Uftrungen lies in the Thyra Valley near the Heimkehle, a gypsum karst cave that can only be explored as part of a guided tour. A stay here brings together several different themes: the landscape around the village, the underground world of the cave, and a memorial site within the cave. When planning your visit, both Uftrungen’s location and the special conditions for visiting the cave are important.

Valley, wooded hills and karst

Uftrungen lies in the Thyra Valley. The surrounding landscape is characterised by wooded hills, which are connected to the Schabeleite and Alter Stolberg protected areas. The Heimkehle, a remarkable gypsum karst cave near the village, adds an underground natural environment to this landscape. The valley, wooded hills and underground karst thus offer three different points of interest during a stay. If you are interested in both the landscape and geology when choosing a destination, you can take this combination into account in Uftrungen.

The Heimkehle: length and guided visits

The Heimkehle is about two kilometres long, of which 700 metres are open to visitors. These two measurements refer to different areas: the section open to visitors is part of the longer cave, not its full length. Underground lakes and large caverns can be seen there. The cave can only be explored as part of a guided tour. This is important when planning your visit: access to the cave is tied to a guided tour, rather than a self-guided walk. If the Heimkehle is a key part of your plans, you can factor in the guided format from the outset.

Practical conditions for the cave route

The guided route is wheelchair accessible. The average temperature inside the cave is around 8°C all year round. Warm clothing, suitable footwear and a helmet are required for the visit. The temperature remains an important consideration even in the warmer months; your clothing should take more than just the weather outside into account. If you rely on wheelchair accessibility, check the current arrangements before travelling.

Remembrance and refreshments

A visit to the cave has a historical dimension as well as a geological one. The Kleine Dom is a memorial site; information along the tour commemorates victims of forced labour and persecution. For visitors who mainly see the cave as a natural environment, this is an important addition: alongside its geology, the route also has a commemorative dimension.

Outside the Heimkehle, there is a restaurant serving regional and seasonal dishes, with seating indoors and outdoors. The menu gives a regional and seasonal character to a meal stop; dishes and availability may change. If you plan to stop there, check the latest information in advance. It is also worth bearing in mind the different conditions when choosing your timing: the cave has an average temperature of around 8°C all year round, while the restaurant serves seasonal dishes. Warm clothing is therefore important in the cave regardless of when you travel; the restaurant’s menu, however, may vary with the season.

The cave and restaurant involve different planning considerations: exploring the cave requires a guided tour, while the restaurant’s menu and availability may change. This makes it easy to plan a visit to the Heimkehle and a possible meal stop as two separate parts of your stay.

Discover more destinations: Hainrode, Schwenda, Breitungen, Breitenstein, Dietersdorf, Stolberg, Wickerode

Return to the main travel overview: South Harz.