The discovery of the Atta cave

The Atta cave was discovered by accident. What an accident!

Quarrymen of the Biggetal lime works could not believe their eyes on 19 July 1907: as the enormous dust cloud of the explosion subsided, they found themselves looking into a rock crevice which had been exposed and was flooded with sunshine. The crawled in, and what they saw left them speechless.

The workers looked into a labyrinth of the most beautiful dripstone formations – artfully grown stalagmites and stalactites – stone curtains which were draped artistically from the rock ceiling, as if a decorator had created them as his masterwork.

The quarrymen of Attendorn had – without knowing it – exposed the entrance to one of the greatest natural wonders of the world: the entrance to the fabulous Atta cave. Named after the Princess Atta, who gave her name to the Hanseatic city of Attendorn.