Märchen- und Sandsteinhöhle
Show mine in Walldorf near Meiningen: a labyrinth of caves dug by sand makers, with 2,500 pillars and more than 30 fairy-tale scenes.
Om museet
Beneath the hills near Walldorf, now a district of Meiningen, residents quarried fine-grained sandstone over generations. When this began is not precisely known; written records exist from about 1800. The so-called sand makers (Sandmacher) broke the rock out of the mountain with simple tools such as pickaxes, chisels, and wooden mallets, crushed it, and sold the sand as scouring and strewing sand far beyond the region. In 1828, twelve leaseholders and their families worked in the state-owned sand pit, and at times 60 to 80 families were employed, under harsh conditions and for little return.
Around 1900 demand collapsed, and after the First World War quarrying ended. What remained was a labyrinth of about 65,000 square meters, its ceiling supported by more than 2,500 pillars left standing, one of the largest man-made caves of this kind in Europe. From 1902 to 1912 it was used for a mushroom farm, which was ruined by a mold. In 1932 an association opened the cave to visitors for the first time; operations ceased during the war years.
Since June 9, 1957, the cave has been open again. Today a family business guides visitors through the mine and tells them about the lives of the sand-maker families. More than 30 fairy-tale scenes based on the Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Andersen, and the Meiningen poet Ludwig Bechstein make the tour especially vivid for children. Outside, a restaurant, beer garden, and a small park with animal enclosures round out the offering.
Højdepunkter
- Cave labyrinth of about 65,000 m² with more than 2,500 pillars
- More than 30 fairy-tale scenes based on Grimm, Andersen, and Bechstein
- History of the Walldorf sand makers
- Park with animal enclosures, aviaries, and a model boat pond
- Restaurant with beer garden and ice cream bar at the cave entrance
Permanente udstillinger
- Höhlenlabyrinth der Sandmacher mit Märchenszenen – Guided tour through the hand-dug sandstone mine with insights into the work of the sand-maker families and more than 30 scenes from fairy tales by Grimm, Andersen, and Bechstein.
- Grundlagt
- 1932
- Ejer
- Sandstein- und Märchenhöhle GbR
Entrépriser & rabatter
| Voksne | 8 € |
|---|---|
| Nedsat pris | 6 €People with severe disabilities |
| Børn og unge | 4 €Children and young people aged 3 to 14; children and young people with severe disabilities €3. |
| Personer med handicap | 6 €Children and young people with severe disabilities €3. |
| Grupper (fra 20 pers.) | 6 € pr. personTour bus groups of 20 or more; children €3. Package deals for tour groups and children's groups (children's groups including a meal and a non-alcoholic drink) only with a single combined order and after arrangement by phone at least one week in advance. |
| Familier | 20 €2 adults and 2 children or young people (ages 3–14) |
With the Thüringer Wald Card, €1 (adults) or €0.50 (children) discount.
Tilgængelighed
Museet har ikke offentliggjort oplysninger om dette – spørg venligst museet direkte.
Børn og familie
Velegnet til børn og familier
| Familiebillet | 20 € · 2 adults and 2 children or young people (ages 3–14) |
|---|
- Legeplads / legehjørne
More than 30 fairy-tale scenes make the cave tour child-friendly. The park has an animal enclosure with goats, sheep, ferrets, and guinea pigs, birds of prey and ornamental birds, as well as a model boat pond with remote-controlled boats. Directly in front is a mini amusement park run by another operator with coin-operated rides.
Transport & parkering
Take the A 71, exit Meiningen-Nord, onto the B 19 toward Eisenach, and at the next exit turn off toward Walldorf, then follow the signs. The operator recommends not following the navigation device but approaching via Spitalstraße, Invalidenstraße, and Thomas-Müntzer-Straße.
Planlæg ruteService & spisesteder
- Café
- Restaurant
Restaurant and self-service restaurant with Thuringian cuisine, Höhlenstadl (cave barn), beer garden, and ice cream bar right at the cave entrance; coffee, cake, and ice cream. Guesthouse with rooms.
Arrangementer & udlejning
- Lokaler til leje
- Private fester
The restaurant is available for celebrations of all kinds, also outside opening hours; larger groups also in winter. The cave team also offers catering and party service.
Forespørgsel & detaljerPlanlæg dit besøg
| Rundvisninger | ja |
|---|---|
| Godt at vide | The cave can only be visited with a guided tour; the last tour starts at 16:00. It is cool in the cave all year round (8–10 °C). |
