15. Messel Pit Fossil Site
UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995
All routes to the Messel Pit lead through the forest, giving visitors a chance to breathe in
plenty of good clean air and ready themselves for the remarkable experience that lies ahead.
Looking through the “window on the past” from the platform on the edge of the pit, you can
survey the Messel Pit fossil site 60 metres below and picture the tragedy that occurred when
a lake in the (sub)tropical primeval forest flooded.
The site, which has the richest deposits of fossils from the Eocene period, documents the
first stage of the evolution of mammals. Animals and plants have been preserved in the oily
shale here for almost 50 million years. These treasures from the Middle Eocene period are so
unique that the United Nations has declared the Messel Pit a “world natural heritage site”.
The Messel primitive horse (Propalaetherium messelense), is probably the best-known find.
The Messel fossil and local history museum has an extensive collection of fossils and lots of
information on geology and industrial history. An expert guided tour through the pit and/or
the museum is both interesting and informative.
Tip
The hilly region around Messel is excellent walking territory, offering plenty of alternatives
for both walks and cycle tours. The ever-changing scenery is home to an unbelievable
diversity of rare, endangered species of flora and fauna.
More Info
Welterbe Grube Messel gGmbH
Postfach 11 58
64409 Messel
E-mail: info@grube-messel.de
Tel: +49(6159) 71 75 35