Easter in the dripstone cave

Hunting for eggs where dripstones usually grow: the Easter holidays are when the cave is at its best for families. It can still be cold outside, but down below it is a reliable 8 °C.

Colourful Easter eggs in rock niches of the cave, children with baskets — **Easter holidays**Down below it stays at about 8 °C

An Easter egg hunt in rock niches.

If you are looking for an Easter outing with children in Germany, you usually choose between a petting zoo and the woods. The Wiehler Tropfsteinhöhle (Wiehl Dripstone Cave) offers a third option: an egg hunt in the niches and hollows of a real cave passage. Torches, hidden eggs and dripstones older than anything children know.

The venue is planning such a hunt for Easter time. Important for your planning: the event is planned, but dates and details have not been fixed yet. (provisional) Call briefly from spring onwards or check News, where dates appear as soon as they are confirmed.

The visit is worthwhile even without an egg hunt: the tour takes about 45 minutes and leads down to a depth of 30 metres, with 26 steps at the entrance. Primary-school-age children are delighted when they may search with their own torch.

Narrow passage with a lamp in the dripstone cave

Why the cave suits Easter.

During the Easter holidays the weather in North Rhine-Westphalia is unpredictable: sun in the morning, hail at noon. In the cave that makes no difference, because underground it stays at about 8 °C all year round. A warm jacket still belongs in your rucksack, even if it is already spring above ground.

Whether the cave opens at the start of the Easter holidays depends on the season. The winter break lasts until spring, and the venue confirms the exact dates. (provisional) Please plan to phone beforehand to be safe: +49 2262 7920.

Tours start on the hour between 10:00 and 16:00. Places are limited during the holidays in particular, so it is best to book a day in advance.

Outside, everything turns green.

Right next to the cave lies the Wiehl wildlife park, open and free to enter all day. In spring it is especially lovely: the beeches come into leaf, young animals can often be seen on the meadows, and the paths are dry enough for pushchairs. The circular trail is about 1.8 km long.

With children you can turn this into a whole Easter day: first the cave, then the animals, and finally an ice cream or a coffee at the kiosk. More on the page Wildlife park & day out.

Family at the enclosure in the wildlife park, child feeding fallow deer

The Easter weekend at the Waldhotel.

The Waldhotel restaurant is only a few steps from the cave. If you would like to eat on the bank holidays, please book early. Whether there is an Easter menu or an Easter buffet can be found out on request. (provisional)

For family celebrations at Easter, such as a get-together with grandparents, a tour followed by a meal is a good combination. More under Family celebrations.

What you need for the Easter outing.

Jacket and sturdy shoes: it is about 8 °C down below, and the floor can be wet
A torch for the children if you have one; the venue provides a few torches for the event (provisional)
Spare clothes in the car for the wildlife park in case it rains
Book your tour online or by phone from the following day
The way down is 26 steps; it is not practicable with a pushchair