Attraction · Saalfeld/Saale · Updated on 1 November 2026.

Feengrotten in Saalfeld/Saale

Feengrotten is an attraction in Saalfeld/Saale, Thuringia. This place has a story in the app. Within 20 m you'll find a bench and a public toilet.

Directions in Google Maps

The story

Wikipedia ↗Official website ↗

Story · Feengrotten

You're standing at the Saalfeld Fairy Grottoes, the Feengrotten, in the German state of Thuringia. From out here you mostly see the pavilion at the entrance. But the real story is under your feet, in an old mine that's now known as the most colorful set of cave grottoes in the world. That's not just me talking: the Guinness Book of World Records has called it that since 1993.

Read the whole story in the Outdoor Pitstop app: check in at this place and it is yours (with Pro; new users are Pro for the first 4 weeks).

Opening hours and admission

Admission: Paid
Wheelchair: Not accessible

Source: OpenStreetMap and Wikidata.

Photos

10 photos from Wikimedia Commons. In the app you add your own photo when you are there.

1 / 10

Photo: Ansgar Koreng · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0 deView the photo on Wikimedia Commons

What you see in the Feengrotten

Underground, you walk through 3 chambers linked by passages. In the first, you hear about the mine and the radiation treatments once given here. These were later found to be dangerous. The second chamber shows the spring of mineral-rich water that formed all the dripstones you pass along the way. The third chamber is the highlight: the Märchendom, which means fairy-tale realm. Theatre lighting falls on the walls and deposits here, and you see them again in a still little pool that works like a mirror. Because of the light and the reflection, the deposits look like small castles and buildings.

The history of the Feengrotten

For centuries, miners cut alum shale out of the mountain here. Alum was used in medicines, to preserve food, to clear water and to finish fabric. Later, better chemical products arrived, and the mine was no longer profitable. It closed in 1850 and was then almost forgotten. The old mine was rediscovered in 1910. In 1913, researchers found the third chamber. In 1914, the first guided tours began, and the pavilion with its café opened too. During the time of the DDR, the site remained an official sight, open to foreign tourists. After reunification, the pavilion was renovated from 1998 onwards.

Opening times, tickets and accessibility for the Feengrotten

The entrance to the Feengrotten is paid, so you need a ticket before you go inside. Tickets are not free, and you can only join a guided tour. Opening times, current prices and information on accessibility can change, so check the official website, feengrotten.de, before you visit. You will find what applies at the moment there. If you have questions about the route underground, for example for a pushchair or wheelchair, look up the contact details on that website first. That way you will know in advance what to expect.

Toilets, drinking water and benches nearby

If you want to sit down for a while, there are benches at Feengrotten Saalfeld/Saale. The nearest is 3 metres away, by Naturpark Thüringer Schiefergebirge/Obere Saale, and there are 10 benches within 500 metres. A toilet is also close by at Feengrotten Saalfeld/Saale. The nearest public toilet is 20 metres away, also by the Naturpark, and you can use it free of charge. There are 3 public toilets within 500 metres. Drinking water is harder to find here: according to our map, there is no water tap within 1 km of Feengrotten Saalfeld/Saale, so bring enough water with you.

Facilities near Feengrotten

The nearest pitstop of each kind within 1 km, as the crow flies. No water point, bike pump or honesty box within 1 km.

Walks within 2 km

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Cycle routes within 5 km

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Explore further

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Frequently asked questions

What are the Feengrotten saalfeld/saale?

The Feengrotten in Saalfeld/Saale are a former alum shale mine in Thüringen which, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, have been the most colourful caves in the world since 1993. Dripping water coated the rock with colourful minerals.

What can you see at the Feengrotten saalfeld/saale?

You will see 3 chambers connected by passages. The third chamber, the Märchendom, is the highlight, with deposits that, under theatre lighting and reflected in a still pool of water, look like small castles.

Do I need tickets for the Feengrotten saalfeld/saale?

Yes, entry to the Feengrotten is paid. More information about tickets is available on the official website feengrotten.de.

Where can I find a toilet at the Feengrotten saalfeld/saale?

The nearest public toilet is 20 metres from the Feengrotten, at Naturpark Thüringer Schiefergebirge/Obere Saale, and is free. There are 3 public toilets in total within 500 metres.

Are there benches at the Feengrotten saalfeld/saale?

Yes, the nearest bench is 3 metres from the Feengrotten, at Naturpark Thüringer Schiefergebirge/Obere Saale. There are 10 benches within 500 metres.

Is there drinking water at the Feengrotten saalfeld/saale?

No, according to our map there is no water tap within 1 km of the Feengrotten. So bring your own water.