Caves and Ice Age art of the Swabian Jura
The Museum of Prehistory
The Museum of Prehistory in Blaubeuren (urmu) shows extraordinary finds from the caves of the Swabian Jura. They bear witness to the culture of the first modern humans (Homo sapiens), who lived here around 40,000 years ago. One of the highlights of the exhibition is the “Venus of Hohle Fels”, the first figurative representation of a human being worldwide. The oldest musical instruments ever found - flutes made of bird bones and mammoth ivory - are also on display in the museum. The urmu offers many hands-on stations for children and adults. It provides a vivid picture of everyday life in the Ice Age and provides exciting insights into the work of archaeologists.
UNESCO World Heritage Site “Caves and Ice Age Art of the Swabian Jura”
Six caves in the Swabian Jura have been awarded the title of “UNESCO World Heritage Site”. The first modern humans who came to Europe in the last Ice Age left their traces in these caves. In addition to everyday objects, the caves contain spectacular evidence that these people wore jewelry, played music and created figurative works of art - all of this around 40,000 years ago. The following World Heritage caves are located in the Achtal near Blaubeuren:
- Sirgenstein Cave
- Geißenklösterle
- Hohle Fels - the largest visitable cave hall in the Swabian Jura.
Various hiking trails, the “Ice Age Traces”, lead to the caves. They are equipped with information boards as well as climbing and participation stations. A media guide for your smartphone provides further information; you can get the access code in the museum shop.
