SaaleHorizontale around Jena – Germany's most beautiful hiking trail 2023

Hiking Collection by visit Jena

Tours

34:25 h

73.0 mi

10,000 ft

91 kilometres (56 miles) of concentrated nature, breathtaking views, Thuringian delicacies and exciting contemporary history – that is the SaaleHorizontale. On nine stages, the circular hiking trail leads from Jena, the second-largest city in Thuringia, to Ziegenhain municipality, Donburg town and the Leutratal and Cospoth nature reserve before returning to Jena. Romantic castle ruins, dreamy villages and ancient rocks provide an insight into the eventful history of the Middle Saale Valley. Orchard meadows covered with flowers, beech forests, sparse pine groves, orchids lining the way and imposing shell limestone rocks with steep slopes – this is the other side of the SaaleHorizontale.

Nature and culture, modernity and classicism, cultural landscape and geological history come together on this long-distance hiking trail. On the one hand, you walk through Thuringian villages characterised by half-timbered houses, see magnificent castles on hills overlooking small towns, and explore castle ruins from the Middle Ages. On the other hand, you catch glimpses of the modern skyline of the beautiful university town of Jena again and again as you walk along narrow paths on steep mountain slopes.

You follow in the footsteps of Napoleon, Emperor Otto I, Goethe and Schiller, stop in cosy restaurants and hostels which serve famous regional hospitality, and enjoy specialities such as Thuringian grilled sausage, red cabbage, dumplings and beef roulades. To accompany your meal, you can also enjoy a tasty beer and wine from the local wine-growing regions – a hiking holiday on the SaaleHorizontale is a journey for all your senses. You will remember the special views over the wide countryside, the deep valleys, imposing buildings, villages and towns for a long time.

This could also be due to your sore muscles. The stages, including entry and exit, are between 9 and 18 kilometres (5.5 and 11 miles) long and you will climb up to 500 metres (1,640 feet) in altitude per day. Depending on your fitness, you should plan five to nine days for the Tour. However, the individual stages are designed in such a way that you can also easily hike them individually. Surefootedness is required in some steep and stony places. Good shoes and walking poles are recommended. You can take the train or bus to Jena, arriving at Jena-Paradies or Jena-West station. Buses and trams are a comfortable way to get around the city too. You can get to the starting point – Platanenstraße stop – with lines 3 and 5 (direction Lobeda-Ost). Further information on route planning can be found at the following link: vmt-thueringen.de. Now you can look forward to far-reaching views and eventful days around Jena!

On The Map

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SaaleHorizontale

56.7 mi

7,775 ft

7,900 ft

Last updated: May 30, 2023

Tours & Highlights

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Stage 1: Romanesque Lobdeburg – Jena Hospital to Kupferplatte – SaaleHorizontale
03:48
7.71 mi
2.0 mph
1,275 ft
1,400 ft
Intermediate
Intermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
The first stage starts in Jena at the University Hospital in Jena Lobeda and has a great highlight ready for the first few kilometers: the Lobdeburgruine. From the ruins you have breathtaking views down into the valley to Lobeda, Drackendorf and the Leuchtenburg.

You turn right towards Johannisberg and…
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Stage 2: On the trail of the Ottonians – Kupferplatte to Wogau – SaaleHorizontale
03:42
7.97 mi
2.2 mph
1,075 ft
850 ft
Intermediate
Intermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
A particularly impressive vantage point awaits you on the second stage: the Fuchsturm. You start in Jena and first hike steeply uphill past the Teufelslöchern and the copper plate. Soon you will catch a breathtaking view of the imposing tower.

You are now on a plateau, so that there are hardly any vertical…
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Stage 3: Castles in the Saale Valley – Wogau to Kunitz – SaaleHorizontale
03:59
8.29 mi
2.1 mph
1,275 ft
1,425 ft
Intermediate
Intermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
And if you thought the SaaleHorizontale might be less promising, you were wrong. The third stage has some far-reaching views ready for you again. You start in Wogau and follow the signpost to the left in the direction of Jenzig. Take a deep breath, because now it’s a steep uphill climb.

Arrived on the…
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Stage 4: Wine growing on sunny slopes – Kunitz via Beutnitz to Porstendorf – SaaleHorizontale
04:19
8.84 mi
2.1 mph
1,450 ft
1,525 ft
Intermediate
Intermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
Don't be alarmed, but on this tour you can expect two steeper climbs, which add up to a total of only 440 meters in altitude. It starts in Kunitz. You walk on the Laasaner Straße towards Saale and follow the signs towards Kunitzburg and Golmsdorf. On your way you pass the beautiful vineyards on the Grafenberg…
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Stage 5: In the forcefield of the planets – Porstendorf to Dorndorf – SaaleHorizontale
05:12
11.3 mi
2.2 mph
1,225 ft
1,250 ft
Expert
Expert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
This stage, with 18 kilometers the longest of the SaaleHorizontale, leads you to special natural treasures: In May and June the lush meadows are decorated with orchids and peonies, you wander through beech forests to fall in love with and enjoy views as far as your eye can see. The SaaleHorizontale can…
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Stage 6: Castles with panoramic views – Dornburg to Jena–Zwätzen – SaaleHorizontale
04:06
8.84 mi
2.2 mph
1,175 ft
1,125 ft
Intermediate
Intermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
This stage offers you the great combination of castle sightseeing and breathtaking views. The 14 kilometers and 360 meters in altitude are almost insignificant. You start at Dornburg train station and take the stairs to the Dornburg palaces. Allow a little time to take a close look at the three castles…
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Stage 7: Napoleon in Jena – Zwätzen to the paper mill – SaaleHorizontale
02:41
5.62 mi
2.1 mph
825 ft
675 ft
Intermediate
Intermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Your hike today takes you to a large conqueror monument, the Napoleon Stone, and through beautiful nature. The stage is relatively short at just under ten kilometers - so you can start quite late and extend your breakfast to a brunch or take a long break on the way. It starts in Jena-Zwätze.

You follow…
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Stage 8: Clever Ux – the paper mill to Ammerbach – SaaleHorizontale
03:07
6.79 mi
2.2 mph
850 ft
850 ft
Intermediate
Intermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
A wonderfully enchanted forest and a wonderful vantage point await you on your way. You only cover eleven kilometers and have enough time to enjoy your day to the fullest. It starts at the Mühltal stop in Jena West. You follow the signpost towards the forester's house and turn into the idyllic Mühltal…
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Stage 9: Rare orchids – Ammerbach to Göschwitz – SaaleHorizontal
03:31
7.67 mi
2.2 mph
900 ft
1,050 ft
Intermediate
Intermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
Orchids as far as the eye can see and a romantic village idyll - this hike welcomes you with a lot of lovely scenery and great views. You start in Ammerbach and walk out of town. Soon you will reach a leisurely hiking trail above a meadow, from where you can enjoy views of Ammerbach and the Lämmerberg…
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