13th Himmelswegelauf

Marathon between Astronomy and Prehistory

The Himmelswegelauf is one of the most unusual running events in Central Germany: instead of running through a city center, the route leads across southern Saxony-Anhalt – from one of the world's oldest sun observatories to the discovery site of the famous Nebra Sky Disk. The organizer is Himmelswegelauf e.V., the run is DLV-certified and in 2026 will be under the patronage of the Minister-President of Saxony-Anhalt, Sven Schulze.

In the Burgenlandkreis, Viticulture, and Prehistory

The route runs entirely within the Burgenlandkreis in the southernmost part of Saxony-Anhalt – one of Germany's oldest cultural landscapes, characterized by the cathedral city of Naumburg, the Saale-Unstrut wine-growing region, the 7,000-year-old Goseck sun observatory, the Pömmelte stone circle, and of course the Mittelberg near Nebra. Here, the approximately 3,600-year-old Sky Disk was found in 1999 – the oldest concrete depiction of the cosmos in human history, now a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Six Disciplines — from Marathon to Hike

The run offers six disciplines suitable for very different target groups. The Marathon starts at the Goseck sun observatory and leads via Freyburg, Balgstädt, Laucha, Karsdorf, and Reinsdorf to the Arche Nebra. The Half Marathon runs between Laucha and Nebra along the Unstrut river. The 10 km Sky Disk Run is a circular route around the Mittelberg – the discovery site of the disk. In addition, there are hiking options, a guided hike to the discovery site, and a bike tour on the same route. The event is hosted by Holger Tapper (Radio SAW).

Travel and Logistics

For the non-outward journeys, the organizer provides shuttle buses from Naumburg main station at 7:10 AM, 8:00 AM, and 9:00 AM to the start in Goseck. Buses run back from the finish in Wangen. Along the route, there are several archaeological sights that are worth a short visit if you take your time.

A Run That Is More Than Just a Run

Since its first edition in 2014, the Himmelswegelauf has become a fixture in the German running calendar. Anyone who has started on a June morning at the Goseck sun observatory and finishes after 42.2 kilometers at the Arche Nebra, passing vineyards, Unstrut floodplains, and prehistoric sites, understands the appeal: It's sports plus archaeology plus landscape – and thus one of the most beautiful marathon routes in Germany.