Excavations in the cave have yielded stone tools and faunal remains dating back to the Middle Paleolithic, or Moustérien, period.
The cave is one of the largest open natural limestone caves in the Eifel region.
During the Roman period, the site served as a quarry for the nearby Roman aqueduct infrastructure.
The plateau above the cliff hosts a unique flora, including various species of rare orchids native to calcareous grasslands.
The rock formation itself is composed of 'Kalkeifel' limestone, which formed in a shallow sea approximately 380 million years ago.
The Kartsteinfelsen is a prominent limestone cliff formation in the Eifel region housing the Kakushöhle, a natural cave system created during the Tertiary period. This geological site has served as a human shelter since the Paleolithic era, with archaeological findings confirming occupancy by Neanderthals and subsequent cultures. The main cavern, the 'Dom', measures approximately 15 meters in height and features significant natural light entry points through fissures. The surrounding park area is designated as a protected landscape, characterized by rare limestone grassland vegetation. Visitors can walk through the open cavern and traverse the trail system leading to the plateau above the cliff. The site is a registered natural monument, maintained by the municipality of Mechernich to preserve its ecological and prehistoric heritage.
From the interior of the main cave looking outward toward the forest canopy through the natural rock arch.
Wear sturdy, non-slip footwear as the limestone surfaces inside the cave can be damp and uneven.
Carry a flashlight if you plan to explore the deeper, darker crevices of the cliff system.
Bring binoculars to observe the nesting birds often found in the upper crevices of the limestone cliffs.
Do not attempt to climb the vertical, unprotected faces of the limestone cliffs as the rock can be brittle.
Maintain silence to avoid disturbing wildlife, keep to marked paths to protect rare limestone flora, and do not remove rock or fossil fragments.
