Leuna: Garden City, Architecture and the Saale Cycle Route

Leuna can be explored through a range of themes: the architecture of the garden city, traces of a long history, art in the park, and routes to explore on foot or by bike. The approximately five-kilometre city walk takes you to eight sights. It covers historic traces, modern architecture and the garden city’s green character. This brings together the history of urban construction and landscaped green spaces, alongside the option of exploring Leuna by bike.

City Walk and Saale Cycle Route

The short city walk is approximately five kilometres long and links eight sights. Those with a particular interest in architecture and urban history will find a shared theme throughout: historic traces and modern architectural forms are among the topics, as is the garden city’s green character.

The section of the Saale Cycle Route in Leuna is considered idyllic and easy to cycle; it is paved. It runs right alongside the Leuna boat landing and the sculpture park. The cycle route therefore differs from the city walk not only in how you travel, but also in the two points it passes. A railway bridge on the Saale Cycle Route connects the town centre of Leuna with the settlements in the Saale floodplain for pedestrians and cyclists.

Green Spaces, Art and the Waldschwimmbad

The sculpture park comprises a large landscaped green space with shaded meadows and named trees. These include the Zöschen maple. A permanent collection of sculptures and reliefs from the Moritzburg Art Museum in Halle (Saale) is presented in the park as a multimedia experience. The technical format of this presentation may change.

A pedestrian bridge leads from the Saale Cycle Route to the Waldschwimmbad. It is described as a summer destination for swimming and relaxing. As this is a seasonal destination, check current visitor information before your trip.

Garden City and Architectural History

The Leuna Garden City is designated as a protected area monument and was established after the founding of Badische Anilin- und Sodafabrik (BASF) in 1916. At its eastern edge stands the Christ the King Church, designed in the New Objectivity style. The church and the garden city offer different architectural points of interest: one is a single church building, while the other is an area designated as a protected monument.

The name Leuna is also associated with a much earlier period. The city is the namesake of the Rössen culture, a Neolithic cultural period dating from approximately 4500 to 3500 BC. The term “Rössen culture” was introduced in 1900, after finds were made on the site of today’s sculpture park. Leuna’s historical themes thus range from archaeological finds to the development of the garden city.

The ruins of St Nicholas’ Church in Rössen house a permanent exhibition about the Leuna Garden City, which is open free of charge year-round. However, check local visitor arrangements before your visit. Another example of the town’s architecture is the Leuna Waldschwimmbad: built in 1930–1931, it is considered a well-preserved example of a public bath from the Weimar Republic. Its building is described as an example of Bauhaus architecture and is defined by steel, concrete and glass.

Getting to Leuna

Leuna has road connections to the A9 and A38 motorways and the B91 federal highway. A tram line connects Leuna with Halle (Saale); Leipzig is reachable by car or train. Check current connections and journey times before setting off. When planning your trip, you can first weigh up how to get there, then decide which activities you would like to focus on: the city walk, cycle route, architecture or seasonal use of the Waldschwimmbad.

Discover more destinations: Benndorf, Braunsbedra, Teutschenthal, Langenbogen, Landsberg, Wettin-Löbejün, Milzau, Spergau

See the overview of destinations in the wider area: Saalekreis.