Weißenfels is the most populous town in the Burgenlandkreis in Saxony-Anhalt with about 40,000 residents. The city lies in the border triangle of Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia. It is regarded as the gateway to the central German castle and vineyard region of Saale-Unstrut. The twelve villages Borau, Burgwerben, Großkorbetha, Langendorf, Leißling, Markwerben, Reichardtswerben, Schkortleben, Storkau, Tagewerben, Uichteritz and Wengelsdorf belong to the town of Weißenfels. The city is centrally located near the cities of Halle and Leipzig, has excellent transport connections, charming landscapes and rich cultural history. The access roads to the Autobahn 9 and Autobahn 38 are only a few kilometers from the city center. The Leipzig-Halle airport can be reached in 30 minutes.

Sights and Activities

Weißenfels is a city that is steeped in history. There are numerous buildings that bear witnesses to this, such as Neu-Augustusburg Castle, with its impressive castle church and princely tomb, open to visitors. As a former baroque royal seat and center of German cultural history, Weißenfels was a meeting point for many international artists. Particularly worth seeing are the Heinrich Schütz House, the Novalis Memorial, St. Mary’s Church (built-in 1303), the baroque Town Hall and the Prince’s Palace. The city on the Saale also offers a wide range of sports and leisure activities with its cultural center, adult education center, municipal library, zoological gardens, outdoor and indoor swimming pools, all-weather toboggan run and boat, and bicycle hire.

Economy

The economy in the Weißenfels area is mainly characterized by the food industry, primary and secondary construction trades, metal processing, trade and services. Central companies are Mitteldeutsche Erfrischungsgetränke GmbH & Co. KG, frischli Milchwerke GmbH, Tönnies Lebensmittel GmbH & Co. KG, Weißenfelser Handelsgesellschaft mbH and Lieken Brot- und Backwaren GmbH. It is also Germany’s most important location for the German Armed Forces Medical Service. Due to the central area at meaningful transport connections and thanks to a qualified workforce, local entrepreneurs find favourable framework conditions. Besides, the proximity to the Halle-Leipzig Development Centre represents an interesting sales and cooperation potential for committed companies.

Between 1660 and 1694, the residence of the Dukes of Weißenfels “Schloss Neu-Augustusburg” was built on the foundation walls of the former Weißenfels Castle in the form of a monumental three-winged complex. Until 1746, the castle served as the residence of the Saxony-Weißenfels Saxony branch line and quickly developed into a cultural stronghold. Another world-renowned artist is also associated with Weißenfels Castle: Johann Sebastian Bach served as Weißenfels court kapellmeister from his own home.

Today, the Weißenfels Museum in Neu-Augustusburg Castle houses an exhibition on the Duchy of Saxony-Weißenfels and the history of the city. It also houses the largest shoe museum in the new German states, with shoes from all over the world and prominent personalities. The castle church with Förner-Organ and continuously changing special exhibitions can be visited during the museum’s opening hours.

The Marienkirche in the center of the city is the largest church in Weißenfels. It can be seen from a distance and serves as orientation on the way to the market, to the Jüdenstraße or to the City Hall. Many people have found a place here for prayer, music and listening to the Gospel. Consecrated in 1303 and rebuilt several times after fires, it is a late-Gothic hall church with three naves. The organ was built in 1862 by Friedrich Ladegast, an organ builder from Weißenfels. In 2000 it was declared Church of the Year. Every Sunday at 10.15 a.m., the church service takes place regularly.

The Bismarck Tower in Weißenfels was built between 1906 and 1907 and was the centre of attraction for many people from Weißenfels. With time the tower decayed and due to its partly terrible condition, it was even closed for many years. This changed with the foundation of the Weißenfelser Bismarckturm Verein e.V. in 2005. Since July 2015, after ten years of renovation work, the Bismarck Tower in Weißenfels has again been accessible to all guests and residents of Weißenfels. Located in a beautiful park, the Bismarck Tower is a popular excursion destination for young and old.

In 998, written in black and white, Emperor Otto III confirmed the donation of vineyards to the Memleben Monastery. With this document, the foundation stone for winegrowing was laid at Saale and Unstrut. From then on, history took its course and still today the long winegrowing tradition can be felt in many places.

Centuries-old dry-stone walls, impressive terraced vineyards and romantic little cottages characterize the 760-hectare Saale-Unstrut region. Located at 51° latitude, it is considered to be the northernmost quality wine region in Germany, covering the three federal states of Saxony-Anhalt (639 ha), Thuringia (108 ha) and Brandenburg (8.4 ha).

Muschel limestone and red sandstone soils, 1600 hours of sunshine and 500 milliliters of precipitation per year provide the grapes with optimal growing conditions. It is precisely these geological, geographical and climatic peculiarities that produce apart, delicate, fragrant, elegantly light wines.

With over 60 grape varieties, Saale-Unstrut offers an unparalleled variety. The region’s specialties are elegant white and grey Burgundy, but also earthy Silvaner, sparkling Riesling and the finely spiced Müller-Thurgau. Rarities include chassel and the red André, which grows only on Saale-Unstrut. Of course, the reds such as Blauer Zweigelt, Spätburgunder, Dornfelder and Portugieser must not be missing from the variety list.

More than 50 private wineries, the winegrowers’ association Freyburg, the state winery Kloster Pforta and the Rotkäppchen Sektkellerei ensure the quality of the wines.

The winegrowers and the people of the region are also the ones who make the wine, the history and the landscape tangible. The numerous wine and farm festivals, the tastings in the wine cellars, the gourmet offers of the local restaurants and many other events will make you feel true joie de vivre and hospitality.

Find out more: saale-unstrut-tourismus.de