Saale Valley Attractions
The Saale rises in the Fichtelgebirge and flows northwest down the slopes of the Franconian Forest and the Thuringian Hills in a winding and deeply indented valley; then, emerging from the hills at Saalfeld, it bears northeast. At Weissenfels it enters the Saxon Lowland, and at Barby, after a course of 427km/265mi, it flows into the Elbe. From Naumburg the river is navigable for small vessels, from Halle for larger ones.
The catchment area of the Saale takes in not only the Thuringian Hills and the northern part of the Thuringian Forest, but also the whole of the Thuringian Basin, the Eastern Harz and its foreland, the Vogtland and part of the Saxon Lowland.
The Saale valley is divided into three very different sections: the upper valley as far as Saalfeld; the middle valley in the river's course through the fringes of the Thuringian Basin; and the lower valley in the lowlands below Weissenfels.
The catchment area of the Saale takes in not only the Thuringian Hills and the northern part of the Thuringian Forest, but also the whole of the Thuringian Basin, the Eastern Harz and its foreland, the Vogtland and part of the Saxon Lowland.
The Saale valley is divided into three very different sections: the upper valley as far as Saalfeld; the middle valley in the river's course through the fringes of the Thuringian Basin; and the lower valley in the lowlands below Weissenfels.
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Lower Saale Valley
Although industry and agriculture feature more prominently in the landscape of the lower Saale valley, there are also fine old castles and palaces to be seen in old towns such as Merseburg, Halle, Wettin and Bernburg, bearing witness to the eventful history of this region.
Middle Saale Valley
The middle valley of the Saale is also very beautiful. Its particular attraction lies in its numerous old castles, perhaps the most notable of which are Schloss Heidecksburg at Rudolstadt, the Leuchtenburg near Kahla (now a youth hostel), the well-known Domburger Schlösser and the ruined Burg Saaleck and Rudelsburg.
