Caves and mines

Beneath Mother Earth, there is a breath of mysticism too. Caves, grottoes and abandoned mine shafts entice visitors into an unknown fairytale world. The Saalfeld "Fairy Grottoes" belong to the most famous ones. They are even listed in the Guinness Book of records as "the most colorful grottoes in the world"! The Sondershausen "adventure mine" is also used for festive and sporting functions and the mythical "Barbarossa's Cave" is a source of excitement and delight. The "Marienglashöhle" Caves near Friedrichroda belong to the largest crystallised gypsum grottoes in Europe. Former mines like the "Rabensteiner Stollen" in the Southern Harz take the visitor on a trip into the past of mining.