Käsloch, paleolithic living cave

Käsloch near Winznau is a Palaeolithic living cave in the canton of Solothurn, northern Switzerland, and one of the region's notable Ice Age sites. It sits at roughly 47.366° N, 7.926° E in the Gösgen district, at about 400 metres above sea level.

What is the Käsloch?

A natural cave where hunter-gatherers lived at the end of the last glacial period. Swiss archaeology links it to the Magdalenian culture. The Historical Dictionary of Switzerland lists Käsloch, together with the nearby Köpfli site, among the places in Winznau that yielded Magdalenian finds. Hiking and cycling routes pass through the surrounding area, and outdoor-planning sites mark the cave as a point of interest.

What was found, and when?

The cave was excavated completely back in 1904 and 1905. The dig produced numerous objects from the Late Magdalenian, and Ed. Bally Jr. wrote an early account of the finds. More than a century later, Denise Leesch and Werner Müller re-examined material from several Solothurn caves, Käsloch included, in a project backed by the Swiss National Science Foundation. Radiocarbon dates showed that Magdalenian people had settled these caves roughly a thousand years earlier than assumed, during a still very cold phase of the Late Glacial. The authors also conclude that people stayed there year-round rather than shuttling between separate summer and winter camps.

Can you go inside, and what is there to see?

Because the cave was dug out in full, there are no active excavations and no on-site exhibition. The appeal lies in the setting and the history: you can look at the shelter where Ice Age people made their home and picture daily life in the Solothurn countryside. The canton's Office for Monument Preservation and Archaeology covers Käsloch in its ADSO series, including volumes from 2002, 2012 and 2024. Reading one beforehand is worthwhile if you want the full story of the site.

How do you plan a visit?

Winznau is the nearest village. Komoot lists a hiking loop from Winznau of about 13 km (around 4 hours, 360 m of ascent) and shorter loops from Dulliken of roughly 5.2 to 5.6 km (1 hour 20 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes). Wear sturdy hiking shoes. Dry days in spring or autumn are the most comfortable. Check current access and entry rules before you set out, as on-site facilities are minimal.

Frequently asked questions

How old is the Käsloch? It dates to the Late Palaeolithic, the Magdalenian culture. Newer radiocarbon results place the occupation about a thousand years earlier than once believed.

When was the cave investigated? It was fully excavated in 1904 and 1905. The finds were later re-studied and published in the ADSO series.

Where is it? In Winznau, canton of Solothurn, Gösgen district, at about 47.366° N, 7.926° E.

Is it a good stop for a walk? Yes, there are hiking and cycling routes from Winznau and Dulliken, but the cave itself is mainly a historical site, with no exhibition and no ongoing excavation.