The State of Thuringia has a high density of cultural sites of national and international rank. The UNESCO World Heritage includes the "Classic Weimar", the Bauhaus in Weimar, the Wartburg near Eisenach and the Hainich National Park as part of the European beech forests. The state capital Erfurt has important cultural and historical sites with the cathedral, the Krämerbrücke and the oldest preserved synagogue in Central Europe. The largest city is Erfurt, other important centers are Jena, Gera and Weimar.
176 meters long, just 85 centimeters wide and 25 meters above the Bärental: the still "young" suspension rope bridge across the Bärental is a real attraction in the Hohe Schrecke Mountain Range.
Once again for reasons of direct regional exploration in Sangerhausen on the way, we liked to go to the Rosarium in Sangerhausen, the well-known and worldwide unique rose garden complex (as we had already reported on this).
Several times we had already noticed street signs to the moated castle in the Thuringian town of Heldrungen, which we had not yet followed.
After our so much impressing tour through the former Buchenwald concentration camp close to the city entry of the independent city of Weimar, which had proved to be much more time-consuming than planned, we first needed to talk, so that we were able to exchange first impressions and ideas.
In difficult times when contact with other people should be completely avoided, a hike through the forest is one of the few ways to escape the confinement of the city, the home and the conflicts within the family cramped in the house.
Slowly it gets wintry, even though it sometimes seems that the trees getting bare so quick, how nice was the slow browning of the leaves, especially when the sun brought the variety of colors into the trees.
Again and again we come across some ancient trade routes as part of our project work, which today can be traced back to the plans and systems of our forefathers in the form of highways, railway routes or bridge systems.
It is already a monumental impression that opens up before your eyes when you walk across the Krämerbrücke through the shopping street towards the cathedral and the huge market square then surprisingly opens up, in the background the imposing cathedral building and the Severi Church.
Our host, the campground "Unter den Jenzig" had mentioned some places of interest in the area, which we also wanted to visit together with our friend Detlef, who arrived to visit us from Halle.
Rudolstadt is situated in the valley of the river Saale, which runs from the south to the east passing the "Saaleknie". The city was first documented in 776 and since 1326 has got the city law.
Large parts of the historical city center were destroyed by American air raids at the end of the Second World War, especially from February to April 1945, later the city fell victim to the socialist reconstruction plans, so that - especially around the new Eichplatz - very few historic buildings are to be found in the city center.
After crossing the wooden covered bridge in Kunitz, we had taken the path into the village center, then walked up the path to the Gleißberg, which first leads us along some wine fields.
In our article about the porcelain centre of Kahla, we had already mentioned the many hiking trails and cycle paths that connect different destinations in beautiful surroundings, so we had chosen the way up to the Leuchtenburg with a visit to the local museum as our destination of that day.
After the first talks about places of interest in the area, the owner of the campsite "Unter den Jenzig" had also referred to the small town of Kahla, which, in addition to the porcelain manufactory, also had a still completely preserved, medieval city wall as well as some buildings from the time.
An important point of reference in Jena is the so-called Jentower, which can be seen from almost every corner of the city and therefore also represents a really good road sign for the city tour on foot.
In 1558 the Almermater Jenensis, which was soon to become one of the most famous study places in Germany, was founded. During their stay in the city, graduates from the university, who came from half of Europe, kept a secret from the public in the course of seven curiosities, which were regarded as evidence of their actual presence in Jena.
From the campsite "Unter dem Jenzig", our route into the city center of Jena took us along the asphalted cycle path along the river Saale. Passing the university we will explore the remains of the ancient fortifications of the medieval Jena today.