The Paradies park runs along the west bank of the Saale river south of the city centre, a long green corridor of old trees, flower beds, and riverside paths. It is Jena's main public park and the place where the city comes to walk, run, and sit on summer evenings. The name (Paradise) is old, predating the city's industrial period, and the park has been maintained with something approaching its original character: shaded, calm, and pleasantly free of the noise of the city above.
The riverside walks extend both north and south from the park. North of the centre, limestone cliffs begin to rise above the path; the rock face is planted with cherry trees that bloom white in April and turn the cliffs into one of Thuringia's better spring sights. South of the Paradies, the Saale widens and the path becomes quieter. Cyclists use the same paths, and a dedicated bike route follows the river for many kilometres in each direction.