Saale-Unstrut

Wine, world heritage, and sweeping views. Between river bends, limestone, and cathedrals

Steep vineyards with dry stone walls, Romanesque cathedrals, old trade routes - they tell of centuries of change and of what remains. Those who travel here hike through one of the oldest wine regions in Europe, visit Naumburg Cathedral with the famous Uta or follow in the footsteps of the Nebra Sky Disk.

The region is open - for discoveries between shell limestone slopes and river bends, for conversations in small wine taverns, for breaks in quiet villages or on the banks. In Naumburg, Merseburg and Freyburg, you can encounter history in a small space. In between are valleys where time flows more slowly - and with it the wine.

HIGHLIGHTS CASTLES WINE ACTIVE EXCURSION TIPS RAIN TIPS

Saale-Unstrut in Figures

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UNESCO Sites

Naumburg Cathedral and the Nebra Sky Disk are UNESCO World Heritage Sites—as examples of architectural art and insights into the early sky.

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kilometers of hiking trails

Between vineyards, river meadows, and castles: well-marked trails invite you to go hiking—from short loops to multi-day routes.

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hectares of Geiseltal Lake

The second largest artificial lake in Germany – created from an open-cast mine, today a place for relaxation, exercise, and panoramic views.

6 Highlights in Saale-Unstrut

Couple visiting Naumburg Cathedral, exterior view
Couple visiting Naumburg Cathedral, exterior view

Naumburg Cathedral

World history in stone

Naumburg Cathedral has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2018 - not only because of its architecture, but also because of the donor figures that characterize it. First and foremost, Uta von Naumburg, who is considered the most beautiful woman of the Middle Ages and, together with the other figures in the west choir, demonstrates a new understanding of medieval art. Anyone who walks through the building will experience Romanesque and Gothic architecture, colorful stained glass windows, a quietly glowing crypt - and a view of a chapter in European cultural history.

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Merseburg Cathedral

Sound, crypt and magic spells

Merseburg Cathedral is one of the oldest cathedral buildings in Central Germany. Here you will encounter Romanesque and Gothic architecture, the sound of organs and altars - and a special treasure: the Merseburg spells. The Old High German texts are among the oldest written testimonies of the German language and are on their way to becoming a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Merseburg spells in Merseburg Cathedral
Merseburg spells in Merseburg Cathedral
Ducal vineyard in Freyburg (Unstrut)
Ducal vineyard in Freyburg (Unstrut)

Saale-Unstrut wine region

Steep terraces and cellar secrets

Wine has been cultivated here for over a thousand years. Grape varieties such as Müller-Thurgau and Silvaner ripen on steep terraces held up by dry stone walls. Wineries open their courtyards and wine taverns invite you to sample their wines. If you like, you can hike from slope to slope, stop for a bite to eat, talk to winegrowers and feel that viticulture here is more than just a tradition - it is part of everyday life, the landscape, the conversations.

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Memleben

Monastery, emperor and monastery garden

Memleben was once a center of power - today you can feel history with every step you take here. Where once stood an important Benedictine monastery and an imperial palace, today remains of walls, a church and a museum are reminders of the Ottonian era. Henry I and Otto the Great stayed here - Memleben was at times the center of power in the empire. Today, the place invites you to pause for a moment: with a monastery garden, exhibitions and events that bring history to life.

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Crypt of the Memleben monastery church
Crypt of the Memleben monastery church
Two persons at the harbor Marina Mücheln at the Geiseltalsee
Two persons at the harbor Marina Mücheln at the Geiseltalsee

Geiseltal Lake

Water surface with a view

One of the largest artificial lakes in Germany was created from a former open-cast lignite mine. Today, the Geiseltal Lake is a place for recreation and exercise: with cycle paths, bathing spots, small harbors and plenty of sky.

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Nebra Ark

The sky above the region

The Nebra Sky Disk is considered to be the oldest concrete depiction of the heavens known to mankind. The Nebra Ark - a modern visitor center with an exhibition, planetarium and guided hikes to the discovery site - is located close to the site. Outside, a new UFO complements the world of experience. The building itself is modeled on a solar barque.

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At the Nebra Ark Visitor Center
At the Nebra Ark Visitor Center

Castles and palaces between the Saale and Unstrut rivers

Over the river, on a slope, on a hill: many castles stand close together in Saale-Unstrut. Some watch over the landscape, others hide in the forest or lie in the middle of the town. What they have in common: They tell of a time when power was built with stone - and when the course of the river not only shaped the landscape, but also history.

Querfurt Castle is one of the largest and oldest castles in central Germany. It has been largely preserved - with two curtain walls, defensive towers and a 27.5 meter high keep. The castle courtyard is still alive today and the grounds are regularly used for filming. Exhibitions, a museum, guided tours and events bring history to life - from the Middle Ages to modern films. Moritzburg Castle in Zeitz and Rudelsburg Castle near Bad Kösen also invite visitors to immerse themselves in courtly life, war and peace, old images and new perspectives.

Many of the castles are accessible, some are still being explored, others are alive and kicking - with guided tours, festivals or as film locations.

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Wine, cuisine and culture

Müller-Thurgau, Silvaner, Pinot Blanc - these are just three of the grape varieties that have thrived in Saale-Unstrut for centuries. Wine is grown here on steep terraces supported by dry stone walls in one of the northernmost quality wine-growing regions in Europe. Many wineries open their courtyards for guided tours, tastings and discussions.

The region is also closely linked to wine in culinary terms. Wine taverns, wine taverns and inns serve simple dishes, while upscale restaurants offer fine cuisine - often with locally sourced ingredients. If you like, you can combine the two - on a wine hike with a break or a menu with wine accompaniment. During the grape harvest, some winegrowers invite you to take part in courses and workshops where you can lend a hand yourself.

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On the road in Saale-Unstrut

Exercise has many faces in the Saale-Unstrut region. The Saale cycle path leads along well-maintained paths from Camburg via Naumburg to Weißenfels - partly directly along the water, partly through vineyards and towns. The Unstrut cycle path connects Mühlhausen with the mouth of the Saale and touches places such as Nebra, Freyburg and Laucha.

Those who prefer hiking will find a variety of routes between the Sky Disc and vineyards: The Saale-Unstrut wine trail connects Freyburg with Bad Kösen, passing wineries and vantage points. The art trail leads from the Nebra Ark to the excavation site on the Mittelberg. And there are numerous circular tours around Naumburg that combine town, river and wine.

There is also plenty to doon the water: paddling on the Unstrut between Wendelstein and Großjena, canoeing near Bad Kösen or a day on the Geiseltalsee with a sailing boat or stand-up paddle board. For water hikers, there are numerous entry and exit points along the Saale and Unstrut rivers - ideal for day trips as well as tours lasting several days. The region makes it easy to be outdoors - without haste, but with a view.

Canoe trip on the Unstrut
Canoe trip on the Unstrut

Excursion tips in Saale-Unstrut in fall & winter

When it rains in Saale-Unstrut

  • In Freyburg, the Rotkäppchen sparkling wine cellars are well worth a visit with their world of experience: an interactive exhibition covering 1,400 m² with over 50 stations on two floors in the historic cellars.
  • In Zeitz, Moritzburg Castle tells of life between the royal court and childhood: with baroque living rooms and the German Pram Museum under one roof.
  • Schulpforta offers insights into the history of the monastery and the tradition of education.
  • If you travel to Memleben, monastic silence meets a multimedia museum - and the rain stays outside, behind thick walls.

Find out more about Saale-Unstrut!

You can find all information on excursion destinations, events and hosts here

About Saale-Unstrut