Cultural immersion along the Saale, Ilm and Unstrut rivers

Day 1: Arrival in Weimar - approx. 5 km

You will meet your guide in the early afternoon at the train station and then drive to the hotel. To get our feet wet, we enjoy the quiet paths in the green park on the banks of the Ilm. We will take a break at Goethe's garden house before being guided through the city in the footsteps of the poet, who was also a "Geheimrat" or secret legation adviser. We will have dinner at a restaurant located in the historic town centre. (3 nights).

Day 2: Descent of the Ilm River - approx. 48 km.

In the morning, a taxi takes us to Ilmenau, in the heart of the Thuringian forest. Goethe, who as a secret advisor had to put the city's finances in order, loved Ilmenau. After a walk through the old town and the town hall with its beautiful Renaissance portal, we start our bicycle tour. The river Ilm flows down the valley, lined with willows and alders. We ride along the river on quiet paths. Sometimes the river widens into small lakes, then flows quietly through the forest meadows, accompanied by the croaking of frogs. Historical salt works towers pass in front of us, before giving way to spectacular limestone walls at the edge of the valley. In the afternoon we will arrive in Bad Berka. This classical spa is worth a walk. A short train transfer takes us back to Weimar. After dinner, Mr. von Hintzenstern awaits us in the church of Denstedt. The sounds produced by the Peternell organ, which was Franz Liszt's preferred instrument, will leave us in awe.

Day 3: To Erfurt - approx. 24 km

In the morning we cycle through gently rolling countryside towards Erfurt, the capital of Thuringia. After a lunch break, we are expected for a guided tour of the city. Erfurt is a pearl of German urbanism. We will discover with a specialist the magnificent ensembles of patrician dwellings and half-timbered houses restored with care, the bridge of the grocers as well as the cathedral of Erfurt. In the evening, we return by train to Weimar.

Day 4: Unusual gardens - approx. 61 km.

This is a very special day. We cycle through landscaped parks to Tiefurt Castle, the summer residence and temple of the muses of Duchess Anna Amalia. Here the duchess held her literary court and gathered all the great minds that made Weimar and even Germany famous. We then drive through meadows towards Niederroßla, where a delicious picnic awaits us. In the afternoon, we will arrive in Bad Sulza. The Thuringian wine gate, just past Bad Sulza, is the most northern wine region in Germany. Taverns offer pleasant breaks. Finally, the Saale River appears on the horizon. We follow the Saale to Naumburg, then we follow the Unstrut to Freyburg (2 nights).

Day 5: In the Unstrut valley - approx. 42 km

In the morning, we wil take the train to Wangen. The Unstrut Valley is the location where the Nebra Sky Disc, which was crafted over 3600 years ago, was unearthed. We took a stroll down the Unstrut Valley and enjoyed a picnic lunch amidst the lush greenery after our visit to the Nebra Arch Museum. Later on, we were warmly welcomed by the historical bell foundry of Laucha, where we received an informative presentation. In the afternoon, we cycle leisurely to Freyburg, a beautiful village in Germany's northernmost wine region. We will enjoy a wine tasting before returning to our hotel in Freyburg.

Day 6: Cathedral Road on the Saale - approx. 44 km

We will start with a guided tour of Naumburg Cathedral. This building combines a unique architectural wealth from the Romanesque to the early Gothic period. The sculptures of the Naumburg Master, which seem surprisingly alive and were declared a world cultural heritage site in 2018, are particularly worth seeing. We then follow the winding course of the Saale to Weißenfels. The castle church is a pearl of the early baroque, sparkling in white, pink and apple green. The landscape widens into fertile alluvial plains and in the afternoon we reach Merseburg. The cathedral-castle complex is one of the most beautiful medieval buildings in Germany. We stay at the Radisson Blu Hotel, located in the Zech'sche Palais, opposite the castle gardens.

Day 7: Merseburg's spells and departure

The cathedral and castle of Merseburg form a remarkable ensemble that testifies to the medieval significance of the former palatine and episcopal city. We must not overlook the opportunity to explore this exceptional monument and uncover the renowned Merseburg spells. The excursion concludes at 11:30 a.m. at the Merseburg train station.