The Schertelshöhle is one of the most beautiful caves in the Swabian Alb and immensely rich in dripstones. Daylight falls mysteriously into the cave through the "cow hole". This entrance funnel used to be the only access. It is a doline.
Dolines are common karst phenomena in the Swabian Alb. These remarkable hollows or funnels in the landscape are formed by collapsed cave ceilings. The Schertelshöhle offers therefore an extraordinary perspective: The unique opportunity to see a sinkhole from below and to clearly understand its formation.
Like all caves in the Swabian Alb, the Westerheim Caves are a result of karstification. This process is still going on in the Swabian Alb at present time, what we call the youngest Quaternary. The individual caves are in different stages of cave formation. The Schertelshöhle, which fell dry, represents a relatively late stage - dripstones have already formed.
