Saaleradweg celebrates its 30th anniversary

Saaleradweg e.V. announces:

Over 400 kilometers in length, it is a symbol of German reunification. The cycle path initiators want to make the cycle path even better known with a number of events. A special focus in the anniversary year is the classification of the Saale cycle path. Together with the neighboring municipalities, the standard is to be raised to a higher level. A colorful bouquet of different events spread over the cycling season will focus on the anniversary year "30 years of the Saale Cycle Path Experience" and will thus further increase awareness of the Saale Cycle Path:

• Blogger cooperation (completed)
• ADFC cycle travel fair in Siegburg (completed)
• Handmade days May 4/5 (courtyard)
• Anniversary event with activities along the Saaleradweg in the Hof region June 9 (Schwarzenbach, Hof district)
• Ministerial tour Tour de Schulze (Saxony-Anhalt)
• A day in paradise (Jena)
• Specialist event on the occasion of the OSV Tourism Barometer on August 28 (Bad Dürrenberg)
• Cycling action day at the State Garden Show Bad Dürrenberg
• New edition of the Saale cycle path brochure in the anniversary year
• Cycling in September/October with representatives from politics and business

An ADFC analysis presented in September 2023 identifies opportunities to improve quality. The first weak points are to be rectified by September 2024. Particular attention will be paid to signage. Faded, damaged or dirty signposts need to be replaced or cleaned. Obstacles such as bollards should also be checked for their necessity and, at best, removed or at least marked in accordance with standards. In September, the ADFC will carry out another random check and, if necessary, award the Saale Cycle Path the status of a quality cycle route. The aim is to achieve a rating of at least three stars, which is a sign of a solid and consistently accessible cycle route.

Success story of German unification

Until the fall of the Berlin Wall 35 years ago, the Saale, which has its source in the Fichtelgebirge, disappeared behind the Iron Curtain after around 30 kilometers. As soon as the inner-German border had fallen, the then mayor of Hof, Dieter Döhla, took the initiative to set up and market a long-distance cycle route along the much-praised river from its source to its mouth in the Elbe. On May 6, 1994, the cycle path was opened to the public at the

opened to the public as part of the State Garden Show in Hof. In 2014, after a long period of reorganization, the inter-municipal cooperation was put on a more solid and workable footing with the founding of the Saaleradweg e.V. association. The association currently has 17 active members from Bavaria, Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt - almost all districts and independent towns along the Saaleradweg.

Since the association was founded, numerous measures have been implemented to promote the cycle path, which have intensified marketing and thus increased awareness of the popular long-distance cycle path, which is also part of D-Route 11. Since 2023, Saale-Unstrut Tourismus GmbH has taken over the management of Saaleradweg e.V., which means that synergies can be used even better and the development of the Saaleradweg can be driven forward more effectively.

A cycle path and a thousand surprises

The Saale Cycle Route is one of the most attractive and varied river cycle routes in Germany. From the source of the Saale in the Fichtelgebirge mountains via Saalfeld, Rudolstadt, Jena, Naumburg, Bad Dürrenberg and Halle to Barby on the Elbe, cyclists discover the fascination of a cultural landscape that has evolved over centuries.

The Saal Cycle Path winds its way through mountainous landscapes with forests, gorges and the large reservoirs of the Thuringian Sea. This is another reason why it is a little more challenging between Zell and Saalfeld. However, the cycle path shows its most beautiful side further along. From Saalfeld onwards, it is also considered family-friendly with only a few small elevations.

Discoveries along the way

Castles, fortresses and ruins are perched on hills and slopes in a density that is unparalleled in Germany. Today's idyllic castles watched over the border river and the trade routes at their feet in the Middle Ages. The Dornburg castles on the Saale are also known as the "Balcony of Thuringia" and even cast a spell over Goethe.

But there is even more to discover: In addition to the Bavarian gourmet town of Hof, charming small towns such as Rudolstadt and Saalfeld, the Fairy Caves Adventure World and the Porcelain Worlds at Leuchtenburg Castle near Kahla are also well worth a visit, as are the graduation towers for salt production in Bad Kösen and Bad Dürrenberg.

In its anniversary year, the small salt town of Bad Dürrenberg is also hosting the 5th Saxony-Anhalt State Garden Show[1] and has connected its banks of the Saale with the graduation tower in an admirable way. The lively university town of Jena, which is picturesquely situated between limestone cliffs and the Saale valley, not only inspires scientists from all over the world, but also cyclists on the Saale cycle path.

Connoisseurs can look forward to the fine wines from Europe's northernmost quality wine-growing region, Saale-Unstrut, which stretches around Naumburg - known for its cathedral and the world-famous donor statues, which are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

From the section from Naumburg via the Handel city of Halle towards the estuary, the Saale winds its way through an increasingly wide, flat valley. Here too, the valley slopes are crowned by many an old fortress. For example, the picturesque Bernburg Castle with its owl mirror tower - also known as the "Crown of Anhalt". The last stage ends with a leisurely ride through meadows and floodplains near the small town of Barby, where the Saale finally flows into the Elbe.

The social media channels Facebook(https://www.facebook.com/saaleradweg.official) and Instagram(https://www.instagram.com/saaleradweg.official) are used to report on events and activities.