Schloßberghöhlen is Europe's largest sandstone caves…read more As part of the Hohensalzburg Castle - we were advised there are something like 10-12 levels that were once used primarily for defense. During World War II the townsfolk used the caves for protection against air raids. In more modern times, the caves were used as banquet halls and for raves.......recognizing the potential hazard to the structural walls ( as they are only sandstone & one can scrape sediment away w/ one's fingers ) the site was closed off and is currently being turned into an educational / tourist destination Layers of mineral deposits show where this was once all underwater from the swirls in the pattern of red & tan layers They prefer guided tours - hardhats are issued at check in & you can reserve tour guides who speak a variety of languages We walked around the 1 level they currently have open - there are large buttons along the way which will light up parts of the cave & showcase various points of interest. We saw roots from trees on top of the mountain we were currently under; the "Throne Room" with its huge, cavernous rotunda; and a banquet hall that still had a large wooden table in it - must have been where they held their events. Overall, a nice excursion & if you're in the area, worth a visit

After visiting the tourist office in Idar-Oberstein, my daughter and I decided to drive the short…read moredistance to Fischbach to visit this attraction. We were warmly greeted by the young man at the reception desk, and, to our delight, were given an written English guide that we could use with the German tour. We donned our helmets and were soon walking with the rest of the group underground in this 18th century mine. The tour was informative, and, although the tour was in German, we could follow along with the written guide. Our tour guide spoke enough English that he could answer the questions that we had. We found this to be a very interesting, informative find. And, the restaurant nearby was decent too.