Löwengrube bei Altdorf, Historical quarry and cave system in Altdorf bei Nürnberg, Germany
Löwengrube bei Altdorf is a sandstone cave system with spacious chambers and passages south of the town, formerly used as a bowling alley. The site contains a large rock cellar connected to a rock gallery that extends deeper into the hillside.
Between 1571 and 1575, sandstone from this quarry was extracted to build the university and the town walls of Altdorf. The cave system developed as a result of this intensive quarrying during the town's foundational period.
After its rediscovery in 1686, the site became a gathering place where students organized celebrations and social events. This tradition shaped student life in the town until the university closed in 1809.
A flashlight is essential for exploring the rock cellar, as the underground passages receive little natural light. Access is via a hiking trail marked with a white number 3 on a green background.
The Geological Survey of Bavaria designated this site as geotope 574G001 because of its exceptional rock formations showing the transition between Rhaetian and Liassic geological periods. These layers offer a rare window into a crucial moment in Earth's geological history.
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