Fairy Grottoes Kyffhäuser Trail

Short Description

Close-to-nature, well-developed hiking trail through the culturally shaped landscape along the Saale and Unstrut rivers.

Description

On this section of the long-distance hiking trail, you will walk through an extraordinary cultural landscape with beautiful views of the Saale and Unstrut rivers as well as some larger towns. Longer sections of the trail are to be covered on well-developed, partially asphalted cycle paths.

Route Description

On the Saale cycle path, the route first leads from Camburg to Kaatschen along the left bank of the Saale. After crossing the Saale, the path turns right and leads via Rödigen to the ruins of Saaleck and Rudelsburg. From here, following the cycle path again, it goes to Bad Kösen, back to the left bank of the Saale and along vineyards in a large loop towards Roßbach.

On the way from Roßbach to Kleinjena, the path passes through the Blütengrund, the confluence of the Unstrut into the Saale, and crosses the Unstrut for the first time between Kleinjena and Großjena. From here, now along the Unstrut cycle path to Freyburg and up to the Neuenburg.

The route runs along the Unstrut to Zscheiplitz. Passing an old monastery, it meanders through an old limestone quarry and around the Schafberg down to Weischütz. Following the Unstrut cycle path again, the route leads to Laucha and through Dorndorf to Burgscheidungen. Here the hiking trail leaves the cycle path, crosses the Unstrut and leads past Tröbsdorf across the fields uphill to Nebra.

From Nebra, the route continues along the left bank of the Unstrut to Wangen. Here the path turns into the Schwalbestal and leads up to Wippach and the heights of Bockberg. Now it goes along the ridge through the forest and finally back down to Memleben. The Unstrut is crossed again at the old monastery complex of Memleben, after which it continues along the dam towards Wendelstein with its castle.

From Wendelstein, the path leads straight to the Ziegelrodaer Forst, passing by the old Roßleben potash plant with its spoil heap, current landfill, and composting plant. Once past these, it goes past the archaeological site of Stone Cist Graves down to Roßleben. From there, it goes through fields towards Artern, which is reached following the Unstrut cycle path via Schönewerda, Kalbsrieth, and Ritteburg from Bottendorf.

Further Information

The long-distance trail is marked with a blue bar on a white field.