Nature Trail – Porphyry Landscape Wettin/Gimritz

In the surroundings of Wettin there are interesting rock formations made of porphyry and old quarries for its extraction. Porphyries are widespread across Germany. The reddish color has a very decorative effect when used as natural stone in architecture or sculpture.

with information board on the nature trailNature trail in the characteristic landscape of the “Unteres Saaletal” nature parkThe nature trail leads through the historically grown cultural landscape of the Wettin porphyry area and the adjacent Saale floodplain near Mücheln.
The unique porphyry landscape can be explored over approximately 2.5 km. Display boards provide information about the special features of this natural area. The topics of geology and landscape history, flora and fauna, soil and vegetation as well as evidence of the historically grown cultural landscape are presented here.
The path runs through the nature reserve “Porphyrkuppenlandschaft near Gimritz”, which is part of the European protected area “Porphyrkuppenlandschaft northwest of Halle”. A valuable vegetation mosaic of semi-dry and dry grassland, dwarf shrub heaths and orchards is characteristic here. Rare animal and plant species find suitable habitats. The landscape is characterized by the dark red-brown porphyry rock and the striking fractures, dry valleys and rocky cliffs. The landscape of the adjacent Saale floodplain is determined by the wide and curved course of the Saale with accompanying bank trees, reeds and tall shrubs.Source: saale-unstrut-tourismus.de/touren/unterwegs-auf-dem-naturlehrpfad-porphyrlandschaft-wettin-gimritz

a wonderful and varied landscapede.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porphyrlandschaft_bei_Gimritz