popular and largest cave at 1.5 km/a mile long is the
Teufelshöhle (Devil’s Cave), Forchheimer Straße 1, Pottenstein, tel
09243-208. The temperature inside the cave is a constant 9°C/48°F with a
humidity of 95%. As a result, visitors are well advised to bring jackets
even in summer.
A therapeutic center for rehabilitation of lung diseases is inside the
cave – €5 to sit, relax, and breathe for two hours. Three-week courses are
the norm.
The Teufelshöhle is open from Easter to October, daily from 9 am to 5 pm
and from November to Easter only on Tuesday and weekends from 10 am to 3 pm.
Admission is €3.50 and include the compulsory, one hour guided tour.
- From May to September, several concerts are held in the Teufelshöhle
(Devil’s Cave). The emphasis is on classical music but
plays and more modern music are also performed.
The Binghöhle, Streitberg, tel 09196-19433, discovered in 1905, has the largest
stalactite gallery in Germany – nature has been at work here for around 5
million years. The cave is around 400 m/1,312 ft long and the guided tour
takes around 30 minutes. Opening hours are daily from April to October from
9 am to 5 pm. Admission is €3.
- The Binghöhle is a few minutes walk from the
Dorfplatz parking lot in Streitberg.
The Sophienhöhle, Rabenstein has been known since the 15th century
but the best parts were only discovered in 1833. Its three chambers are in
total almost 500 m/1,640 ft long. Despite its popularity, it remained one of
the best-preserved and most impressive caves in Germany. Opening hours are
April to October from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:30 am to 5 pm with tours
every half hour. Admission is €3.50. On Saturday nights, a multimedia sound
and light display is staged between 6 and 8 pm. During this time visitors
can roam at will without tour – admission is €6.50.
- The Sophienhöhle is a
15-minute walk from the parking lot of Burg Rabenstein.
Guided Cave Tours
Guided tours to smaller and lesser known caves are arranged most Tuesdays
during summer by Aktiv Reisen, Forchheimer Straße 14, 91346
Muggendorf, tel 09196-998-566. Expect to get
dirty – bring own spare clothes, all other equipment are supplied.
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02/23/2008 |
