Zinselhöhle

Zinsel Cave

Useful Information

Location:	Heiligenholz, 96528 Frankenblick, OT Meschenbach. Between the villages Rabenäußig and Meschenbach, Landkreis Sonneberg, 1 km from Meschenbach. Turn off B 89 between Eisfeld and Sonneberg at the "Grümpen" towards Rauenstein/Meschenbach. Sign above the cave, parking lot at the road. (50.4095006, 11.0721997)
Open:	MAY to SEP after appointment. Zinselhöhlenfest (cave festival), third weekend in Juli, Sat, Sun 14-18. [2026]
Fee:	Adults EUR 3, Children (6-16) EUR 1.50. [2026]
Classification:	Karst Cave river cave, horizontal cave, Upper Triassic limestones.
Light:	bring torch
Dimension:
Guided tours:	L=250 m.
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	staircase at the entrance, cave undeveloped with 1.2 m high step.
Bibliography:
Address:	Gemeinde Effelder-Rauenstein, Tel: +49-36766-87721, 036766-2930, 036766-80204.
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

1728	erste Erwähnung.
1988	der Öffentlichkeit wieder zugänglich gemacht.

Description

The Zinselhöhle is a river cave, the rivulet is called Retschbach. On the 250 m long trip, the visitors have to walk in the brook. This cave is not developed, guided tours are only possible after prior arrangement. Helmet, light, capes and rubber boots are provided.

Each summer the Zinselhöhlenfest (Zinsel cave festival) takes place, which is an ideal opportunity to visit the cave.

The geology here is exceptional, as the Thuringian Forest was formed when it was uplifted by tectonic forces during the Variscan orogeny 320 million years ago in the Upper Carboniferous period. Consequently, the hills of the forest consist of basement rocks, shale and metamorphic rocks. These are impermeable and insoluble in water, so the water flows off the surface. However, when it reaches this area, karstification begins at the Fränkische Linie (Franconian Line) fault. This block of rock was uplifted to a lesser extent, which is why the overlying Mesozoic rocks are deeper and still preserved here. In particular, this involves the Wellenkalk from the Muschelkalk. Over time, the water has created caves and shifted its course underground. However, the karstified strip is narrow, and the water re-emerges at the surface at the foot of the slope in karst springs.

The rippled Wellenkalk limestone consists of thin-layered, undulating marly limestone rocks containing fossilised marine animals. Between 243 and 240 million years ago, this area was a warm sea teeming with life. The dead creatures decomposed in the oxygen-rich water; only their shells, bivalve shells and bones survived and became fossilised.