Zwergenhöhle, Cave and archaeological site in Odenthal, Germany.
The Zwergenhöhle is a natural cave with limestone formations located in a beech forest near Odenthal and shaped by karst processes over geological time. The rock contains traces of ancient marine deposits and shows evidence of multiple geological periods.
The cave was inhabited by people during prehistoric times, as shown by numerous finds from excavations. These artifacts help researchers better understand early human settlements in Europe.
The name means 'Dwarfs Cave' and stems from local legends about small craftspeople who supposedly made shoes at night for regional shoemakers. These stories still shape how people remember and think of this place.
The cave is permanently closed to protect hibernating bat species such as Brown Long-eared Bats and Daubenton's Bats during winter rest. Visitors can explore the cave entrance area and the surrounding forest landscape.
The cave is located in the Paffrath limestone formation and was shaped by intense karst processes during different geological periods of the Tertiary era. These processes created a complex underground landscape with distinctive features.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.