Nebelhöhle (Fog Cave)

The Nebelhöhle ("Fog Cave") near Sonnenbühl is one of the best-known show caves of the Swabian Jura (Schwäbische Alb) in southwestern Germany, just a few kilometers from fairy-tale Lichtenstein Castle. You descend 141 steps about 25 meters into wild, romantic halls filled with a forest of stalagmites. Its links to local legends and to Wilhelm Hauff's 1826 novel Lichtenstein add a literary twist to a classic day trip from Stuttgart.

History

The cave was first recorded in 1486 as the "Nebelloch," or fog hole. The name comes from a phenomenon you can still see in winter: warm, humid air rising from the cave through an opening in the ceiling condenses into fog in the cold outside air. The cave became a major attraction in 1803, when Elector Frederick I of Württemberg visited; wooden stairs and bridges were installed and more than 1,000 candles lit the halls. The visit is still remembered with the Nebelhöhle festival every Pentecost. Hauff's novel Lichtenstein made the cave famous by hiding the exiled Duke Ulrich in a secret side passage.

What you will see

The cave is about 813 meters long, with roughly 450 meters open to visitors. Highlights include huge collapsed boulders, wide passages and spectacular floor stalagmites; on the way to the second hall you walk through a dense "dripstone forest." A cut stalagmite shows growth rings much like a tree's. The temperature stays at around 8 to 10°C (46 to 50°F) year-round.

Tickets and opening hours

The cave is open daily from April to October; in 2026, hours are 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with last entry at 5 p.m. (as of October 2026). It is closed from November to March because bats hibernate inside. Admission is €7 for adults, €5 for students aged 6 to 14 and free for children under 6; a family ticket costs €17. Groups can book a 40-minute guided tour for a surcharge.

How to get there

Sonnenbühl lies about 15 km south of Reutlingen, and the drive from Stuttgart takes roughly an hour. There is a hiking parking lot right at the cave. By public transport, take the bus to the stop "Genkingen, Ruoffseck" and walk about 1.6 km (around 24 minutes). The Deutschlandticket is valid on regional buses. A country restaurant sits right next to the entrance.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, especially combined with Lichtenstein Castle on the same day. The 141 steps make it unsuitable for wheelchairs and strollers, and you should bring a jacket.

Nearby

• Lichtenstein Castle, the "fairy-tale castle of Württemberg," reachable on the "hochgehträumt" hiking trail.
• Wilhelm Hauff Museum in Lichtenstein-Honau.
• Bear Cave (Bärenhöhle) and the Traumland amusement park in Erpfingen.