Top 5 Caves エアランゲンヘクシュタットでの

The "Jungferla Spring" originates in this 85-meter-long, multi-branched sandstone cellar. In the 1960s, the entrance to the sandstone cellar was bricked up and overgrown for safety reasons. It was thus no longer visible, but it wasn't entirely forgotten by the residents of Baiersdorf. In 2006, the water in the renovated Jungferla Fountain dried up shortly before its inauguration. This prompted the decision to search for the spring's source in the buried sandstone cellar. After extensive excavation, the former cellar entrance was found bricked up. On December 5, 2006, the cellar was entered again for the first time. Its condition was so good that the local history society, with the support of sponsors and local businesses, renovated and restored it, redesigning the entrance area. On May 25, 2008, the cellar was reopened to the public with the first "Jungferla Cellar Festival." Due to popular demand, a "cellar festival" is now held every year on Ascension Day. Sandstone or rock cellars have a long tradition in Franconia. They were used primarily for storing beer, wine, and agricultural products. Without additional cooling, the cellars maintain a constant temperature of around 8°C year-round. Because beer was stored in the cellars, a tavern was often built nearby, usually above or in front of them – which is why even today in Franconia people still go "to the cellar" rather than to a beer garden. The cellars consist of passages of varying lengths and sizes, hewn into hillsides. The cellar is closed off with a gate. {Source: Information panel on site]

The exact age of this extensive cellar complex is not known. The cellars served as storage cellars for horseradish, cabbage, turnips, etc. The two upper cellars have a connecting corridor, are almost as high as a man, lie about 12 meters below the surface of the earth and reach up to 80 meters into the sandstone. The upper cellars can be visited every year during the Hohlfest. The lower cellar complex is almost at the level of Baiersdorfer Straße. The right cellar is more than as high as a man, with brick arches. It was previously used by the Baiersdorf "Schübelsbrauerei" as a storage cellar for beer. During the Second World War it served as an air raid shelter for the residents of Kleinseebach. [ Source: Information board on site ]

Interesting sandstone formations, small cave

The map says Blueberry Cave! Consists of sandstone.

Unfortunately, the former Sauer Keller is no longer in use. An unusual feature of the 65 meter long cellar is a centrally located, eight meter high ice cellar. Ice floes used to be fetched from nearby ponds with wagons and thrown down through the air shafts into the cellar, where they were spread and piled up. These then slowly melted and the water seeped away. In this way, temperatures of around 8 degrees, which are ideal for storing bottom-fermented beer, could be guaranteed in the entire cellar even during the summer.

Small caves in the sandstone. Gorgeous place, has something mystical about it. 😉

Old storage cellar in the sandstone

According to legend, the name of the spring comes from three virgins who are said to have come from the forest to the city several times to attend the dances of the youth.