ホイエルスハウゼンの天然記念物・トップ20

The Rothestein Cave is a special highlight here. It's open from April to September. The climb is probably not suitable for everyone. Maybe I'm too tall for it. 😅

The story of the Rothestein Cave is interesting and exciting!

The natural ridge path along the Ith cliffs leads through the most beautiful nature and is peppered with vantage points for fantastic views. Good physical condition and surefootedness are a basic requirement for large parts of the path, however, especially when the paths become narrow trails. The winding paths, the constant ups and downs, which can make the path an exhausting challenge, should not be underestimated.

The cliff path is a true hiking gem. It goes through the dense, old beech forests of the lth on mostly fine, narrow paths. And by the way, you walk past wonderful grotesque rock formations that run the entire way. The cliffs are sometimes small, sometimes they offer wonderful views and sometimes they are so big that you can climb them. A really worthwhile path.

Passed by here on our 5th Ith-Hils-Weg stage.

In the season when the cave is accessible (April 1st - September 30th) you should take the chance and go inside. The narrow, long corridor conveys an exciting cave feeling. Today, however, one can no longer really imagine how cult sacrificial rituals took place here in the Bronze Age. Alfred Wollemann examined this cave for the first time in 1853 and found shards of pots, bones and tools made of bronze. The finds have been scientifically assigned to the Bronze Age. His descriptions of human sacrifices and cultic acts are now considered to be reliable.

A narrow crevice forms the entrance. Behind it, a narrow passage about 20 m long leads into the rock. At the end, the high, relatively narrow and 40 m long so-called Wollemann-Gang goes off to the right, turning at right angles, which is lower than the entrance and can be reached via a stepped landing. In some places the corridor is widened. At another point, a crevice that narrows downwards goes down about 20 m. Near the landing, a narrow passage opens up (the "von Hase-Gang"), which leads to an inconspicuous, small opening below the cave forecourt. The cave is freely accessible from April 1st to September 30th. The rest of the time it is closed to protect the bats that overwinter there. Source: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rothesteinh%C3%B6hle

Beautiful in spring before the trees turn green. Millions of forest flowers, corydalis, wood anemones, snowflakes, cowslips, etc. And of course wild garlic. Unfortunately, only Coppenbrügge can be reached by public transport, so you have to find an individual solution for the way back.