Zuckerbahnradweg von Zeitz nach Camburg

Today we went on the Zeitz <-> Camburg sugar railway cycle path. However, arriving by train was a challenge. Originally I wanted to go from Hermsdorf via Gera to Zeitz. But since the connection in Gera was no longer accessible due to a delay, I went to Camburg via Jena and did the tour the other way around. The bicycle compartments were of course hopelessly overcrowded in this weather, but luckily we got along. On the tour itself there is always some old railway nostalgia to admire. Old train stations, water towers or the beautiful stone bridges that tell of the heyday of the railway. A really nice bike path through even more beautiful landscapes.

The Zuckerbahn cycle path just won't let me go! After I was only able to ride part of this cycle path on Ascension Day, I had decided to finally ride the entire length. And today was finally the day! 🥳 In Leipzig I got a seat on the train and was able to start my tour at Zeitz station - a station with two faces: on one side the well-renovated station building, on the other side the almost ancient-looking track and signal box systems. That makes every train fan's heart beat faster. 🚂😍 After this short initial exploration, I then turned onto the actual cycle path. The start is at the former connection point of the Zuckerbahn to Zeitz station. Today, only a buffer stop standing there testifies to this. The bridge that once led the railway line into Zeitz station has not existed for several years and fell victim to the expanding industrial facilities. From Zeitz, it's uphill first: out of the valley of the White Elster and up into the gentle hills of Burgenland. Here, one advantage of cycle paths built on former railway lines becomes apparent: the gradient is continuous, but moderate! 😏 In addition, many bushes and trees have grown here over the years, providing cooling shade. This makes cycling very pleasant on warm days. 😊 Then it goes uphill to the former Weickelsdorf train station. On the way, I left Kretzschau behind me and took a break at the former train station in Droyßig. Here, the art project in homage to the sugar railway, a huge piece of track, immediately catches my eye. From Weickelsdorf, you basically roll down a long way via Osterfeld to Utenbach. The former Osterfeld train station was also renovated in recent years and now serves as a youth center. The area where the platforms and tracks used to be is brand new: some seating and bicycle stands have been built here. The entire station area therefore looks very well maintained - but unfortunately it is in the blazing sun, without a patch of shade. 🥵 After Utenbach it goes uphill again to Molau. My observation here: the closer you get to Camburg, the more agricultural the surrounding area is. Accordingly, you also drive in the blazing sun more often here. In addition, the former railway line in the western part has been converted more into agricultural paths. This does result in a wider asphalt track. Unfortunately, this means that the railway nostalgia feeling is somewhat lost. The closer you get to Zeitz, the more "railway-rustic" the route becomes. 🚂 From Molau, apart from a small intermediate climb, it goes down into the Saale valley. Before the small town of Tümpling, you leave the original route and drive through the town. At the end of the town towards Stöben you can still see the old bridge pillars over which the connecting curve over the Saale to Camburg once led. This connection (Saale bridge) was blown up by the Wehrmacht before the end of the Second World War. If you drive on the other side of the Saale (road or rail) you can still see the remains of the former railway embankment. 👀 The sugar railway cycle path ends a little outside, at the Saale bridge near Stöben. From here my bikes took me along the Saale cycle path to Camburg (Saale) station - the end of the sugar railway and my tour. 🏁 After a lunch break there, I took the train to Jena to tackle my next item on the day's agenda. 😉 Overall, I am totally impressed by the sugar railway cycle path! 🥰 It is easy to ride/paved throughout, offers many places to take a break/sit and a varied landscape. I had already summarized information about the Zuckerbahn in one of my previous tours: https://www.komoot.com/de-de/tour/1566370643. It is really amazing what has changed here in the almost 15 years since it was closed! If you would like to experience the route (at least between Osterfeld and Zeitz) in regular railway operation, I recommend the following YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vL6SRvxlV0Q. 🚉 My final tip on which direction you should cycle in is clearly to start in Zeitz and end in Camburg. On the one hand, this is because the gradients are more pleasant in this direction. And on the other hand, the eastern 25 km of the route are mostly in the shade, which makes managing the gradient all the easier. 😉

A highly recommended route from Zeitz to Camburg, which mostly runs in the shade. We have extended the official 37.5 km a bit by our detours to Droysig to the castle, Hassel to the church and Schkölen to the moated castle and church. The reward awaited in Camburg in the form of an ice cream sundae. And today we were the only 7 cyclists who didn't!!!!! were traveling on the Zuckerbahnradweg with an e-bike. It was exhausting with the long, gradual climbs, but the descents make up for it.