Nature & Outdoor Activities
Saale Cycle Route – idyllic castles, nature and wine
The River Saale flows out of the Fichtelgebirge Mountains towards the Elbe, lined with castles atop hills and mountains, tranquil villages and buzzing towns and cities. The exciting Saale Cycle Route covers 403 kilometres in total.
For more than 25 years now, the Saale Cycle Route has been connecting three federal states – Bavaria, Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt – making it an impressive emblem of German reunification. The river meanders for many kilometres through a mountainous region of forests, gorges, reservoirs and steep climbs, with castles and palaces sat proudly atop many of the peaks. No matter how hard the bike ride becomes, a visit to the dripstone caves near Saalfeld or the old university town of Jena makes it all worthwhile. Connoisseurs will also appreciate a drop or two of wine from the Saale-Unstrut vineyards in the area around Naumburg. The River Saale continues to flow through meadows and riverside forests, before joining the Elbe at Barby.