Bears' Cave

The bear cave in the Langenbach Valley near Rodalben is known far beyond the region's borders as a ‘two-storey’ natural monument. The upper cave is the largest natural rock cave in the Palatinate. It houses a spring with a waterfall that plunges past the smaller lower cave towards the valley. It is located directly on the well-known Rodalber Felsenwanderweg (Rodalben rock hiking trail) and the Bärenhöhlen-Tour (Bear Cave Tour) of the Gräfensteiner Land and, with its seating areas, invites you to rest and linger. In the valley below the cave is a bear sculpture made of red sandstone, designed by Rodalber artist Stephan Müller. There is also a small water treading pool and a stream where children love to play. The Bear Cave is also easily accessible via a walk along the Langenbach Valley Trail, which is suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs. Free parking is available at the entrance to the valley (L482, In der Langenbach exit). Guided tours that include the bear cave are also offered regularly (for more information, visit www.g-ig.de).

Further information about this natural monument:
The name of the bear cave is controversial among historians. While some argue that the bear was the namesake of the cave – although the size and entrance of the cave contradict this – others believe that it was a boundary rock of the Pirmasens forest and that the name of the cave has more to do with the surnames Bermann or Bärmann. However, the Bear Rock, also known as the Bear Cave, has been a striking rock formation since ancient times, which has become particularly anchored in the consciousness and language of the citizens of Rodalben as a ‘cave’. Due to the age sequence of the rock layers, the Bear Cave, just like the well-known Karlstal layers, is classified as Middle Buntsandstein. The layers repeatedly appear as rock bands on the slopes of the Langenbach Valley along the rock hiking trail and reach a local peak in the Bruderfelsen, the landmark of the town of Rodalben. This is a striking, legendary rock resting on two huge stone pillars. Attentive hikers will be able to understand this classification, as the distinguishable and overlying layer, the so-called main conglomerate, is visible immediately to the north-east of the Bärenhöhle cave. The rock formations in the Langenbach Valley, especially in the Bärenhöhle cave, act as water reservoirs and thus as spring horizons, which is why the Bärenfels spring emerges in a layer joint above one such formation. This small rocky stream plunges about 20 metres below the cave over a lower, wider rock bank into a basin lined with stones, which means that the impressive ‘two-storey’ rock formation can be interpreted as a creation of water. Erosion forces, frost action and winds have created this natural monument over thousands of years. With a little imagination, you can see the profile of an eagle's head from the end of the cave, on the right, in a free rock spur protruding into the cave. According to recent research, the first settlements took place around 8,000 years ago. This is also suggested by the finds of rock scrapers, arrowheads and bones with sharpened barbs. All these finds can be seen in the Historical Museum of the Palatinate in Speyer. It is also certain that pig herders found shelter in the cave. There is also evidence that a forest restaurant popular with the citizens of Rodalben was established at the Bärenhöhle in the 1900s until the outbreak of the First World War. The stone bases of the tables and benches are still standing today.

Opening times

Walkable all year round, no admission. Good and sturdy footwear is an advantage. Backpack catering.