Nebra and its environs have also made history more recently with the sensational discovery of the Nebra Sky Disk which is widely regarded as key find for the fields of early European history, astronomy and the history of religion. It was unearthed on Mittelberg hill in the Ziegelroda Forest near Wangen, where excavations still continue today. If you are interested you can find out more about the history of the Nebra Sky Disk from expert guides. According to scientists, the sky disk is the oldest artefact depicting the cosmos and was buried in a pit about 3,600 years ago. Wine, history, architecture and a long tradition of wine making come together in the town of Freyburg, the birthplace of Friedrich Ludwig Jahn, the "father of German gymnastics". Central Germany's biggest wine festival, well-known outside Saxony-Anhalt, is held each year in Freyburg and its highlights include the crowning of the wine queen and a gala parade.
Sites of historical and cultural interest are around every corner in the Saale and Unstrut regions. Myths, legends and tales about wine abound. In 1137, Cistercian monks settled on the north bank of the Saale near Naumburg and founded St Mary of Pforta monastery, which quickly became one of the wealthiest monasteries in eastern Thuringia. In Naumburg itself the townscape is dominated by the cathedral which features statues of its founders. Important historical figures such as Nietzsche were fond of this former Hanseatic town where, today, the sound of lunchtime organ concerts can be heard from the municipal church. In Bad Kösen the local history museum is of interest to visitors for its permanent display of Käthe Kruse dolls. You can finish your tour with a short stroll through the vineyards around Bad Sulza, before enjoying a glass of Saale-Unstrut wine in one of its attractive taverns. Wine always tastes best when drunk in the place where the grapes were grown. Inns selling home-produced wines hang a broom outside to indicate that wine is available. The Saale-Unstrut Wine Route is not able to link all the places associated with wine making in this region, so it is also worth exploring the vineyards away from the main wine area. Discovering this winemaking region by car, on foot, by boat or by bike is always a rewarding experience with a universal appeal.