Holiday in the Saale Valley
The Middle Saale Valley, often affectionately referred to as “Thuringian Tuscany”, attracts visitors with a unique blend of austere romance, cultural history and diverse natural experiences.
Between the towns of Saalfeld, Rudolstadt, Jena and Naumburg, the Saale meanders through a picturesque landscape of steep shell limestone slopes, sun-drenched vineyards and dense forests. Anyone looking for a vacation in the Saale Valley off the beaten track will find an ideal destination here.
The region is home to an impressive number of castles, palaces and ruins that tower over the river valley. How about a visit to the Leuchtenburg castle near Kahla, the Dornburg castles or the baroque Heidecksburg castle near Rudolstadt?
Hiking on the SaaleHorizontale is particularly popular. This 91-kilometre quality hiking trail around Jena was named “Germany’s most beautiful hiking trail” in 2023. It leads along narrow paths through sparse pine groves, beech forests and over sunny slopes. The landscape is repeatedly interrupted by spectacular views of the Saale valley and the city of Jena. Numerous stages also allow for shorter tours.
The “city of light” Jena is the beating heart of the region. As a center of science and research (Carl Zeiss, Schott Glas), it offers a lively city center, the Zeiss Planetarium, the JenTower with its viewing platform as well as numerous museums and an active cultural scene.
At the northern end of the Middle Saale Valley, the region merges into the Saale-Unstrut wine-growing region, the northernmost quality wine-growing region in Germany. Wine terraces and wine taverns characterize the landscape here. Places such as Bad Kösen and Naumburg with its famous cathedral are ideal starting points for tasting the local wines and enjoying the regional cuisine. Thuringian specialties such as dumplings and Rostbratwurst round off the culinary experience.
Excursion destinations in the Middle Saale Valley
In Thuringia, not far from the city of Jena, high above the small town Kahla stands the Castle Leuchtenburg. We didn’t exactly luck out wåith the weather but low hanging clouds can sometimes look quite atmospheric in pictures.
Travel information for the Middle Saale Valley
Arrival
By train
The region is easily reached via the ICE railway stations in Jena.
By car
The Saale Valley is surrounded by motorways. You can reach the region easily via the A 9, A 4 and A 71.
On the way in ...
By train
The Saalbahn runs every hour with double-decker regional trains. Other regional trains run from Jena to Orlamünde and Pößneck.