Enter the place that turned evolution on its head. This is where he was discovered and where he got his name: The world-famous Neanderthal. The discovery site, just 400 metres away, is part of the Neanderthal Museum and the Höhlenblick ("cave view") tower is not to be missed during your visit.
The Feldhofer Grotte, where the remains of the Neanderthal were found in 1856, was destroyed by quarry work. After renewed excavations in 1997 and 2000, the world-famous site was initially redesigned to resemble a park.
Today, you can stand on the Höhlenblick tower exactly where the Neanderthal cave was once located. From here, you can look through virtual telescopes at the Stone Age Neandertal valley - this is the Höhlenblick ("cave view").
On the way up, audio and visual installations of important contemporary witnesses give you an insight into the turbulent history of the finds and the valley. On the top platform of the Höhlenblick tower, you will stand directly under the many times enlarged reconstruction of the skullcap found here.
Here it is: the skeleton of the Neanderthal man as it was found here at the time (reconstruction). If you scan the QR code, you can view the burial scene that took place up here in a 360° image.
You can book a group guided tour of the site here.
The Höhlenblick tower is a real experience for children thanks to its spiral structure alone. However, a special highlight awaits you just before the top platform. A climbing tunnel runs right across the Höhlenblick tower and is a welcome shortcut on the way up - provided your legs don't get wobbly.
The Neanderthal discovery site is generally open from Tuesday to Friday between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. (holidays and public holidays not included). Access is regulated via a turnstile or gate and is included in the ticket price for the Neanderthal Museum. Individual tickets are also available exclusively for the archaeological site and the Höhlenblick tower.
The path to the site is barrier-free and accessible. Ramps running in opposite directions with a slight incline ensure a barrier-free ascent to the 22 metre high Höhlenblick tower. You can even access it with a wheelchair. The virtual telescopes and the Neanderthal bones are also wheelchair accessible.
Other highlights such as the Ice Age Animal Park or the Stone Age Playground await you in the Neandertal World of Discovery. Located between Düsseldorf and Wuppertal, you can experience a varied day trip in any weather.
