Holzmaden – Fossils and Local History

Holzmaden is known as a “prehistoric community” associated with dinosaurs and fossils. The town’s history and the Seebachtal valley’s orchard landscape are also part of its character. If you’re looking for a hotel in Holzmaden, these different aspects of the town may shape your choice of destination: the Hauff Prehistoric World Museum presents the history of fossils in its exhibitions, while the prehistoric quarry lets you search the rock. The museum and quarry are separate facilities; their tickets and events are not interchangeable.

Fossils and the History of the Earth in Holzmaden

Holzmaden lies in a geological formation from the Early Jurassic, associated with Posidonia Shale and marine fossils around 180 million years old. The Hauff Prehistoric World Museum is located within the Holzmaden fossil deposit and displays fossils from the Posidonia Shale. With around 1,000 square metres of exhibition space, it is one of Germany’s largest private natural history museums.

The museum’s outdoor area includes a dinosaur park with eight life-size dinosaurs. Children can dig up dinosaur bones in a designated excavation area. The museum thus presents different aspects of the prehistoric world side by side: fossils from the local deposit and life-size dinosaur models.

Searching for Fossils and Visitor Information

At the Holzmaden Prehistoric Quarry, visitors can search for Jurassic fossils around 180 million years old. Finding one takes luck and patience. Instructions on splitting techniques and descriptions of the finds support the search, and staff are available to explain and help.

The grounds of the prehistoric quarry are rocky and uneven. The step-free entrance to the exhibition is through the delivery entrance. Check access conditions before your visit. If you plan to visit both the museum and quarry, bear in mind that they have different operators and that tickets and events at one facility are not valid at the other.

Local History and Historic Buildings

Holzmaden was first mentioned in a document in 1148, in connection with a donation to St. Peter’s Abbey in the Black Forest. The old Church of St. Stephen was built in 1669. The rectory, dating from 1684, and the town hall, dating from 1687, have been preserved and are considered the oldest buildings in the town. Together, these dates provide several points of reference, from the early written record to the buildings of the late 17th century.

The history of the fossils also has specific milestones. They were discovered in the 1860s during the search for shale oil, and have since been prepared, scientifically studied and exhibited. Fossils from Holzmaden can now be seen in major natural history museums around the world. The local history of fossil discoveries is thus connected both with research and with the presentation of the fossils.

The Seebachtal Valley and a Local Specialty

Holzmaden lies in the Seebachtal valley, surrounded by a cultivated landscape of orchards. This aspect of the landscape complements visits focused on fossils and historic buildings with a view of the town’s surroundings. A local culinary specialty is Bätscher or Dätscher: a yeast dough topped with a sour cream mixture, typical of the Swabian Alb foothills.

Local life also includes a wide range of clubs and events, with sporting and cultural activities.

Discover more destinations: Aichtal, Filderstadt, Plochingen, Neckartenzlingen, Esslingen, Weilheim an der Teck, Owen, Oberboihingen.

Back to the regional travel overview: Esslingen.