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Long Distance Cycling
· Saale-Unstrut
Thuringian long-distance cycle routes - 03 - Saale cycle path - D-Route 11
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In the Saale-Unstrut areaPhoto: Vincent Grätsch, CC BY-SA, Saaleradweg e.V.
On the bright shore of the Saale...
Romantic castles, nature, and wine: The 409-kilometer-long Saale cycle path is one of the most charming and varied river cycle routes in Germany.
Over nine stages, the route leads from the Bavarian Fichtelgebirge to Thuringia, past Europe's largest contiguous reservoir area, through idyllic nature parks and species-rich floodplain forests, through the Saale-Unstrut wine region to the mouth of the Saale into the Elbe. The varied scenery of the landscapes and the abundance of cultural monuments make the journey on the Saale cycle path an unforgettable experience. Nowhere else do so many castles, fortresses, and ruins crown the slopes and hills as along the Saale. The long-distance cycle route (D11) initially takes you from the source near Zell into the area of the Saale reservoirs in Thuringia, where steep ascents and descents must be mastered in parts. From Saalfeld to the mouth of the Saale into the Elbe near Barby, the route is gentler and also suitable for families.
Author’s recommendation
Detours or connections are offered at Blankenstein by the Rennsteig cycle path, in Jena by the long-distance cycle path Thüringer Städtekette, in Großheringen by the Ilm valley cycle path towards Weimar, at Naumburg by the Unstrut cycle path towards Freyburg, in Merseburg by the Salt Road cycle path, in Halle by the Saale-Harz cycle path towards Lutherstadt Eisleben and the Sky Disk cycle path, at Bernburg by the EuroVelo R1 as well as the Wipper cycle path, and finally at the mouth near Barby by the Elbe cycle path.
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
Track types
Rest stops
Bootshaus OrlamündeLeuchtenburg
Safety information
Note: Please be sure to observe the ferry times on the stages! Ferries operate with some restrictions!
Tips and suggestions
The Saale originates at about 707 m altitude on the northern slope of the large Wandstein in the Bavarian Fichtelgebirge and flows into the Elbe south of Magdeburg, near Barby, at 49.5 m above sea level at Elbe kilometer 291.
It is at 413 km the second longest tributary of the Elbe. Schwarza, Ilm, Unstrut, Wipper, and Bode belong on the left bank, Orla and Weiße Elster on the right bank among its most important tributaries.
To distinguish it from the smaller Franconian Saale, it is officially called Saxon Saale in the Bavarian part, although it does not flow through today’s Saxony.
The Saale flows through the Frankenwald, eastern Thuringia, where it is dammed several times. The five-stage Saale cascade includes the Bleiloch Reservoir, the Burgkhammer Reservoir, the Walsburg Reservoir, the Hohenwarte Reservoir, and the Eichicht Reservoir. The Saale cascade is the second largest water power plant complex in Germany.
Further downstream, the Saale flows through cities such as Saalfeld, Rudolstadt, Jena, and Naumburg. The lower course runs through flat terrain past the towns of Weißenfels, Bad Dürrenberg, Merseburg, Halle, and Bernburg.
On the sometimes towering slopes along the Saale bank sit Burgk Castle, Heidecksburg Rudolstadt, Leuchtenburg Kahla, the Dornburg Castles, Saaleck Castle, Rudelsburg, Schönburg, Goseck Castle, Neu-Augustusburg Castle in Weißenfels, Giebichenstein Castle in Halle, Wettin Castle, Plötzkau Castle, and Bernburg Castle.
Along the Saale shore, there are also spa towns with two special graduation towers. In Bad Kösen, the most complex facility for brine extraction and graduation is preserved. It consists of a brine shaft, drive wheels, the 180 m long art structure, and the 320 m long graduation tower. In Bad Dürrenberg stands the longest contiguous graduation tower in Europe.
More info: www.saaleradweg.de
Roadbook
The Saale cycle path follows the Saale from its source through the federal states of Bavaria, Thuringia, and Saxony-Anhalt to the mouth and is about 409 km long. Mountainous landscape in the upper course of the Saale with many climbs to overcome make the Saale cycle path one of the most beautiful river cycle routes in Germany. In the reservoir area, it is especially popular with ambitious sporty cyclists.
From Saalfeld, the route gets flatter and remains so until the end at the Elbe with only minor exceptions. Thanks to consistent signposting and improved path quality, the Saale cycle path offers pure cycling enjoyment for all cyclists. Besides the impressive landscape, many castles, palaces, and mysterious ruins can be found along the cycle path. Many smaller towns as well as cities like Hof, Saalfeld, Rudolstadt, Jena, Naumburg, Weißenfels, Merseburg, Halle, and Bernburg invite you to linger and visit the numerous sights. Bicycle-friendly accommodation providers along the way are geared towards cyclists.
Fernwehpark "Signs of Fame"
Untreusee
Altstadt Hof
Saale-Radoase
Bürgerpark Theresienstein
Zoologischer Garten Hof
Museum Bayerisches Vogtland
Freiheitshalle Hof
Burgruine Saalenstein
Jean-Paul-Museum
Deutsch-Deutsches Museum Mödlareuth
Rastplatz Rudolphstein mit Ladestation (Etappe 2)
E-Bike Ladestation an der Aussichtsplattform Pottiga - Skywalk (Etappe 2)
Historischer Rennsteigkeller am Wanderstützpunkt Blankenstein
Heimatmuseum Harra
Märchenwald Saalburg
Saaleturm Burgk
Museum Schloss Burgk
VEAG Wasserkraftmuseum Ziegenrück
Volkskundemuseum Reitzengeschwenda
Staumauer Hohenwarte
Feengrotten mit Feenweltchen & Grottoneum
Schloss Heidecksburg mit Rococo en miniature
E-Bike Ladestation am Markt in Rudolstadt (Etappe 5)
E-Bike Ladestation am Bahnhof in Rudolstadt (Etappe 5)
Thüringer Bauernhäuser Rudolstadt
Schloss Weißenburg
Tourist-Information Gemeinde Uhlstädt-Kirchhasel
Flößereimuseum Uhlstädt
Bootshaus Orlamünde
Historische Jagdanlage Rieseneck
Leuchtenburg
GalaxSea Freizeitbad
SCHOTT GlasMuseum & SCHOTT Villa
Phyletisches Museum
Schillers Gartenhaus
Jena Tourist-Information
City Museum and Art Collection, Jena
JenTower
Goethe-Laboratorium am Botanischen Garten
Zeiss-Planetarium Jena
Fuchsturm Jena
Kunitzer Hausbrücke
Bauhaus-Werkstatt-Museum Dornburg
Dornburger Schlösser
Carl-Alexander-Brücke
Burg Camburg
Burg Saaleck
Rudelsburg
Salinetechnische Anlagen
Tierpark Bad Koesen
Romanisches Haus Bad Kösen
Landesweingut Kloster Pforta
Ehemaliges Zisterzienserkloster Kloster Pforta
Naumburger Dom St. Peter & St. Paul
Max-Klinger-Haus und Weinberg
Kanuanlegestelle für Besuch der Naumburger Wein & Sekt Manufaktur
Stadtmuseum Hohe Lilie Naumburg
Wenzelkirche mit Hildebrandt-Orgel
Sonnenobservatorium Goseck
Schloss Goseck
Schloss Neu-Augustusburg Weißenfels
Gustav-Adolf-Gedenkstätte im Geleitshaus Weißenfels
Novalis-Gedenkstätte Weißenfels
Kurpark Bad Duerrenberg
Borlach-Museum
Gradierwerk Bad Duerrenberg
Saaleparkanlage mit Freiluftausstellung
Schloss Merseburg
Merseburger Dom
Luftfahrt- und Technik-Museumspark
Rad-Reparaturstation am Pfälzer Ufer in Halle (Saale) (Etappe 7)
Fahrradboxen mit Lademöglichkeit in Halle (Saale) (Etappe 7,8 )
Rad-Reparaturstation am Peißnitzhaus in Halle (Saale) (Etappe 7,8)
Fahrradboxen in Halle (Saale) (Etappe 8)
Burg Wettin
Radstätte Bernburg (Saale)
Public transport
Public-transport-friendly
Start / Finish Saale Source (Stage 1 | Münchberg)
Ideally, travel by train to Münchberg station, alternatively to Hof station. From Münchberg station it is about 12 km, and from Hof station about 30 km to the Saale source. The source stone together with the enclosed source lies on the northern slope of the legendary Großer Waldstein.
Start / Finish Saale Mouth (Stage 9 | Barby | Schönebeck)
The Saale mouth is located just a few meters from Barby. We recommend continuing along the Elbe cycle path to Schönebeck station about 21 km away. There you have good connections to the long-distance services of Deutsche Bahn. Alternatively, you can continue to Magdeburg.
By long-distance bus
Good travel opportunities for arrivals and departures due to numerous stops along the route are also offered by long-distance buses. Bicycle transport is possible upon registration. For the transfer between source and mouth, the route connection Münchberg – Magdeburg is recommended.
Directions
By carThe A9 and A14 motorways offer ideal travel options to the starting point of the stage of your choice. You can reach the Saale source near Zell in the Fichtelgebirge via the A9 (Münchberg exit) and the Saale mouth near Barby via the A9 and A14 (Calbe exit).
Coordinates
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
Weather at the starting point
Statistics
At Calbe, cyclists have two official route options. The route described here leads you east of the Saale past the Roland town. In Groß Rosenburg, ...
User Questions