Heimenstein Cave
| Heimenstein Cave
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 Reussenstein castle ruins from Heimenstein, steel engraving from around 1845 |
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| Location: | Heimenstein near Neidlingen , Swabian Alb , Germany | |
| Height : | 756 m above sea level NHN | |
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Geographic location: |
48 ° 33 '34.6 " N , 9 ° 33' 14" E | |
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| Cadastral number: | 7423/04 | |
| Type: | former river cave , karst cave , through cave | |
| Lighting: | No | |
| Overall length: | 80 meters | |
The Heimenstein Cave is a through cave on the Heimenstein in the Swabian Alb . It can be reached from the Bahnhoffle hikers' car park on the Reußenstein – Neidlingen road and is freely accessible.
history
The first mention of a Heimensteiner - Gerboldus Diktus de Haimenstein - comes from around 1240, the first illustration of Heimenstein Castle, however, only from 1596. It can be assumed that the Heimenstein Cave was included in this defensive system and thus at the latest by this time was known.
The former river cave shows striking water level marks and pools . However, a large part of the cave was probably destroyed by the erosion of the night eaves. The remainder is about 80 meters long, the two entrances have a height difference of 20 meters. From the lower entrance (756 m above sea level) you have a view of the Reußenstein ruins . However, an engraving made in the early 19th century, which shows the view from the cave to the ruins, is not realistic because the Reußenstein is further away than the depiction leads to believe and is not visible from the depicted perspective.
legend
According to a local legend, a giant once lived in the cave who one day wanted a castle. Wilhelm Hauff tells how he had the Reußenstein Castle built by craftsmen from all over Württemberg , and a young craftsman made his fortune: Nobody dared hammer the last nail in the top window. Eventually the young man offered to take the risk if he could then marry his master's daughter. The giant seized the brave man, held him securely over the abyss and, when the deed was done, gave him a dowry and the castle as a residence.
literature
- Hans Binder , Herbert Jantschke: Cave guide Swabian Alb. Caves - springs - waterfalls . 7th completely revised edition. DRW-Verlag, Leinfelden-Echterdingen 2003, ISBN 3-87181-485-7 , p. 130-131 .