Messel Pit

The Messel Pit (Grube Messel) near Darmstadt is Germany's oldest UNESCO natural World Heritage Site and one of the richest fossil sites on Earth. A former oil-shale mine, it preserves animals and plants from the Eocene, including early horses, bats and crocodiles, often in such fine condition that fur outlines and stomach contents survive. If you are looking for things to do in Hesse that combine science, nature and a great museum, this is a real highlight.

Where it is and how to get there

Messel lies in southern Hesse, about 20 miles (30 km) southeast of Frankfurt and just northeast of Darmstadt. The visitor center is at Rossdörfer Strasse 108. Parking is free, including coach parking. If you come by public transit, use the RMV journey planner and get off at the bus stop "Messel - Grube Messel Besucherzentrum Abzweig", from where it is about 600 m (0.4 miles) to the museum.

Why it is worth a visit

The oil shale formed in the Eocene around 47 million years ago (sources differ: 47 or 48 million) at the bottom of a former lake. It was mined from the 1880s; oil production stopped in 1962 and shale extraction ended in 1971. In the 1970s and 1980s the pit was planned as a central landfill for southern Hesse, but local campaigns and court cases stopped it. On 8 December 1995 UNESCO inscribed the site, the first natural heritage site in Germany. More than 1,400 species have been described here, among them dozens of early horse skeletons and the primate Darwinius masillae, nicknamed "Ida".

What to see

• The pit on a guided tour: the pit itself can only be entered on a guided tour. Choose from shorter or longer walking tours or a tour in the electric Welterbe-Express vehicle. Check the website for any tours offered in other languages.
• The museum: original fossils and exhibits in the visitor center, which opened in August 2010.
• The grounds: free to enter and good for a walk.
• The bistro: open with or without a tour; dogs are only allowed on the terrace.

Tickets and opening hours (as of October 2026)

From 15 March to 15 November the site is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. From 16 November to 14 March it is open Wednesday to Sunday, same hours. It is open on public holidays except 24 to 26 December and 31 December to 1 January. Prices in euros (EUR):

• Museum: adults 7, reduced 5, family (up to five people) 17.
• Small pit tour (1 hour): 10, reduced 8, family 24.
• Large pit tour (2 hours): 14, reduced 11, family 35.
• Welterbe-Express: 25 for one hour, 35 for two hours, including the museum and a picnic in the pit.

Tips for visitors

Allow at least two hours, and half a day if you take the two-hour tour. Book tour tickets online in advance, especially on weekends and holidays. The exhibition rooms are accessible, with an elevator, accessible toilet and parking. One-hour tours can be done by wheelchair with help from a companion, and the Welterbe-Express is barrier-free apart from boarding.

Nearby

Darmstadt, with its Art Nouveau district Mathildenhöhe (also a UNESCO site), is a few miles away. Lorsch Abbey, another World Heritage Site, is in the same region, so the two combine well for a day trip from Frankfurt.