Baumann's Cave

According to legend, a miner called Friedrich Baumann stumbled into this cave in the 16th century while looking for ore, lost his light and wandered in the dark for three days. He found his way out but died soon afterwards. The story is not documented. What is certain is that Baumann's Cave in Rübeland in the Harz is considered Germany's oldest show cave, with regular guided tours since the 17th century.

History: Goethe, Leibniz and early conservation

Around 1649 the dukes of Brunswick granted the local Wagner family the right to guide visitors; the operator gives 1646 as the start of tours. So many stalactites were broken off that Duke Rudolf August issued a protection order in 1668, making the cave arguably Germany's first legally protected natural monument. Visitors included Leibniz (1690) and Goethe, who came in 1777, 1783 and 1784. In 1888 a guide named Streitberg discovered new sections, the "New Baumann's Cave", and in 1927/28 the present entrance was built: a 74-metre tunnel climbing steeply from the entrance hall in the village. The often-quoted discovery date of 1536 was invented in the 1930s to justify an anniversary.

What you will see

• Goethe Hall: The largest chamber, about 2,500 m², with two stages for up to 300 spectators and the artificial Wolfgangsee pool. Weddings are held here too.
• Column Hall: Stalactites, stalagmites, flowstone curtains and thin "macaroni" straws, plus the Tree of Life stalagmite, the cave's emblem.
• Hamburg Coat of Arms: A rock formation that reminded Goethe of Hamburg's coat of arms.
• Great Bone Field: Remains of extinct cave bears, with a reconstructed skeleton.

Tours, times and prices (as of October 2026)

Visits are by guided tour only, lasting about 50 minutes over around 300 steps. In October 2026 tours start roughly every 20 minutes from 9:30; in November the cave is closed on Mondays and fully closed 2–13 November 2026. Adults pay €10.50, children (4–14) €7.50, a family ticket is €34 (ticket desk only). An English audio guide is available for your own phone. Photography is not allowed, pets cannot come in and the route is not step-free.

Getting there

The cave is in the centre of Rübeland, next to the Hermann's Cave. Car parks are within 500 metres (3-hour ticket €2.50). Regional buses run from Wernigerode station to "Rübeland Tropfsteinhöhlen".

Tripto tip

Bring a jacket: it is 8–9 °C inside all year. Combine your visit with the Titan RT suspension bridge at the nearby Rappbode Dam using the combined ticket.