Jena from above – along the Kernberge hills to the Fuchsturm tower
Fantastic views on a hike along the SaaleHorizontale walking trail
Explore the SaaleHorizontale hiking trail on a guided one-day walk along the Kernberge hills to the Fuchsturm tower.
Alongside Jenzig hill, the Kernberge hills are some of Jena’s most famous natural landmarks.
The bright limestone cliffs can be seen from far away, and their narrow paths are the perfect way for keen walkers to explore the Saale valley from above. From here you can see Jena’s city centre, the Zeiss and Schott factories, the satellite towns of Lobeda and Winzerla, and the surrounding region up to Leuchtenburg Castle near Kahla.
Along the Kernberghorizontale walking trail to the Fürstenbrunnen spring
We start our walk on the market square. After crossing the Saale river, we continue through the small streets and steps of the Heimstättensiedlung ‘garden city’, before the steep climb up to the SaaleHorizontale walking trail.
A narrow path along the hill provides views of Jena from above.
Passing the natural formations of the Studentenrutsche and the Diebeskrippe, we walk along the side of the hills to the Fürstenbrunnen spring, a great place for a break.
Past the stone cross to Fuchsturm tower
The walk continues up the hill through sparse beech forest to the stone cross. We carry on past orchards and gardens to the Fuchsturm, a fortified tower that was once part of four castles that stood on Hausberg hill. This is also the site of Jena’s oldest hilltop restaurant, and its beer garden is the ideal location for a break. The extended ridge of Hausberg hill takes us down into the centre of Jena.
- ca. 13 km (equates to a duration of 4.5 hours, plus 2 hours for breaks)
- max. 16 participants
