Karls- und Bärenhöhle

Home of the cave bears

Originally consisting of two caves, the Bärenhöhle near Sonnenbühl can be entered on 271 metres. It was originally a water cave over 5 million years ago. After it dried out, an overwhelming abundance of dripstones emerged. A restored bear skeleton can be seen in the rear part of the cave. It indicates the numerous cave bear bones that were found in the cave.

Special feature: Popular shelter

During the Ice Age, many caves in the Swabian Alb were used by cave bears in winter. Not all animals survived the harsh winter. Thanks to the special cave climate, their bones have survived to this day. The ice ages lasted a very long time. And so large quantities of bones have accumulated.

The bears have left other traces. On some cave walls you can find "bear grindings". These are places where bears once rubbed themselves with their fur and thus virtually polished the stone.