Lippoldshöhle

Lippolds' Cave


Useful Information

main entrance with a modern stair.
Location: A7 exit Hildesheim, B1 km bis, B Skm bis kurz vor Alfeld, in Godenau rechts ab nach Brunkensen, am Ortsausgang.
Open: no restrictions
Fee: free
Classification: SpeleologyTectonic cave, partly artificial, in Dolomite.
Light: none, bring electric torch
Dimension: L=30 m, GR: L=3 m, B=3 m, H=2 m.
Guided tours:
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then.
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History


Description

side entrance.

The Lippoldshöhle (Lippolds Cave) is a small tectonic cave, which was used by the robber Lippold as a hideout. It lies at the Glenepaß, which divide the Duinger Berg and the Reuberg. Below the cave flows the small brook Glene, which is a tributary to the Leine.

According to Legend, the robber Lippold kidnapped the daughter of the mayor of Alfeld from her own wedding into the cave. To mislead his persecutors he had the horseshoes mounted the wrong way. So if he left the cave for an infamous action, anybody thought he was home.

But one day he became sick and he had to send his wife to the pharmacy in Alfeld. She had to swear, that she would tell nobody who she was. In Alfeld on the marketplace, she became homesick, and she cried miserably. Her father, the mayor, did not recognize her, but he asked why she cried so miserably. As she did not answer, he took her into the town hall and told her, to tell anything to the fire place, if she could not tell it to a human. She did so, and as her father eavesdropped he heard the whole story. He followed her with the militia, overpowered the robber, hanged him, and rescued his daughter.


Old legend.

If the robber Lippold ever existed is not known, it is not even clear if the legend has a real background. A bit strange is the fact, that nearly the same story is told about the Daneilshöhle, a few hundred kilometers to the east. But the cave shows many human traces, it was at least sometimes used as a cave house. It was probably inhabited several times over centuries, at least during times of danger or when housing space was rare.