The grotto was formed in the Devonian limestone of the Elbingerode Complex at least since the Bode Valley was being shaped.

The cave has been visited by man since the Stone Age and not first discovered in 1536 as many written accounts suggest.

The year of discovery in 1536 in combination with the tale of the miner, Baumann, who is supposed to have discovered the cave, are part of a false story dating back to Nazi times when a politically suitable jubilee date was being sought.

The cave's biggest chamber, the Goethesaal, is named after him and is fitted with seats and a stage for concerts and plays.

[1] The cave was sealed off from an early date so that its rich display of stalactites and stalagmites has been largely preserved.