Himmelsbergstollen


Useful Information

Location: Zweibrücken, Rheinland-Pfalz, 36 km southwest of Kaiserslautern. Entrance in the Wackenstraße, beneath the school (Hauptschule).
Open: MAY to OCT Sat, Sun 14-17.
Other times after appointment.
[2007]
Fee:
Classification: SubterraneaCellar
Light: LightIncandescent Electric Light System
Dimension: Ar=2,360m², D=11 m.
Guided tours:
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address: Himmelsbergstollen, Wackenstraße 5, 66482 Zweibrücken, Tel: +49-6332-479550, Fax: +49-6332-479552.
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

16th century start of cellar digging.
1944 rediscovered and used as an air raid shelter.

Description

The Himmelsbergstollen is a system of cellars inside the Himmelsberg, which was dug since the 16th century. There is a (rather unclear) connection to the French border fortification built by Sébastien de Vauban around 1680. However, this seems to be legend. Obviously this were flood safe storage rooms for the citizens, who had big problems with frequent floods. Later, during 18th and 19th centuries the cellars were used as ice cellars for the numerous breweries. During World War II this cellar was used as an air raid bunker for the citizens of Zweibrücken. It had been lost before, but was rediscovered during the search for underground structures for shelters.