Naumburg

Naumburg is an ideal center to explore the beautiful and interesting valleys of the Rivers Saale and Unstrut. The Saale valley is particularly impressive, with rugged natural surroundings from Jena in Thuringia to Naumburg. The Unstrut River is smaller and calmer, and an ideal canoeing river for the inexperienced. The Unstrut flows into the Saale in Naumburg.

Naumburg is best known for its beautiful cathedral, and the region is the northernmost wine growing area in Germany. The two valleys are also littered with castles – most are in ruins but they make for a welcome break from physical adventures.

Sightseeing in Naumburg

Naumburg was long divided into religious and secular sections. It was a bishopric from 1028 until 1564, but the two sections operated independently until 1832. For that reason the cathedral is a few blocks from the town center. The secular part of town grew rich from trade, but after Leipzig received its trade fair privilege in 1506, preventing Naumburg from competing in this area, the town rapidly declined in wealth and importance.

Naumburg is well-known for its amazing Dom St Peter und Paul on Domplatz. The church combines Late Romanesque and Early Gothic elements, with the oldest parts dating from 1042. It has choirs at both ends of the nave, with the mid-13th-century west choir the most interesting. Here are 12 lifesize stone statues of the benefactors, who donated the funds for the construction of the cathedral. The statues were crafted in the 13th century by an unknown artist and are considered some of the best examples of art from that period. The best known are the statues of Margrave Ekkehard and his wife Uta. However, do not overlook the statue of Reglindis (right), the wife of Margrave Hermann; her smile has been described as the most beautiful of the Middle Ages.

The Marktplatz (Market Square) is surrounded by beautiful, mostly Renaissance and Baroque buildings. However, the Rathaus (Town Hall) is Late Gothic and the Ratskeller dates from the 14th century. The Stadtkirche St Wenzel (Town Church), Markt, was the main church of the secular part of town. The exterior is Late Gothic, but the interior mainly Baroque. It has a magnificent Hildebrandt organ that was first tuned by Johann Sebastian Bach and two paintings by Lucas Cranach. Except for services, the church is closed from November to March.

The controversial late 19th-century philosopher Friederich Nietzsche lived in Naumburg as a child and again later in life when his mental health started to deteriorate. The Nietzsche-Haus Naumburg, Weingarten 18, was opened in 1994 – he was largely ignored during the Communist regime – as a museum with a permanent exhibition on his life and time in Naumburg.

Wine Tasting in the Naumburg Area

The Saale-Unstrut region is the farthest north of Germany’s wine growing regions. It has a wine tradition of over a thousand years, with typical terraced vineyards along the steep valley banks. Although some red wines are produced, the dry whites are best.

Many wine producers and wine shops offer wine tasting at a nominal fee but most do not accept individual visitors. The following do, and often have English speaking personnel on premises.

Weingut Familie Fuchs, Im Dorfe 47a, 99518 Darnstedt, is the smallest winery in Thuringia and follows strict ecological policies.

Weinbau Rittergut, Dorfstraße 8, 06636 Weischütz, is on the Unstrut near Laucha. It has a 700-year wine-producing tradition and is open weekends from 2 to 8 pm. Wine from here, as well as other farms, is also available for sale and tasting at Gutausschank Herbert Pawis, Ehrauberge 12, 06632 Freyburg.