Saalfeld Fairy Grottoes

Alum slate was mined here from the sixteenth century and the workings were abandoned in 1850. Water seeping through the rock carried dissolved iron, manganese and other minerals and deposited them on the mine walls over the following decades, building sinter formations in reds, oranges, greens and blues; when the old mine was rediscovered in 1910 the effect was found, a third chamber was discovered in 1913, and tours began the following year. Guinness has recorded it as the most colourful show cave in the world. The formations are still growing. The largest chamber is called the Fairy Tale Cathedral. Salt therapy sessions run in a separate part of the workings.

History

Alum from the mine was used in medicines, as a food preservative, to clarify water and to finish cloth, but in the 19th century better chemicals replaced it and the workings were forgotten. In 1910 the old mine was rediscovered, with mineral deposits built up over some three centuries, a third chamber was found in 1913, and tours began in 1914, with a pavilion and café; between 1914 and 2007 more than 20 million people visited, and since 1993 Guinness has listed the grottoes as the most colourful in the world (Wikipedia, Saalfeld Fairy Grottoes).

What you'll find

• The coloured sinter - mineral drapes in red, orange, green and blue.
• The Fairy Tale Cathedral - the largest and most decorated chamber.
• The growing formations - deposits still building on the mine walls.
• The origin - a disused alum mine, not a natural cave.

When to go

Year-round; tours run at set times and it holds about ten degrees. Booking helps in summer and school holidays. The route takes about forty-five minutes.

Good to know

It is a mine, not a natural cave, and the formations are recent. Entry is guided only. Photography rules vary and have been restricted.

Nearby

The Leuchtenburg lies north; the Thuringian Forest rises west.

Key facts