Eberstadter Tropfsteinhöhle

Dripstone Cave of Eberstadt

Useful Information

the abandoned quarry, where the cave was discovered.

Location:	A81 exit Osterburken, to Osterburken-Schlierstadt-Eberstadt or B27 to Buchen, then to Eberstadt 7 km. From Buchen towards Seckach, 1,5 km west Eberstadt, at the road Seckach-Eberstadt.
Open:	MAR-APR Tue-Sun 10-16. MAY-AUG daily 10-16. SEP-OCT Tue-Sun 10-16. NOV-FEB Sat, Sun, Hol 13-16. [2007]
Fee:	Adults EUR 3.50, Children (7-15) EUR 2.50, Children (3-6) EUR 2, Disabled EUR 2.50. Gruppen (20+): Adults EUR 3. [2007]
Classification:	Karst cave horizontal cave, Middle Triassic limestones (Wellenkalk)
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:	L=640 m. B=3-4 m, H=4 m, VR=20 m, T=11 °C.
Guided tours:	L=600 m (2x), D=60 min., St=23, V=60,000/a [2005].
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:	Anonymous (1983): Die Eberstadter Tropfsteinhöhle im Neckar-Odenwald-Kreis, Abh. Karst- u. Höhlenkunde, Reihe A, Heft 12, München 1983. ()
Address:	Tourist Information Buchen, Platz am Bild, 74722 Buchen, Tel: +49-6281-27800, +49-6281-31155, Fax: +49-6281-2732. E-mail: Kiosk an der Eberstadter Tropfsteinhöhle, Tel: +49-6292-578, Fax: +49-6292-578.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1953	discovery of a cave at the Hohler Stein (hollow rock).
13-DEC-1971	discovered during quarry works, surveyed.
1972	start of development.
1973	opened to the public.

Description

The Eberstadter Tropfsteinhöhle (dripstone cave of Eberstadt) is the only show cave in the lower Muschelkalk formation in south Germany. Muschelkalk is the local name of the Middle Triassic, a thick limestone layer with many fossils, hence the name Muschelkalk which translates shell-limestone. The cave is located in an area called Bauland, a softly undulating plateau between the rivers Neckar, Jagst, and Tauber. The entrance of the cave is located in a now abandoned quarry, it was discovered during quarry works.

This cave has nice formations and several calcite crystals, dogtooth spars and helictites. The cave is a rather young discovery and was protected immediately, and so it was never vandalized or otherwise damaged. But despite the modern and careful development, the attentive visitor will mention some creative installations. To see an example visit the gallery page, the picture bottom right.

The discovery of the Eberstadter Tropfsteinhöhle was a great surprise for local speleologists and geologists. This is the first large cave which was discovered in the Muschelkalk formation in south Germany. And up to this time only very small caves were known in this area, which was the reason for a theory, that the geologic structure and hydrology of the area did not allow the formation of bigger caves. But the existence of the Eberstadter Tropfsteinhöhle demonstrated the possibility of cave systems in this area.

Very impressive is the profile of the cave passage, which is very uniform for long parts of trip. The ceiling is absolutely flat and level, formed by a reddish layer of oolitic limestone called Schaumkalk. The walls are irregular but the passage widens from the ceiling to the floor. This results in a very characteristic trapezoid profile.

The newest discovery in the area is the Hohler Stein which is very close. Only a few hundred meters from the show cave is the entrance to this cave, and the main passage runs parallel to the main passage of the show cave. Although the two caves are definitely the same system there is so far no connection. The entrance is very low, and it is necessary to crawl for almost 1.5 kilometers. But once this point is reached, the cave opens up and is well decorated. Alike the Eberstadter Cave the ceiling is formed by a hard layer of limestone. There were ideas about creating a new show cave by the mayor, but the danger of floods makes this rather unlikely.

Eberstadter Tropfsteinhöhle Gallery