Witzenhöhle, natural monument cave in Wiesenttal, Germany

Witzenhöhle is a karst cave at the Hohler Berg, about 800 metres east of Muggendorf in Wiesenttal. Its south-facing entrance is roughly 9 metres wide and under 2 metres high, opening into a hall 35 metres long, 16 metres wide and 5 metres high, partly covered by large collapse blocks; one rectangular block is called the Altar. The walls are damp and sintered in places, with water pools, and a very narrow passage between blocks leads to a lower level.

Witzenhöhle, Oswaldhöhle and Wundershöhle formed one cave system; the caves were separated only when the Wiesent cut its valley. Johann Friedrich Esper called the Witzenhöhle the "most dreadful and terrifying" cave of the Franconian Switzerland. Today it is registered as geotope 474H005, natural monument ND-04582 and cave C 7 in the Franconian Alb register.

The cave's name comes from a legend that sacrifices were offered here to the Slavic light god Svantevit, shortened to Witt. A large fallen block in the main hall is called the altar, echoing that story. The cave is registered as geotope 474H005 and natural monument ND-04582, and as C 7 in the Franconian Alb cave register.

Wear sturdy footwear since the ground is uneven and can be slippery in places. Bring a flashlight or headlamp, as the cave has no artificial lighting and darkness is absolute in interior sections.

Johann Friedrich Esper called the Witzenhöhle the "most dreadful and terrifying" cave of the Franconian Jura. A rectangular collapse block inside the hall is known as the Altar, and a narrow gap between fallen blocks leads down to a lower cave level.