New exercise trail on Heiligenberg promotes senior health in Jena

The city of Jena is expanding its range of activities to promote exercise in old age: a 500-metre-long exercise trail has been set up on Heiligenberg to encourage all citizens to get active.

The opening ceremony was held on Thursday, February 27, 2025 by Kathleen Lützkendorf, Head of Department, representatives of the Seniors' Advisory Council, the meeting center and the participating districts.

The exercise trail is part of the nationwide initiative "Healthy and active ageing" and was made possible by a cooperation between the city of Jena, the Begegnungszentrum Jena e.V., the Municipal Seniors' Advisory Council and the Federal Institute of Public Health (formerly BZgA). The latter provided the city with a grant of 1,000 euros for the project.

"Whether alone or in a group - outdoor exercise has become increasingly important due to the pandemic-related restrictions of recent years," explains Franziska Wächter, elderly care planner for the city of Jena. The trail consists of ten stations with large-format boards that provide instructions for various exercises. These are designed in such a way that no additional aids are required and the exercises can be carried out without prior knowledge.

The initiative emerged from the network meeting for elderly care in early 2024, at which the Thuringian State Association for Health Promotion (Agethur) presented the concept. The location was selected in close consultation with the district mayors of Jena-Nord, Löbstedt and Zwätzen. Kommunalservice Jena provided uncomplicated assistance in implementing the idea.

Head of Department Kathleen Lützkendorf was particularly pleased with the beautiful location of the trail on the Heiligenberg: "Right now is an ideal starting point for a hike into the Rautal valley and the winter flowers."