Bear's Cave (Erpfingen)

48°22′15″N 9°12′55″E

Bear's Cave
German: Bärenhöhle
Bear skeleton
Reconstructed cave bear skeleton from Bear's cave
Coordinates48°22′15″N 9°12′55″E
GeologyWhite Jura

Bear's Cave (German: Bärenhöhle) is a tourist cave in Sonnenbühl, Germany. It is named after the numerous cave bear skeletons found there, that likely inhabited the site 20,000 years ago.[1] With 80,000 visitors annually, it is the most visited show cave in Swabian Jura. Bear's Cave was formed in limestone of the White Jurassic,[2] and provided shelter for various types of prehistoric animals.[3] The caves have also been home to a theme park, Dreamland, since 1974.[4]

The cave is made up of two parts, the Karlshöhle, discovered in 1834,[5] and the Bärenhöhle, discovered in 1949.[6] The first part of the cave was initially vandalised and pillaged by visitors upon its discovery,[1] and was only reopened to the public upon the discovery of the second cave.

History
The Fauthsloch

The cave system was developed over a period of about five million years.[7] Fossils show that 20,000 years ago, bears, rhinoceroses and German cave lions roamed the area,[1] and full reconstructions of the bear's skeletons can be viewed on the site today. 8,000 years ago, it was inhabited by humans.[8] The stalactites in the cave were formed in White Jura. Since April 2013, the site has been one of the 26 information points of UNESCO Global Geoparks, Swabian Jura.[9]

Discovery of Karlshöhle

In 1834,[10] a local teacher known mononymously as "Fauth" accidentally discovered this part of the cave.[11] While collecting herbs, he dropped his Tabaksdose (tobacco packet) into a crevice, which he found he could widen and climb down.[12] The next day, him and his friends opened up the cave to tourists, who raided it for souvenirs, or vandalised its geology.[1] Today, the entrance Fauth found is named "Fauthloch" in his honour.[11]

Discovery of Bärenhöhle

In 1949,[10] Karl Bez, a recreational cave explorer saw a bat disappear through a crack. He climbed through and found 30 bear skeletons[12] in this undiscovered part of the caves.

Dreamland

The bear-themed park Dreamland (German: Traumland) has been operating in Bear's cave since 1974. The Ferris wheel with the highest location in Europe can be found there.

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dreamland Theme Park.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bear's Cave.
  1. "Bärenhöhle". Schwaebische Alb (in German). Retrieved 2020-09-12.
  2. ""Bärenhöhle" (Bears Cave)". www.geopark-alb.de. Retrieved 2020-09-22.
  3. "Exploring the Swabian Alb". www.tourism-bw.com. Retrieved 2020-09-22.
  4. "Startseite". www.freizeitpark-traumland.de. Retrieved 2020-09-12.
  5. "Bärenhöhle". www.outdooractive.com (in German). Retrieved 2020-09-22.
  6. "Bären- und Nebelhöhle". Kurverwaltung Bad Urach. Retrieved 2020-09-22.
  7. "Show Caves of Germany: Bärenhöhle". www.showcaves.com. Retrieved 2020-09-12.
  8. e.V, Deutsche Zentrale für Tourismus. "A warm welcome awaits at Traumland leisure park at Bärenhöhle cave". www.germany.travel. Retrieved 2020-09-12.
  9. "GeoPark Schwäbische Alb". www.geopark-alb.de. Retrieved 2020-09-22.
  10. "Bärenhöhle und Nebelhöhle in Sonnenbühl". GEFAKO GmbH & Co. KG (in German). Retrieved 2020-09-12.
  11. "Höhlenwelten Sonnenbühl: Bärenhöhle". hoehlen.sonnenbuehl.de. Retrieved 2020-09-12.
  12. "Schwäbische Alb - Höhlen - Kolbinger Höhle - Linkennbolds-Höhle - Bärenhöhle". www.reiserat.de. Retrieved 2020-09-12.
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