Winter Walk in Saale-Unstrut - Overview
When the vines shed their leaves, morning mist drifts through the river valleys of the Saale, Unstrut, Weißer Elster and Ilm and the scent of cherry stollen fills the bakeries, then the time for winter walks in Saale-Unstrut arrives. You can go mulled wine hiking or pay a visit to the vineyards during Advent. Saale-Unstrut also shows its romantic side beyond Christmas. Winter hiking tours often take you back more than 1000 years into the past.
Winter walk 1: Naumburg Advent stories
At Naumburg experience the "Naumburg Advent Stories" every Advent weekend. During a winter walk, tour guides will show you the UNESCO World Heritage Naumburg Cathedral - including, of course, the most beautiful corners of the historic city centre. The many regional customs surrounding the Christmas festival are also explained. The special highlight: tasting the Naumburg cherry stollen is also part of the tour. The Naumburg Cherry Stollen is one of the oldest Christmas biscuits in Germany.
Winter walk 2: Mulled wine walk in Naumburg
Now, finally, it is taking place again as usual - the traditional "Glühweinwandering" on the second weekend in Advent. On this winter walk in Saale-Unstrut you will always stroll along the riverbank between the Hallescher Anger and the Schönburg - quite individually from inn to inn. You can always warm up with mulled wine, goulash soup and music. The crowning finale of the winter hike is the small medieval Advent market at Schönburg Castle.
Winter walk 3: Advent in the vineyards
Always on the fourth weekend in Advent, the winegrowers between the Naumburg districts open their doors under the motto "Advent in the vineyards". Bad Kösen and Roßbach their Wineries and spoil the guests with vintner's mulled wine as well as regional specialities. In the wine village of Roßbach, the invited bands on the winegrowers' farms ensure a good atmosphere. There is a convivial bustle and happy laughter and cheerful conversations resound everywhere between the music. On the wineries outside the village, things are usually a bit more cosy. Each winegrower has come up with his own programme for the weekend. One has a bonfire going and stories being read, the other has its own culinary delicacy ready... So whether you like it sociable or more cosy, a visit to the "Advent in the Vineyards" is definitely recommended.
Winter walk 4: City walk with the Merseburg city guides
For a somewhat different kind of encounter with the Saale city Merseburg and its impressive 1000-year-old imperial cathedral on their city walk "Von rauen Sitten und Raunächten" on 26 November 2022. It may well get a little spooky. Do you like to be spooked? Then this is probably your chance! In addition to Merseburg Christmas traditions and a Hänsel-Gretel gingerbread recipe, curious criminal cases and their settings will also be the subject. Simply eerily beautiful!
Winter walk 5: In Zscheiplitz from the monastery church to the vintner's shop
Not far from Freyburg and above the vineyards with their centuries-old stone walls, the village of Zscheiplitz rises above the Unstrut river valley. Here you will experience an entertaining winter walk in Saale-Unstrut. You follow the Geopfad Zscheiplitz, which is only about three kilometres long and takes you from the Pawis vineyard via the Monastery church with a view over the vineyards and the Freyburg Unstrut valley back to the village.
Extra tip
The tour can be combined with an event in the village on the second and third weekends of Advent. The Pretzsch Inn and the Pawis Winery invite you to the "Zscheiplitz Advent Magic", a culinary evening with a mulled wine reception, wine tasting and festive four-course menu. Please register in advance for this event.
Dates are 2 and 9 December 2022.
Winter walk 6: Take a hot hike!
The former Pforta Monastery between Naumburg and Bad Kösen is the focus of a hot winter hike. Founded by Cistercians in 1137, it made a name for itself primarily as a school for princes. Among its most famous students were Nietzsche, Fichte and Klopstock. On 30 December, tour guides will start in Bad Kösen for a "hot walk" along the small Saale river to the monastery grounds in Schulpforte. During a break, mulled wine and punch will be served.
Winter walk 7: individual audio walks through Zeitz
The more than 1000 year old residential city Zeitz has come up with some interesting walks and digitalised them. With the help of the Smart Guide app, you can download four audio walks onto your smartphone on the topics "Stroll through the Altmarkt", "In the footsteps of Martin Luther", "Time(z) to discover" and "Along the city fortifications". The two- to four-kilometre city walks take you on a journey through the history of the city - and of course to the sights.
Extra tip
If you visit Zeitz in the period from 2 to 12 December 2022, make sure you take a stroll through the Saale-Unstrut after your urban winter walk. Advent market on the Altmarkt square. Among other things, Central Germany's largest Advent calendar awaits you here.
Winter walk 8: Let's go to Rudelsburg Castle!
In January and February, Saale-Unstrut once again belongs entirely to those who enjoy silence. It is the time for solitary winter walks on historic paths, such as the eight-kilometre Rudelsburg circular trail. It leads to one of the most famous ruins in the Saale Valley: Rudelsburg Castle, first mentioned in 1171. Behind the old walls is a Restaurantwhich serves hikers culinary specialities of the region.
Winter walk 9: The Neuenburg is waiting
Interested visitors can also follow in the footsteps of history on the three-kilometre-long circular trail around the Neuchâtel in Freyburg. The castle, founded in 1090 by the Thuringian Count Ludwig the Knight, sister castle of the Wartburg, rises imposingly on a mountain above the Unstrut. The museum, which provides insights into the history of construction, dynasty and rule, and the castle inn are open in winter.
Winter walk 10: Explore the path of the Ottonians!
Hikers can also delve deep into the Middle Ages on the three-kilometre-long Ottonian Trail in the Saale town of Jena. With the help of the App "Natura Jenensis visitors learn more about the four medieval castles that once existed here. Interactive stations bring history to life along the way. Thuringian cuisine is served in the Fuchsturm, a former keep.
Winter walk 11: Do something for your health at the end...
A four-kilometre tour through Bad Sulza leads along the path of salt. Three graduation towers, which once served to extract salt, have left their mark on the spa town. The Louise graduation housewhich is the only one that has been preserved, invites you to take relaxing walks through the sunny air even in the cold season. At the end of the tour, hikers can relax in the Tuscany Spa warm up.
Which winter walk in Saale-Unstrut will you try out soon?
