Rübeland combines two caves with distinct features and a specific hiking option. In Baumannshöhle, the Goethesaal commemorates Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, who visited the cave several times; its largest chamber is named after him. The Goethesaal is also home to an underground natural stage, where theatre events and concerts, among other things, take place. Alongside its geological features, this gives the cave a cultural and historical dimension.

Baumannshöhle and Hermannshöhle

Hermannshöhle is a river cave, with chambers reaching heights of up to 50 metres. Its special features include the Olmensee, home to Germany’s only olm cave salamanders, and a crystal chamber. Guided tours last about 50 minutes. According to the stated schedule, tours are currently planned at 20-minute intervals; as these intervals may change, check the latest tour information before your visit.

Hiking and other activities in Rübeland

If you’d also like to explore on foot, Rübeland offers the moderately difficult “Himmel & Höhle” connecting trail. It is about 6.4 kilometres long, with a stated duration of 1 hour 50 minutes, and starts at the Hermannshöhle car park. For planning your day, it’s useful to compare it with a guided cave tour: while the tour takes about 50 minutes, the hike requires its own, longer block of time. Check the latest route details before setting out.

Another local option is the “Bodeperle” outdoor swimming pool in Rübeland. It offers opportunities for swimming, paddling, playing and relaxing. This adds a different kind of leisure activity to a cave visit and a hike. If you’re planning to visit the pool on a particular day, check its current opening hours.

More to explore in Oberharz am Brocken

If you’d like to look beyond Rübeland to the wider destination of Oberharz am Brocken, you can compare hikes of different lengths. A moderately difficult route through mixed forest leads to the Krockstein viewpoint: the stated distance is 2.8 kilometres and the duration is 55 minutes. The moderately difficult circular trail around the Hasselvorsperre near Hasselfelde covers 5.5 kilometres and takes 1 hour 28 minutes. By comparison, “Himmel & Höhle” in Rübeland, at 6.4 kilometres and 1 hour 50 minutes, is the longest of the three routes listed. This makes it possible to weigh up how much time to allow for walking based on specific figures.

Culture and craftsmanship also give the wider destination of Oberharz am Brocken its own character. Stiege’s stave church is the only sacred building in Germany in the Norwegian dragon style. In Hasselfelde, the Charcoal Burners’ Museum offers a glimpse into the difficult working and living conditions of charcoal burners. At the Harzköhlerei Stemberghaus, traditional earth kilns are built, fired and harvested from the beginning of April through to the end of October; visitors can experience the traditional craft of charcoal burning live. This seasonal period is a useful guide if you’d rather focus on craftsmanship than caves.

For a biographical perspective, the wider destination of Oberharz am Brocken is also home to the Blumenau Museum, located in the Haus des Gastes in Hasselfelde. Through images and text, it presents the life and work of chemist and emigrant Hermann Blumenau. While the Charcoal Burners’ Museum focuses on working and living conditions, this museum explores the story of an individual.

Discover more destinations: Neuwerk, Trautenstein, Hasselfelde, Elend, Benneckenstein, Sorge, Königshütte, Elbingerode

Back to the overview of the wider destination: Oberharz Am Brocken.