Messel Pit
A former oil shale mine near Darmstadt in Hesse, now a fossil site dating to the Eocene about 48 million years ago. Its fine preservation of early horses, bats, birds and even stomach contents made it a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995.
- Where
- Messel, Hesse, Germany
- Grade
- UNESCO heritage
- Worth
- 10 points collected on site, plus 8 for its grade
- Coordinates
- 49.9175, 8.7567
Get the Messel Pit stamp
Open LOQAH when you are at Messel Pit. It checks where you are once, at that moment, and the stamp is yours: confirmed on site in gold and struck with the date. It goes into your Hesse volume with your photos and a note.
Near Messel Pit
Mathildenhöhe Artists' Colony 8.0 km
A hilltop colony of Jugendstil artists and architects in Darmstadt, founded by Grand Duke Ernst Ludwig in 1899. It includes the Wedding Tower, the exhibition buildings and artists' houses, and it was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021.
Frankfurt Cathedral 22 km
A Gothic church of red sandstone in the old town of Frankfurt, with a tower 95 metres high. From 1562 to 1792 Holy Roman Emperors were crowned here, and the tower can be climbed for views of the city.
Commerzbank Tower 22 km
A 56 storey skyscraper in the banking district of Frankfurt, standing 259 metres high, or 300 metres with its antenna. When it was completed in 1997 it was the tallest building in Europe.
Lorsch Abbey 32 km
A former imperial Carolingian abbey in the town of Lorsch in Hesse, founded in 764. Its gatehall, built around 800, is one of the best preserved Carolingian buildings in Europe. The abbey is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Mainz Cathedral 36 km
A Romanesque Catholic cathedral beside the market square of Mainz, with red sandstone walls and six towers. Building began in 975, and the Archbishop of Mainz, one of the seven electors of the Holy Roman Empire, had his seat here.
Worms Cathedral 43 km
St Peter's Cathedral, a Roman Catholic church and former cathedral in Worms in southern Germany. It is one of the notable Romanesque churches of the Rhine region. The building dates mainly from the 12th and 13th centuries, and in 1521 Martin Luther appeared before the Diet of Worms in the city.
Heidelberg Castle 56 km
A ruined castle on the hillside above the old town of Heidelberg and the Neckar river. Its remains are counted among the most important Renaissance structures north of the Alps, and the site includes a famous giant wine barrel in its cellar.
Schwetzingen Palace 61 km
A schloss in Baden-Württemberg that was the summer residence of the Electors Palatine Charles III Philip and Charles IV Theodore. It lies roughly midway between their seats at Heidelberg and Mannheim. Its Baroque gardens are famous, and the palace is also known for the rococo theatre that still stages performances.
More UNESCO World Heritage sites in Hesse
Questions
Where is Messel Pit?
Messel Pit is in Messel, Hesse, Germany. The nearest other LOQAH stamps are Mathildenhöhe Artists' Colony (8.0 km), Frankfurt Cathedral (22 km), Commerzbank Tower (22 km).
How do I get the Messel Pit stamp?
Open LOQAH when you are at Messel Pit and get its stamp. The app checks where you are once, at that moment, and the stamp goes into your Hesse volume, confirmed on site, with the date.
I have been to Messel Pit before. Can I still have the stamp?
Yes. Add it from Earlier trips in your Hesse volume, with the date if you know it, or import your Google Timeline and LOQAH matches the places you were.
Collect your first stamp.
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