Top 13 Caves ファルケンシュタイン/ハルツでの

Beautiful hiking trail, you can discover something different in every season.

The basement is open but full of rubbish. What a pity.

A mine was probably built here in the 16th century to mine copper and iron ore. However, fluorspar, chalcopyrite, arsenic pyrite and galena were mined. After it was closed in the 17th century, the mine fell into oblivion and was only rediscovered in the 1870s when gravel was extracted for road construction. The Magdeburg researcher Lessing then explored the cave, but the water in the shafts was up to 25 m high. After it was filled in, a waterworks was built here at the beginning of the 20th century, but it was destroyed by a rockfall just a few years later. In the 1950s, the Lessing Cave was searched for uranium-containing ore. The proportion of this radioactive metal was, fortunately for the town, too small. Today the cave serves as a refuge for bats and is therefore under special protection. Source: https://www.quedlinburg-info.de

The right tunnel can be accessed for about 40m. The deeper mine workings are flooded and the other two tunnels are filled. The Lessing Cave is also opened up every year for the "hike on the trail of mining". Source: https://harzklub-bad-suderode.de

The small stone cave is located between Alexisbad and Klostermühle, right on the Selke. Nice photo opportunity

The Pioneer Tunnel is a stop on the Selketalstieg between Alexisbad and Mägdesprung and is located on the east side of the picturesque Selke Valley. This artificial, around 10 meters long and relatively low passage was driven through the rock in May 1900 within a few days. The hiking trail leads through here. There is no alternative route over or around the rock, so if you don't want to turn back you have to squeeze through the narrow tunnel. On the south side of the tunnel you have a beautiful view of the Selke Valley and the surrounding mountains. Source: https://www.harzlife.de/bilder/pioniertunnel.html

Last weekend (06/11/23) the door to the secret passage was ajar, but not locked!

About 30 years ago, I explored this tunnel with the shaft with a friend. We discovered the upper end of the shaft. It doesn't end inside the ruins, but at the edge of the ruins. We were able to throw a stone in there. The upper end was so big that it was impossible to break through. I think the upper end was closed for safety reasons! I would still be able to find out where the end is today.