Saalfeld Fairy Grottoes

The Saalfeld Fairy Grottoes are caverns or grottoes of a former mine near Saalfeld, Thuringia. They've long been known for their plethora of colorful mineral formations (speleothems) formed by water dripping through the relatively soft rock over many years. The Feengrotten has been described as "the most colorful cave grottoes in the world" by the Guinness Book of World Records since 1993.

The caverns are made up of three chambers that are linked by galleries. The first chamber contains information about the mine's history, which ranges from the 16th to the 19th centuries, and was an alum shale mine that closed in 1850 but reopened for sightseeing in 1914. The historical context includes information about environmental radiation treatments that were previously available there until they were discovered to be dangerous.

The source of the mineral-laden water that formed colorful stalagmites, stalactites, and other shapes over the centuries can be found in the second chamber. The third chamber houses the famous "Fairy Kingdom" (Märchendom), which consists of a diverse collection of deposits that, when illuminated by theatrical lights and reflected in a perfectly still pool of water, are said to resemble miniature castles and other structures.

Location: Feengrottenweg 2, Saalfeld/Saale, Germany