It's fascinating to take a journey back 47 million years, 60 meters down into a former volcanic crater, a planned landfill, one of the world's most important fossil discovery and storage sites, an old oil shale and lignite mining pit, and a growing nature reserve. On the tour, you can marvel at the detailed nature of real fossils and even touch them. My tip: Be sure to take a guided tour and visit the visitor center, which is a concrete block for good reason.

Translated by

•

Thomas P.

May 8, 2017

Mountain biking

The pit Messel - a window to the primeval times
The fossil deposit Grube Messel was included in 1995 as the first German natural monument in the list of UNESCO World Heritage. It uniquely sheds light on the early evolution of mammals and documents the history of Earth's evolution 48 million years ago, when explosive changes in the flora and fauna took place after the end of the dinosaur age.

Translated by

•

Thomas P.

May 8, 2017

Mountain biking

Several 10,000 fossils from the Eocene have so far been recovered in the Maarvulkan Lake, which was formed 48 million years ago, and every year around 3,000 new finds are added. In addition to the high number and diversity of animal and plant fossils, their unique preservation of full-body skeletons, skin and coat shadows, feathers and stomach contents is particularly evident in the Messel pit.

Translated by

•

Routes here

Best Hikes to Messel Pit UNESCO World Heritage Site

Details

Informations

Elevation 230 m

Weather

Most visited during

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

See routes here

Take Me There

Add komoot as a preferred source in your Google results

Add now

Location: Messel, Landkreis Darmstadt-Dieburg, Darmstadt District, Hesse, Germany

Other Popular Places to Check Out

Neolithic Menhir Site Hirtenwiese

Steinbrücker Teich and Oberwaldhaus Recreation Area

Dianaburg Hunting Pavilion

Rosarium Rosenhöhe Darmstadt

Turbo Teilstück

Schnelle Welle Gravel Section

Scheftheimer Oak

Mainzer Berg Quarry

Rossberg Quarry

Grube Prinz von Hessen (Southeast Shore)

Former Shooting Range Messel

Hartig Monument

Messel Pit UNESCO World Heritage Site

Other Popular Places to Check Out

We value your privacy ⛰️

We value your privacy ⛰️