Below the ruins of the Hohenburg Castle on the Schlossberg are Europe's largest red sandstone caves. Mysterious passages take visitors to imposing dome halls, which have a special appeal due to the yellow, red and yellow-red discoloration of the sand. The result is the Buntsandstein, which forms the ridge above the city of Homburg, about 250 million years ago.
In addition to the interesting discolorations, the so-called Rippelmarken, which mark ceilings and walls almost everywhere, are characteristic of the Schlossberg caves. These Rippelmarken are wave traces of moving water, as they are also observed on beaches. They are unmistakable witnesses to the area of water-covered land in the region many millions of years ago.
As part of the Hohenburg Fortress, which gave the city its name, the cave labyrinth used to serve primarily as a defense. After the death of the last count of Homburg in 1449 castle and city fell to the counts of Nassau-Saarbrücken. In the Reunionszeit had the French King Louis XIV. Through his stronghold master Sébastien Le Prêstre de Vauban castle and town to build a fortress. The fortifications were demolished in 1697 and 1714.
The Schlossberghöhlen were created by human hands, it is therefore actually mine tunnels. Originally the sand was used in the 17th century due to the high quartz content for the glass production. Later, the mining was carried out as a scouring sand for cleaning and as molding sand for the iron industry.
After being forgotten for a while, the caves were rediscovered in the 1930s. During the Second World War, the Homburg population was protected from air raids in the caves.
The sandstone caves are adjoined by an equally impressive bunker area, which was built in the early 1950s for the then government of the Saarland.
In the recent past, the Schlossberg caves were extensively renovated with the generous support of the Ministry of Economic Affairs. The newly developed concrete and steel safety equipment not only provides the best possible protection in the caves, but they are also a valuable part of this unique visitor experience.
The caves are now available for single visitors over 3 floors (10, 11 and 12) to visit. Waiting times are possible because of the safety briefing and helmet issue.
Guided tours are still possible. Registration is useful. Guided tours are also available in English and French.
Groups please call in advance in the caves. Here an additional fee of 10 € per group tour is due.
Please note that the caves have a constant temperature of 10 ° C.
From the old town, the caves can be reached via a staircase access. If you arrive by car, you can park on the Schlossberg. Also from here a staircase leads to the entrance of the Schlossberghöhlen.
The ruins of the Hohenburg Fortress can be visited for free at any time.