About
Messel Pit is the richest site in the world for understanding the living environment of the Eocene, between 57 million and 36 million years ago. In particular, it provides unique information about the early stages of the evolution of mammals and includes exceptionally well-preserved mammal fossils, ranging from fully articulated skeletons to the contents of stomachs of animals of this period.
Supporting sources: Legacy import provenance, Wikipedia
When to visit
Hours
- Mon
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- Tue
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- Wed
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- Thu
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- Fri
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- Sat
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- Sun
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The pit itself may only be entered as part of guided tours. Special 2025-2026 holiday opening applied from 22 Dec 2025 to 11 Jan 2026 except 24-26 Dec, 31 Dec, and 1 Jan.
Admission
- Adults
- €7
- · Museum admission is EUR 7 for adults and EUR 5 reduced. Public pit tours start at EUR 10 for the small one-hour tour and EUR 14 for the large two-hour tour; combo tickets with museum entry are also offered.
When to go
- Time of day: Morning
Features & amenities
What to expect
- Outdoor
What to bring
- Water
- comfortable shoes
Good to know
- Partially accessible
Tags
Planning Darmstadt
The rest of my Darmstadt saves, on the city's planning pages.