Things to do
Schlossberg caves
below the hotel
The Schlossberg caves (Schlossberghöhlen) in Homburg are a man-made sand mine in Buntsandstein (bunter sandstone), with 12 levels and around 5,000 m of passages; visitors can walk a circuit of about 800 m, which takes 40–50 minutes. The entrance is 1–2 minutes on foot below Schlossberg Hotel, and the largest hall lies 47 m beneath the building. The caves are open from February to November, and adult admission is €7.
As of: 28 September 2026
At a glance
- Type
- Man-made sand mine, now a show mine
- Rock
- Buntsandstein, around 250 million years old
- Levels
- 12
- Passages
- approx. 5,000 m, of which approx. 800 m open as a circuit
- Length of visit
- approx. 40–50 minutes
- Temperature
- around 10 °C all year
- From the hotel
- 1–2 min on foot, downhill
- Adult admission
- €7, cash only
- Visitors in 2025
- 32,227
Underground
A mine
for quartz sand
The Schlossberg caves are not a natural cave system. The operator describes them as a sand mine, a man-made network of tunnels. Miners extracted sand rich in quartz for glassmaking, as well as moulding sand for iron casting and scouring sand for floorboards.
The rock is Buntsandstein from the early Triassic, around 250 million years old; the Saarland state government assigns it to the Lower Karlstal layers of the Middle Buntsandstein. Along the circuit you will see yellow and red sandstone, domed halls, fossilised ripple marks and, on the ceiling, the footprints of small lizards.
The largest hall is the Throne Hall, 47 m below Schlossberg Hotel. It takes its name from the 1960s, when cave festivals with a “cave queen” were held there. A bunker section from the 1950s adjoins the sandstone passages.
According to the town of Homburg, these are the largest Buntsandstein caves in Europe. The operator counted 32,227 visitors in 2025.
History
From sand mine
to show mine
When the first passages were dug is not known for certain. The dates follow the operator and the Saarland state government.
- 17th c.
Man-made and probably worked as a sand mine from the 17th century. Whether the first passages served to defend the Hohenburg as early as the Middle Ages is uncertain.
- 1671
First written mention.
- 1679
During the French occupation, which lasted until 1714, the passages are extended and used as a store. The air proved too damp for gunpowder and provisions, as an officer’s letter of complaint shows.
- 1930s
The caves are rediscovered.
- 1944
In 1944 and 1945 the caves serve as an air-raid shelter. According to eyewitnesses, several thousand people took refuge here, some of them for weeks.
- 1952
From 1952 to 1955 a government bunker for the Saarland government under Johannes Hoffmann is built next to the caves. Work stops because Saarland becomes part of the Federal Republic of Germany in 1957.
- 1960s
Cave festivals in the great hall, known ever since as the Throne Hall.
- 2003
Sand falls from the ceiling of the Throne Hall and the caves are closed.
- 2007
After four years of stabilisation using mining techniques, costing around €3 million with support from the Saarland, the caves reopen, since then as a show mine under mining law.
Opening hours
- April to October
- daily 9am–5pm
- November, February, March
- daily 10am–4pm
- December and January
- closed
- Last admission
- 1 hour before closing
Admission
and tickets
Please pay at the ticket desk in cash; cards are not accepted.
- Adults
- €7
- Concessions
- €5
- Family ticket2 adults and up to 3 children under 18
- €17
- Children under 6
- free
- Groups of 10 or moreper person, concessions €4.50; advance booking required
- €6.50
- Guided tour for groupsper group, in German, English or French
- €25
- Annual passconcessions €20, non-transferable
- €30
- Combined ticket with the Roman MuseumRoman Museum Schwarzenacker; concessions €7, family €25
- €10
As of 28 September 2026. Subject to change; please check current opening hours and prices with the operator: homburger-schlossberghoehlen.de, tel. +49 6841 2064.
Getting there
From the hotel
to the cave entrance
The entrance lies around 50 m below the hotel as the crow flies, 1–2 minutes on foot down a flight of steps. Depending on where you start, there are 120 to 130 steps: around 120 from the hotel, around 130 from the car park on the Schlossberg. The way back is uphill.
Step-free access to the entrance is via a footpath of around 800 m from the so-called Spitzkehrenparkplatz car park. From the old town, around 140 steps lead up via the street Zu den Höhlen. Free parking is available on the Schlossberg.
The caves share the hotel’s address: Schlossberg-Höhen-Straße 1, 66424 Homburg. The Schlossberg-Tour hiking trail passes the cave entrance right at the start, and the Hohenburg castle ruins are only a few minutes away.
Visiting
Good to
know
- Individual visitors walk the circuit, with stations 1 to 11, on their own.
- Helmets are compulsory and are handed out on site. The safety briefing and helmet issue can mean a short wait.
- Please do not touch the ceiling or walls, and stay on the paths.
- Photography and filming are allowed, and so are dogs.
- Bring warm clothing: even in summer it is around 10 °C underground, with high humidity.
- Groups of 10 or more must book in advance on +49 6841 2064.
- There is a kiosk at the entrance selling drinks and light refreshments.
FAQ
Frequently asked
questions
When are the Schlossberg caves open?
From April to October daily 9am–5pm, and in November, February and March daily 10am–4pm. The caves are closed in December and January. Last admission is one hour before closing (as of 28 September 2026).
How long does a visit take?
The circuit is about 800 m long and takes 40–50 minutes. Allow a little extra time for the safety briefing and helmet issue.
How cold is it inside the caves?
Around 10 °C, between 8 and 14 °C depending on the spot, even in summer. Humidity is 80 to 100%. Bring a warm jacket.
How far is it from Schlossberg Hotel to the caves?
1–2 minutes on foot down a flight of steps; the town gives 120 steps, the operator around 130. The entrance is around 50 m from the hotel as the crow flies.
Do I need to book?
Individual visitors can come without booking, although the Saarland tourist board recommends calling ahead. Groups of 10 or more must book on +49 6841 2064.
Can I pay by card?
No. The ticket desk at the Schlossberg caves only accepts cash.
