The SaaleHorizontale is Germany's most beautiful hiking trail 2023

With a total of 5,605 votes and thus 25.13% of the total votes, the SaaleHorizontale clearlyheld its ownagainststrong competition from attractive hiking trails, relegating "Seven Summits Bodenmais" in the Bavarian Forest (16.28%) and the "Malerweg" in Saxon Switzerland (15.05%) to second and third place. A total of 45,232 hiking enthusiasts voted.

The hiking magazine has been awarding the title of "Germany's most beautiful hiking trail" in the categories of one-day and multi-day tours every year since 2004. Hiking fans can vote online or by voting card from January to June. The trails are nominated by a professional jury, which this year consisted of Thorsten Hoyer (editor-in-chief of Wandermagazin), Daniela Trautwein (hiking blog "Die Wanderreporterin") Manuel Andrack (Germany's "hiking champion") and Spiegel bestselling author and outdoor blogger Kathrin Heckmann, alias "Fräulein Draußen". Previously, 101 trails had applied, of which 10 multi-day and 15 one-day tours were nominated.

Joint campaign by JenaKultur and Kommunalsservice Jena

In fall 2022,JenaKultur , Kommunalservice Jena and Saale-Unstrut Tourismus GmbH applied for the title of "Germany's Most Beautiful Hiking Trail 2023" in the multi-day tour category with the SaaleHorizontale. After being nominated as one of the ten best trails, the voting phase began in January and lasted until the end of June.

JenaKultur's tourism marketing team spent six months campaigning for votes and, together with the Jena City Forestry Department, increased the focus on the SaaleHorizontale, supported by numerous stakeholdersfrom the City of Light Jena and the surrounding area, including mountain companies, hotels and restaurants, local mayors and tourism partner institutions such as Thüringer Tourismus GmbH and Saale-Unstrut-Tourismus GmbH.

"For us, the SaaleHorizontale has long ceased to be an insider tip.Nevertheless, the trail with its narrow paths along the shell limestone slopes and great views of the Saale valley is still far toolittle known. By applying for the title of Germany's most beautiful hiking trail in 2023, we hoped to draw more attention to the wonderful nature around Jena.On the other hand, we wanted to use the competition as an opportunity tohighlightour cityas an attractive tourist destination and present it to a wide audience via various channels," explained Hemmi Eckardt, Head of Tourism/Convention at JenaKultur, at the award ceremony on the Fuchsturm.

"Our aim in applying for the title of Germany's most beautiful hiking trail was to draw attention to the unmistakable nature worth protecting in Jena's natura jenensisadventure region . True to the motto Experience, Recognize, Understand and Act, we want people to recognize the valueof nature. Only if we treat our environment with care will we continue to benefit from its uniqueness for a long time to come. This is why environmental education is a high priority for us.Winning the title is a wonderful opportunity to raise awareness of the issue, " says Olaf Schubert, Head of theJena Municipal ForestryDepartment at Kommunalservice.

SaaleHorizontale quality hiking trail with many highlights

In addition to the varied landscape with its original deciduous forests, small sleepy villages between orchards, sparse pine groves, castles and palaces, the special thing about the SaaleHorizontale is its proximity to the city. The panorama is overwhelming. Sometimes the Leuchtenburg castle greets you from afar, at other points the view of the Dornburg castles suddenly appears and then again the skyline of Jena. All stagescan be reached by public transportand are therefore alsosuitablefor an individual day trip.Hiking during the day,shopping in the afternoon and going out in the evening is possible in Jena.

Some highlights:

• Adventure trails: Clever Uxforest trail, Ottonian trail, Napoleon trail, Trixi Trias dinosaur trail, Tautenburg planet trail

• 4 castles/castle ruins (Lobdeburg ruins, Fuchsturm, Kunitzburg ruins, Tautenburg ruins), 3 castles (Dornburg castles) and 3 towers (Landgrafenturm, Bismarck tower, Forstturm) along the trail

• Botanical features: Winter aconites in the Rautal valley, orchids in the Leutratal valley, peonies in the Gleistal valley

• Kneipp facilityDorndorf-Steudnitz, Tautenburg Planet Trail, Touringen stamping points (9 in total, 1 stamp per stage), Goethepark, vineyards (Käutzchenberg and Jenaer Grafenberg vineyards, Golmsdorfer Gleisberg), Beutnitz mill, Tautenburg State Observatory , Bauhaus Museum Dornburg, Museum 1806

• Highest point: Sommerlinde 395 m, lowest point: Carl-Alexander-BrückeDorndorf-Steudnitz 129 m