The Atta Cave
Formed more than 400 million years ago and discovered during limestone quarrying in the early 20th century, the Atta Cave is among Germany’s most unique natural wonders — a cavernous dripstone cave tunneling beneath the ground for an incredible 6,670 meters. Visiting the Atta Cave from Frankfurt or Cologne makes a unique choice for a day trip, often combined with nearby sights like the 12th-century Greifenstein Castle and scenic Lake Bigge.
Only a portion of the excavated cave is open to visitors, but it’s still impressively large, with a series of underground chambers and show caves, reached by an 80-meter-long natural tunnel, and featuring a dramatic display of stalactites and stalagmites. Visits are by guided tour only, with visitors walking through a 500-meter stretch including a section of the cave used to store cheese and the most atmospheric area, aptly nicknamed the Crystal Palace, which is adorned with glittering calcite crystal formations and curtains of rock striped with iron oxide.
- Contributed by Zoe Smith
Visiting the Atta Cave From Frankfurt from Germany Things to Do