Saarbrücken
Schloss Saarbrücken
The 18th century palace and the the adjoining historical museum tells the story of Saarbrücken. The highlight is the underground archeological exhibit where you’ll see the ruins of the foundation of the old castle that was destroyed to make way for the present palace. A guided tour may be arranged in enough people are interested!
Sankt Johanner Markt
This main square is busy place and home to markets on many days of the week. With its many cafés and bars, it’s a great place for some people watching.
Staden/Ulanenpavillon
This promenade along the north side of the Saar river is lined with hundred year old trees. It’s our favourite place for a stroll and a BBQ on a nice day. Or skip the grill and visit the Biergarten at the Ulanenpavillon.
Walk to France
Take a walk down the path along the south side of the Saar river to France (direction Saarguemines). Stop for some refreshment in the Biergarten Zur Wilden Ente.
City forest
The city forest provides some relief from the heat in the summer. Numerous walking paths and the Schwarzenberg Tower provide for views over the city and the Saarland University campus. Cool off in the public outdoor swimming pool, the “Totobad”, or visit the 17 hectare Wildpark and its 120 different animals. For those more adventurous, challenge yourself at the climbing park high up in the tree canopy.
Völklinger Ironworks
Once the largest steel mill in Germany, the Völklinger Ironworks may be reached in about 10 minutes by train from the main station in Saarbrücken. It is the first industrial site worldwide to be declared a world heritage site by UNESCO. Besides being able to visit the old steel production facilities, the site has been adapted to host cultural events and house rotating exhibitions, an urban art exhibit, and a science center. A 7.4 km walking path through the site includes a garden area where nature is slowly reestablishing itself amongst the steel structures.
Mettlach
Saarschleife (Loop of the Saar)
The Saar River makes a tight U-turn near the town of Mettlach. This natural phenomenon is best viewed from the lookout point (Cloef) or aerial walkway (Baumwipfelpfad). There are a number of great hiking paths in this area.
Villeroy & Boch
This porcelain, ceramics, and housewares manufacturer is based in Mettlach and known worldwide for its fine products. Visit the Discovery Center to learn about the company and its history or go straight to the factory outlet for some shopping.
Day/weekend trips from Saarbrücken
Go for a hike or bike
There are excellent hiking and biking trails near Saarbrücken. Some of our favourites are near Mandelbachtal and Perl. The Bliesgau area near Gersheim is particularly special as the calcium-rich earth makes it an ideal place for wild orchids. Over 60 different types may be found in this area.
Wine regions
Germany produces some of the world’s most well-reviewed white wines but most of it never leaves the country. Prices are very moderate and the quality is generally excellent. The two main wine-producing regions in Germany and their hundreds of wineries are located near Saarbrücken:
- Mosel region: located north-west of Saarbrücken between Mettlach, through Trier, and onto Koblenz. This region is especially well-known for its steep slate-earthed Rieslings.
- German wine route (Deutsche Weinstraße): located east of Saarbrücken. This north-south route enjoys a micro-climate that lends itself well to wine and fruit production. It’s a beautiful region with a variety of quaint towns and beautiful landscapes. A couple of our favourite places in this area include Rhodt unter Rietburg and Neustadt.
City trips
- Paris
A high-speed train travels the 400 km from Saarbrücken to Paris in 1h50min. It’s a pretty amazing ride and Paris is always worth the trip! - Trier
This former outpost of the Roman Empire may be the oldest city in Germany. As such it’s home to many significant Roman treasures (eg., oldest bridge and city gate north of the Alps and a Roman cathedral and amphitheatre). It’s also the birthplace of Karl Marx. Trier is about 100 km by car or 1h30min by train from Saarbrücken. - Saarburg
This town is located on the Mosel in the wine region near Trier and is worth the visit for its water features and landscape. A chairlift gives you a great view over the city and takes you to a fun summer bobsled run on a hill in-town. - Metz
This city has the feeling of a small Paris. It’s home to some significant architecture including both the oldest church and working opera house in France. Metz is a very green city with many public gardens and the historic city centre is one of the largest commercial pedestrian areas in France. The city may be reached by car (70km) or or train (1h10min) from Saarbrücken. - Strasbourg
This charming French city in Alsace is a cultural center and official seat of the European Parliament. It’s historic city centre was classified a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1988, the first time such an honour was placed on an entire city centre. Strasbourg may be reached by car (125km) or train (1h45min). - Luxembourg
Luxembourg City is an important economic centre in the EU. It also has history dating back to the early Middle Ages and a magnificent fortress standing to this day. The city is best reached from Saarbrücken by car (100km).
The Eifel/Hunsrück region
This former volcanic region is an excellent place for a hike. Two standout castles are definitely worth the visit: Eltz Castle and Cochem Castle, as is the nearby 360m-long Geierlay Suspension Bridge.
The region is also home to the Nürburgring, the birthplace of automobile racing. The 22.8 km Nordschleife functions to this day as a public racetrack and should be a destination for any automotive racing enthusiast.