Baumann's Cave

Receipt of Baumannshöhle

The Baumannshöhle is next to the Hermannshöhle a show cave in Rübeland in the district of Harz, and is the oldest show cave in Germany.

The cave was formed in the Devonian limestone of Elbingeröder complex in conjunction with the formation of the Bode valley.

History

According to legend, was the discovery of 1536 by the miner Friedrich Baumann, whereupon the name of the cave back. Baumann should be reached on the lookout for an ore deposit in the cave and got lost there to go out of his pit light. After three days, he managed to retrieve the output. He could still speak of the cave, then died, however, on the effects of deprivation in the cave. Since the 16th century found out instead of in the cave. 1649 issued the Dukes of Brunswick a Rübeländer the privilege to lead visitors through the cave. This date is considered the beginning of regular guided tours. Due to the destruction of stalactites of Brunswick Duke Rudolf August adopted a regulation to protect the Baumannshöhle. Therefore, the cave is also the first law which is protected natural monument in Germany. In order to prevent unauthorized accesses, one secured access in 1688 through a door, so that the stalactite decoration has been preserved until today. Among the most famous visitors was one of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, who visited the cave in 1777, 1783 and 1784. Other famous visitors were the theologian Gottfried OLEARIUS 1656 and 1690 the scientist Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz. The oldest representation about the cave interior is handed down for 1654 by Merian. The cave was, next to the Brocken, Harz, a well-known landmark and won thus for Rübeland importance as a major economic factor. At that time also the nearby Biel cave was visited.

Access to Baumannshöhle was high on the western slope of the Bode valley. The ascent of the cave was difficult. A more thorough exploration of the cave then followed from the second half of the 19th century. The cave guide armed mountain found here on July 1, 1888 access to hitherto unknown parts of the cave, which are referred to as New Baumannshöhle. By chief forester Nehring a scientifically exact plan of the cave was created in 1888.

When the regular management operations began in the Hermannshöhle on May 1, 1890, which was, moreover, equipped with electric light, the number of visitors Baumannshöhle declined. These certainly also contributed to their poor condition; sooty cave walls and lackluster stalactites testified to the use of torches, numerous stalactites had been removed as souvenirs or for sale, flares should entertain visitors.

In today's Goethesaal the cave 1901 Studies on natural radioactivity by the Wolfenbütteler researchers Elster and Geitel were made. 1928/1929 led Stolberg by a partial re-measurement of Baumannshöhle. 1928 we also created a new entrance to the cave. From the middle of the village lying, then newly built hall, now leads by a 74 meter long, 1927 -scale, steeply performers comfortable cleats to the cave. The old entrance was closed and only serves as access for business purposes. Also inside the cave new paths have been created, but not all parts of the cave are open to the public. During excavations in the Baumannshöhle 1965 new Stone Age finds came to light. In the 1990s, studies and surveys were carried out by the Working Group for karst customer eV. Since 2000, engaged couples can get married in the Baumannshöhle.

Portico in the Baumannshöhle (1951 )

Tree of Life in the portico

Formerly standing at the entrance to the cave bear skeleton Baumann, 1951

Room Description

The Baumannshöhle consists of several interconnected voids. Mentioned here is marked by a meter high stalagmite chandelier canyon. The largest room is the Goethesaal with about 2500 m², in which concerts and occasionally performed plays during the school holidays. There are two platforms and parking for up to 300 people in this room. The Goethesaal is also a branch of the local registry office. The designation as Goethesaal was only in 1928, was previously called the Hall ballroom. In Goethesaal the artificial Lake Wolfgang, whose maximum depth is 0.80 meters is located. The highest point of the cave, the kingdom of heaven is 440 meters above sea level. The deepest point, the water passage 61 meters deep at 379 meters above sea level. In a cave known as the Hamburg coat of arms is a rock formation that reminded Goethe to the Hamburg coat of arms. Since these smaller cave first Goethesaal meant she had to get a new name after the renaming of the ballroom, where it fell back on the utterance of Goethe. In the Hamburg coat of arms there is also an artificially changed, about a meter high stalagmite, the monk. From Hamburg coat of arms you get to the 1888 discovered parts of the so-called New Baumannshöhle so for turtles gorge. The name comes from a sintering and fracture formation that resembles a turtle. Above the gorge there is the line used for group photos staircase.

Other areas are the Hanging Mountains and the Palm Grotto, which takes its name from a sinter formation that resembles a palm tree. A particularly beautiful space applies the portico, which is characterized by a large number of stalactites, stalagmites, draperies and little sinter tube, called macaroni. In this hall there is also referred to as the Tree of Life stalagmite.

Became known for the cave, among other things because of the numerous skeletal remains of now-extinct cave bear. They are gathered in an area designated as a Large Field of Bone. There is also an assembled skeleton of a cave bear.

In the Baumannshöhle wintering bats. A problem arises, the occurrence of so-called lamp dar. Flora The vegetation of mosses and other plants occurs in the environment of artificial light sources and can change the appearance of the cave or damage the stones. With lighting concepts and cleaning work in the winter, the phenomenon is counteracted.