Hermannshöhle

Hermann's Cave

Useful Information

Location:	In Rübeland, 14 km south Wernigerode. From Wernigerode F244 to Elbingerode, turn left, F27 to Rübeland. At the main road of Rübeland towards Rappbode-Stausee.
Open:	JAN daily 9-15:30. FEB to JUN daily 9-16:30. JUL to AUG daily 9-17:30. SEP to OCT daily 9-16:30. NOV to DEC daily 9-15:30. One of the caves closed for renovation every year during the winter months (NOV to APR). End time is time of last tour. [2012]
Fee:	Adults EUR 7, Children (4-16) EUR 4.50, Children (0-3) free, Family (2+3) EUR 20. Groups (20+): Adults EUR 6.50, Children (4-16) EUR 4. Combiticket 2 caves or 1 cave + Schaubergwerk Büchenberg: Adults EUR 12, Children (4-16) EUR 7.50, Children (0-3) free, Family (2+3) EUR 32. Groups (20+): Adults EUR 11, Children (4-16) EUR 6.50. [2012]
Classification:	Karst cave partly marble, horizontal cave, lower Devon.
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:	L=2,733 m (3,000 m), A=378 m asl
Guided tours:	L=1,300 m, D=50 min, V=100,000/a [2005].
Photography:	forbidden
Accessibility:	mainy stairs, not wheelchair accessible
Bibliography:	Rübeland im Harz, Baumannshöhle, Hermannshöhle. Hrsg: Verwaltung der Tropfsteinhöhlen. () Manfred Oelsner: Stadtführer Wernigerode, VEB Tourist Verlag Berlin, Lepzig. ()
Address:	Rübeländer Tropfsteinhöhlen, Tourismusbetrieb der Stadt Elbingerode (Harz), Blankenburgstraße 35, 38889 Rübeland, Tel: +49-39454-49132, Fax: +49-39454-53475. E-mail:
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.

side passage with some dripstones and an elliptic profile.

History

28-JUL-1866	discovered during road works.
1887	intensive exploration, big discoveries.
01-MAY-1890	electric light.
1949	tour path increased.
1970	new discoveries.

Description

The Hermannshöhle is the bigger one of the two show caves at Rübeland. It has three levels, the lowest level is water filled and not accessible. The cave river is a branch of of the Rappbode, which flows outside in the valley. Most of the known parts of this level were discovered rather recently by cave divers.

The middle level of the cave contains one of the highlights of the cave, the Kristallkammer (Crystal Chamber). Water standing silently in this cavern for a very long time allowed the growth of filigree and pure white calcite crystals.

In the upper level many bones were found. Most of them were from the cave bear. Some bones and the reconstruction of a complete bear skeletton are on display.

An artificial cave lake, at the highest point of the tour is the second highlight of the tour. It contains several living Olms (Proteus anguinus) from Slovenia. This is the only place in Germany where this animal can be seen. The olms were "freed" in this lake during the 1930s. But as there are only male animals, there will be no next generation. The olms are said to live up to 90 years, but still time is limited where olms can be seen in Germany.

Hermannshöhle Gallery