Explore the fascination of the Kittelsthal Dripstone Cave during a guided tour. The cave was discovered by mining in 1888 and opened to the public in 1896. You can visit stalagmites and stalactites and explore the great grotto with the 3.5 metres high pyramid. Further attractions in the cave are massive, coarse crystalline sintering surfaces and numerous small sinter formations hidden in wall niches.

Quick Facts:

• Depth of the cave: 48 metres
• several thousand-year-old stalactite formations
• overcoming 228 steps within a 45 minute long guided tour
• The air temperature in the cave is about 11° C
• Please wear sturdy footwear and a jacket.
• Minimum age for visitors: 3 years
• guided tours for groups of visitors from 2 people to 30 people possible

The cave was discovered in 1799 and was soon expanded into a show cave. It offers a unique view of the Altensteiner reef as it is the oldest show cave in Thuringia. It is also a site for ice age fossils. Bones of the cave bear ursus spelaeus were found here.

The gypsum quarry in Kittelsthal is a unique natural monument. Limestone was mined here as early as the 16th century. Goethe visited the quarry in 1784 and made a sketch of stone positions, that was later used to build the city palace in Weimar. The gypsum quarry was mined until 1960. Today a lime kiln can be seen there.

The rock edge is approximate 40 to 50 metres high and consists of porphyry. It’s a popular viewing point from which many hikers and cyclists enjoy the view over the Thuringian Forest Nature Park with Großer Inselsberg Mountain. You can reach the summit by a comfortable footpath and may use the cosy seating area for a picnic.

On top of Grebestein Mountain is a memorial of the chief forester Grebe. Today it is a view point.