| Baumann's Cave | |
|---|---|
| Baumannshöhle | |
Entrance to Baumann's Cave |
|
| Location | Harz mountains, Germany |
| Length | 1,980 metres (6,500 ft) |
| Discovery | 1536 |
| Geology | Dripstone cave |
| Show cave opened | 1646 |
| Length of show cave | 600 metres (2,000 ft) |
| Lighting | Electric (since 1892) |
| Visitors | 89,000 (2004–2008) |
| Features | One of the oldest show caves in the world |
Baumann's Cave (German: Baumannshöhle) is, like nearby Hermann's Cave, a show cave in Rübeland in the district of Harz and is Germany's oldest show cave.
The grotto was formed in the Devonian limestone of the Elbingerode complex as the Bode Valley was being shaped. It was discovered in the 16th century and was visited by tourists from a very early stage. Amongst its most famous visitors was Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. The cave's biggest chamber, the Goethesaal, is named after him and is fitted with seats and a stage for concerts and plays[1].
The cave was sealed off from an early date so that its rich display of stalactites and stalagmites has been largely preserved. The cave is particularly famous for, amongst other things, the numerous bones of cave bears that have been found there.