A fresh fall breeze in Saxony-Anhalt

This is a season of abundance in the Altmark. The avenues of old fruit trees are laden with fruit and the forests are the ideal place to forage for mushrooms. In the rural villages, harvest festivals are held where the old traditions are maintained. Then as the fall comes to a close, everyone begins to prepare for Christmas time. In the Börde district, people also celebrate their most important crop: sugar beet. The routes that make up the Elder Tree Cycle Path lead through traditional villages in the Börde, which have plenty of interesting attractions for visitors. October 14 is the day of the Sweet Tour. This is the ideal opportunity to explore the cycle path as many farms open their gates and provide refreshments.

The cycle routes that run along the Rivers Unstrut, Saale and Weiße Elster in the south of Saxony-Anhalt offer visitors the chance to combine exercise with discovering more about the culture of the region. Along the well-constructed paths, cyclists will find cathedrals, castles and museums in picturesque settings where they can take a well-earned break. Visitors are also sure to enjoy the Merseburg Organ Festival in September and the Heinrich Schütz Music Festival in October.

Or they can take a walk through Zerbst in the footprints of Catherine the Great, the town’s most famous daughter. The route highlights the connections between the 1000-year history of the town and the royal house of Anhalt-Zerbst, which the renowned Russian Empress was a member of. Only 20 kilometers away in Dessau, the Georgium park in the heart of the Bauhaus city is the perfect place for a stroll. Georgium Castle and park are part of the Garden Kingdom of Dessau-Wörlitz UNESCO World Heritage site. Many people believe that this is the most beautiful park in the Garden Kingdom. A visit to Magdeburg Zoo against the backdrop of its colorful fall foliage is both enjoyable and informative.

But anyone looking for adventure should head for the Harz region. In addition to the Harzer-Hexen-Stieg (Harz Witches’ Trail), which is recognized as one of the “Top Trails of Germany,” there are also activities on offer for collectors of hiking stamps for the Harz Walking Badge. Several exciting activities can be found in the 120-meter-deep valley of the Rappbode dam, including one of the longest suspension bridges in the world, Europe’s longest double zip wire, a pendulum jump, wall running and the Ultrashot.

Children will also enjoy a visit to the Harz region. The newly launched Brocken Gang communication campaign is aimed specifically at children and represents a new and innovative approach in German tourism. Children are seen not only as users of the experiences and infrastructure, but also as primary consumers. Together with the innovation platform designed by the Saxony-Anhalt Tourism Association, the Brocken Gang concept is on the long list for the German Tourism Award, which is presented to innovative, sustainable tourism products and projects.

As usual you can find more information in our fall press kit, which describes these ideas for weekend breaks and fall vacations in more detail. Accompanying photos can be found in our image database. In addition, keen cyclist Sophia Tymnik discusses cycling tours in our podcast. Enjoy the fresh fall breezes!