Rothenstein – Jena

The tour leads our fellow paddlers into the natural beauty of river Saale’s upper reaches, where Thuringia’s mountains covered with gloomy forests transition softly into cultivated fileds of the Saale valley around Jena, The tour starts in the village of Rothenstein, in short distance to the Helenenstein cliff.

As you make your way down the Saale River and surrounding forests, you may catch a glimpse of several native animals; the turquoise river kingfisher, various types of heron, cormorants and/or nutrias all in their natural habitat. If you are lucky, you may even see turtles and European Otters!   

Continuing along the Saale you will have the opportunity to see Landmarks like the Lobdeburg Fort on the right side of the Saale.   

Throughout the tour you will paddle by small islands, and experience small rapids, which keep the tour adventurous.   

After entering the urban structures of Jena you will experience a pass-around point on the Burgauer Wehr, or Burgauer Dam. Here in Jena the Saale flows alongside beer gardens and historic bridges in the Burgau district, the last part of the route leads fellow paddlers into the green center of the city, passing Cafés in Paradies park until one eventually arrives in Jena-East closeby the bridge Griesbrücke.

It’s well worth your time to discover Jena’s lovely City Centre, Botanical Gardens, Paradies-Park, and more after your tour.