Discover Jenaprießnitz

St. Mary's Church and its history

The present-day choir of St. Mary's Church in Jenaprießnitz, beneath the tower, formed part of an early Gothic predecessor building dating from the early 13th century. Another historical reference goes back to 1306: Burgrave Otto IV of Kirchberg gifted the church in Prießnitz and the chapel at Kirchberg Castle to Bosau Monastery near Zeitz.

One of the most valuable furnishings in St. Mary's Church is a well-preserved Gothic altar crucifix. The organ was built in 1855 by organ builder Adolph Poppe from (Stadt)Roda. Its early Gothic architectural history, Gothic furnishing and 19th-century organ offer different points of historical interest for culture-minded travellers.

Hiking trails near Jenaprießnitz and in Jena

Jena Circular Hiking Trail 10 is 6.2 kilometres long and passes above Jenaprießnitz. On the stretch towards Fuchsturm, the trail runs through mixed woodland and alongside meadows, with views of Jenaprießnitz and the Jenzig. The route thus combines views of the village and the Jenzig with a described change between woodland and meadows.

Jena as a wider travel destination

In the wider travel destination of Jena, the Botanical Garden of the University of Jena offers a botanical highlight. It covers 4.5 hectares and contains around 10,000 plant species. Its five greenhouses include the Succulent House, the Cold House, the Tropical House, the Evolution House and the Victoria House. The great variety of plants and the different types of greenhouse add a distinctive highlight alongside the hiking opportunities.

The WaldPfad Schlauer Ux is about four kilometres long and has little elevation gain. It runs through Jena's municipal forest, starts near the forum natura nature discovery centre, passes the Forstturm and goes by the Bismarckturm and the Sternlinde. At its 20 stations, children and other hikers can discover animals, trees and plants. The route is suitable for families, kindergarten groups and school classes. At around four kilometres, it is shorter than the 6.2-kilometre Jena Circular Hiking Trail 10; the small elevation gain is another useful point of reference for the WaldPfad.

The 91-kilometre SaaleHorizontale covers a different scale. It follows narrow paths through steep Muschelkalk limestone slopes and offers spectacular views of the landscape of the Middle Saale Valley, with its villages, castles and palaces. In the wider travel destination of Jena, it is considered an outstanding outdoor activity.

Culture is also part of Jena's travel offering: the Kulturarena has taken place every summer since 1992 and attracts tens of thousands of visitors. Jena thus brings together botanical diversity, a range of hiking trails and a recurring summer cultural event.

When choosing a holiday apartment, you can distinguish between the areas you would like to focus on: St. Mary's Church is in Jenaprießnitz, Jena Circular Hiking Trail 10 passes above the village, and the other nature and cultural attractions are located in the wider travel destination of Jena. This lets you tailor your search to a stay focused on Jenaprießnitz or to a broader connection with Jena.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Gösen, Mörsdorf, Großbockedra, Rothenstein, Neuengönna, Großlöbichau, Tautenhain, Seitenroda.

For the wider travel overview: Saale-Holzland.