Wimsener Höhle
A water cave near Hayingen on the Swabian Jura and the only show cave in Germany that visitors tour by boat – but only for the first 70 m, where the ceiling dips to the water. Everything beyond can be explored only with diving gear; systematic exploration began in 1959 after divers passed a sump, and Jochen Hasenmayer later reached about 40 m depth. Research divers found Bronze Age pottery and human bones in a rear chamber. In 2023 the regional cave rescue service practised a cave-diving rescue here.
Facts
- Region: Germany – Mines & Caves
- Area: Swabian Jura & Baden-Württemberg
- Level: advanced
- Current: moderate
- Type: cave
- Coordinates: 48.2565, 9.448194 (approximate)
- Highlights: Germany's only show cave visited by boat (first ~70 m), rest of the 1.2–1.5 km water cave reachable only by diving, sump, dives to about 40 m by Jochen Hasenmayer (1961–1975), Bronze Age pottery and human bones found by divers
- Permit: The cave belongs to the Schloss Ehrenfels Saint-André Stiftung and is run as a show cave; there is no public diving offer and only research teams dive. Diving would need the owner's consent and Full Cave / cave-diver certification. Check current status.
- Issuer / contact: Wimsener Höhle (TressBrüder, for the Schloss Ehrenfels Saint-André Stiftung)
- Email: wimsen@tressbrueder.de
- Address: Wimsen 1, 72534 Hayingen-Wimsen
- Website: https://www.tressbrueder.de/wimsener-hoehle/
- Unverified: No source describes the diving rules (who permits it, on what terms); the Geopark says researchers dive from time to time. 'Owner consent' is inferred from private ownership. Cave length is given as 1,260–1,470 m depending on the source. The position is published (showcaves/Wikipedia) but marked approximate because of the uncertain status.
- Tips: Visitors can take the boat trip (daily, check the operator's season). Diving is done only by research teams; no public diving is offered. Check current status.