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(S/E) The start and finish of this scenic circular walk is the car park at the Saaleturm, Burgk 3.
From the car park, we leave the road and head towards the motorhome site, keep to the left before reaching it, and turn left onto the road behind the site. After about 50 metres, we take the turn-off to the right, which soon leads us into the woodland, then along its edge and back into the woodland.
The path curves very widely to the left around the Saale loop. About 200 m past two junctions coming from the right, we come to a wooden hut (Marienhütte) with a good view over the Saale.
(1) Behind the hut, we turn right at the fork, walk a short distance along the edge of the woodland and, at the T-junction, turn left back into the woodland.
At the next two forks, we keep to the right each time and eventually come to a three-way fork. Here, we continue straight ahead along the middle path. The route descends gently almost to the banks of the Saale; at the bottom, we turn left and walk round the two bends the Saale makes here, always staying above the riverbank.
After 2.3 km, we reach a charming old wooden bridge.
(2) There, we turn right and cross the Saale. On the other side, we turn left at the T-junction and, after 50 metres in the right-hand bend, come to a path leading to the left. Here, there is a truly breathtaking view of the castle high up on the ridge.
(3) We leave the wide path to continue walking along the banks of the Saale.
We continue to follow the path above the River Saale, keeping slightly to the left whenever there is a fork or junction. After crossing a small stream (at the southernmost point of the Saale loop), we take the left-hand turn after about 100 metres.
(4) We now continue along the so-called Jägersteig, walking along the hillside through the forest. After about 500 metres, the Jägersteig joins a forest track, where we turn left; after 300 metres, we come to a tarmac road, where we keep to the left again.
We follow the road as it takes a circular course to the left until we reach the Burgkhammer Dam on the right-hand side.
(5) After taking a look around, we head back and keep to the left behind the dam wall. There is a small car park on the right-hand side. At the end of this, a footpath branches off to the right, which we use as a shortcut, and at the top we continue to the right along the road.
At the next fork, we take the left-hand path (straight ahead on the road). This leads us once again along the banks of the Saale to a junction, where we turn left. Behind a parking bay, we cross the ice bridge, which is painted a somewhat faded red (or has since bleached).
(6) On the other side, we walk straight on along the road for a few more metres and, just past the right-hand bend where there is another small car park, turn left onto the unpaved path. This leads us directly to ameadow with scattered fruit trees, in front of which we turn right and walk up the slope.
(7) At the next junction, we turn left. From here, the so-calledVordere Röhrensteig winds its way high above the River Saale along the slope.
(8) There are two excellent vantage points here; the second (9) offers a superb view of the castle.
After we have almost completed the circular route around the Saale, we come to the first houses of Burgk. Here we continue straight on and reach thevillage road. We turn left onto this road and follow it past the Schlossterrasse restaurant.
Crossing the bridge, we reach Burgk Castle, which houses a museum.
(10) After our visit, we cross the bridge back, then continue straight on and turn right at the left-hand bend behind the Schlossterrasse. At the fork, we take the left-hand path, which leads us back tothe main village road.
We cross the road and continue to the right as far as the Saale Tower. From the viewing platform, there is a fantastic view over the Saale loop.
(11) In front of the Saaleturm is thecar park where we started. (S/E)
