The Bear Cave in Sonnenbühl-Erpfingen and the Fog Cave in Sonnenbühl-Genkingen take visitors into the realm of stalactites and cave bears. They have joined forces as a Geopark information center to showcase the fascinating underground world of the Swabian Jura.
About 8,000 years ago, the Bear Cave was home to cave dwellers. It was only 50 years ago that this cave, which is connected to the Karl’s Cave known since 1834, was discovered and opened to visitors. The Bear Cave is accessible for 271 meters, offering visitors a diverse prehistoric and underground world.
Discovery:
On May 30, 1834, the schoolteacher Fauth from Erpfingen was collecting herbs. He pushed some bushes aside and suddenly saw small stones disappear into a rock crevice. As he curiously leaned over the opening, his tobacco tin slipped from his vest and vanished into the depths.
A Tobacco Tin Disappears
The next day, he ventured into the suspected cave with the help of friends. On a large pile of rubble directly beneath the entrance hole, several human skeletons lay on top. Over a mass of human and animal bones, stalactites, and rock formations, the explorers made their way to the rear part of the cave.
Soon after the discovery, local villagers flocked to the site. Many took "souvenirs" with them. Others went as far as to destroy bones and even well-preserved skulls in sheer barbarism. Within a few weeks, the cave was robbed of a significant part of its findings—and with them, its history.
