Fall is on its way. And with it a time of year when it’s possible to be active outisde without being baked by the sun. In the Saale-Unstrut region, located between Leipzig and Weimar, three beautiful bike tours invite you to go fall cycling.
From Saalfeld to Jena
It doesn’t always have to be a whole long-distance bike route, sometimes just a section will do. As in this case. The fifth leg of the Saale bike path, which is an impressive 400 kilometers long in its entirety, measures a feasible 60 kilometers. The route leads from Saalfeld to Jena, right through the Saale valley. Not only do you bike through beautiful countryside, you also pass a few cultural highlights along the way.
In Uhlstädt, for example, at the start of the Saale-Unstrut region, you can learn about the centuries-old tradition of rafting during a short pit stop. In a museum set up especially for this purpose. After leaving the village again, you will pass the Orlamünde keep. The medieval living quarters of the 1000-year-old castle complex are excellently preserved and provide an exciting insight into life in days gone by. And the medieval atmosphere continues as the tour continues with the breathtaking Leuchtenburg – including an extensive porcelain museum for connoisseurs! The crowning glory of the tour is the bustling university town of Jena, where you can enjoy a well-earned refreshment. And if you still have energy left, head to the planetarium.
From Nebra Ark to Querfurt Castle
Exactly 25 years ago, two grave robbers made a spectacular discovery near Nebra: the Nebra Sky Disc. The Bronze Age artifact was probably intended to determine the right time for sowing and harvesting. Today, the Nebra Ark exhibition center stands on the site of the find, taking you back to the Bronze Age and enabling virtual visits to the prehistoric observatories of Goseck, Stonehenge and the ring sanctuary of Pömmelte. The Ark is also the starting point of this rather leisurely 20-kilometer route.
From here, the two-wheeled journey through time takes you through the tranquil Ziegelroda Forest and on to Querfurt Castle. The imposing fortified building has already been the location for historical films such as “The Physician” or “Pope Joan”, so you can feel like a real movie star here. The permanent exhibition on site provides even more of a medieval feel.
From Residenz to Residenz (to Residenz)
At 80 kilometers, this route is quite a challenge, but can easily be split into two days. It starts in the Residenz of Zeitz, which stands out with its baroque palace ensemble. Complete with castle church and gatehouse, the whole shebang. From here, follow the course of the Saale to Weißenfels. You will find the Residenz here in the form of the magnificent Neu-Augustusburg Palace. A museum provides an insight into the history of the town, and the castle church of St. Trinitatis is a real gem, where even George Frideric Handel and Johann Sebastian Bach played music.
The second part of the tour then takes you from Weißenfels along the Saale bike path to Merseburg. And as you can already guess, this is also a Residenz. But before that, the route takes you idyllically over hill and dale, across green meadows and through dense forests. In Merseburg, not only the Residenz itself awaits as a reward, but also the Cathedral of St. John and St. Lawrence. And, of course, a refreshing cold drink. Cheers!
