Unterwegs auf der Traumschleife Felsenweg Losheim

6 Outdoortips in Saarland

31.10.2024

About the joy of hiking, a mountain trail, a varied cycling route, water fun, places of worship and rainforest adventures in trekking camps: six extraordinary tips for outdoor activities in Saarland.

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Fun on the Saar-Hunsrück Climb

Unterwegs auf dem Panoramaweg Perl © Giulio Gröbert

On the Premium hiking trail of the Saar-Hunsrück Climbing Path, you trek along narrow, winding and stony paths through the varied nature along the Saar loop and Moselle valley 
 

Saarland's official slogan is “Small streams make big rivers”. This also applies to the first two stages of the 17-kilometer Saar-Hunsrück long-distance hiking trail. It has already been awarded Germany's most beautiful long-distance hiking trail for the second time, and stretches as a scenic route over a total of 376 kilometers, from Perl in Saarland to Boppard, to the Rhine loop in Rhineland-Palatinate. The first stage, from Perl to Hellendorf, offers breathtaking views of the Germany-Luxembourg-France triangle and the vast Moselle valley. Narrow paths lead through enchanting forests, orchid fields and past ancient Roman buildings. The second stage, from Hellendorf to Mettlach, leads to a panorama you won't soon forget. The trail first runs alongside babbling brooks, then crosses the Steinbachtal nature reserve. After a further climb towards Orscholz, it appears as if straight out of a painting: the Saar loop. On the descent, new vistas keep opening up on this natural wonder.

Saarland cycle route around the Saarland

Radfahren entlang der Saar © Eike Dubois

From Saarbrücken, the regional capital, you can cycle 350 kilometers around the entire state
 

Practical: the Saarland is so small that you can cycle around it in just one week. The 350-kilometer Saarland cycle route offers a wealth of natural and cultural treasures. From Saarbrücken, it leads first along the historic towpaths along the Saar to Sarreguemines, then along the Blies to Blieskastel. This little town is a Baroque beauty. On the rest of the route (here counter-clockwise), the cycle route winds through the magnificent Ostertal green valley. Not far away, in St Wendel, it's worth stopping off to visit the late Gothic Wendelin Basilica. A picnic at the Lac de Bostal is also well worthwhile. You'll soon reach the Peterberg in the Schwarzwälder Hochwald forest to the south. This vast panoramic view allows you to draw strength and tranquillity while other highlights await you on this route: following in the footsteps of the Celts, you make your way to Otzenhausen, along the ancient circular rampart. This is followed by the spectacular Saarland classics: views of the magnificent Saar loop, the Saar-Lorraine-Luxembourg triangle, vineyards and vast orchards. A final highlight is a visit to the Völklinger Hütte, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The “Tafeltour” Saarland gastronomy tour

Wandern auf der Saarschleife Tafeltour © Marcus Gloger

The 16 “Tafeltouren” gourmet hikes allow you to combine scenic walks with excellent regional cuisine
 

The “Saarland Tafeltouren Gastronomic Walks” are a special variant of the Premium hiking trails. Here, scenic tours are combined with gastronomic delights, for example on the Saar Loop Tafeltour. This 16-kilometer tour is designed for hikers who love stairs, bridges, castles and sophisticated views. It begins with an ascent along a forest path that leads to a wooded mountain ridge. The first destination on the Saar Loop Tafeltour from Mettlach: the medieval ruin of Montclair Castle, which is surrounded by the Saar Loop and once served as a perfect sentinel above the current. From here, winding paths lead you down to the Saar, where a little boating adventure awaits you: the Saar crossing. All you have to do is ring the bell to give a signal to the ferryman (N.B.: Monday is a day of rest). Once on the other side of the river, a hiking paradise begins under dense foliage in the Steinbachtal valley. Over numerous wooden bridges, steps and staircases (a real test of fitness), the partly steeper sections lead to the highest point: the Cloef viewpoint, which promises the best view of the Saar loop. A place to marvel, catch your breath and savour. Romantic paths through the Weselbachtal valley take you back to the starting point, the pilgrimage church of St. Lutwinus in Mettlach. It's also possible to take a break along the way, for example at the Castle Montclair bistro or the Mettlacher Abtei-Bräu open-air brewery.

Wilderness under a starry sky

Trekkingcamp Nationalpark Hunsrück-Hochwald © Kathrin Heckmann

Close to the imposing Celtic ring wall near Otzenhausen, you can pitch your tents in the wilderness of the Hunsrück-Hochwald National Park
 

Who needs the Amazon jungle? The Hunsrück-Hochwald National Park is the place for real wilderness adventures. Where wildcats roam the undergrowth, 1,400 species of beetles crawl and swamp dragonflies buzz, it gets even better: the national park is home to three wilderness trekking camps that hikers can book. These camps are called “Celtic Camp”, “Dragon Camp” and “Howling Wolf”. They feature two wooden platforms offering space for two small tents. Here, where the Celts built an imposing circular rampart over 2,000 years ago and the Romans crossed the land, you sleep in the spicy scent of the forest and wake up to the dense green of the jungle. The following rule applies to all camps: tents, food, drinks and toilet paper must be brought by hikers. Boiled spring water is only available in the vicinity of “Dragon Camp”. If you wish, you can combine the three camps with multi-day hikes.

Stand-Up-Paddle au lac de bostal 

SUP auf dem Bostalsee © Kevin Ehm

You can SUP on Lake Bostal, Saarland's largest man-made lake. Two-hour courses are offered for beginners directly at the lake
 

Lake Bostal, an artificial lake in the municipality of Nohfelden in northern Saarland, offers a multitude of water sports and leisure activities. Surfing, sailing and pedal boating are all available. Sounds good? Then Stand Up Paddle, or SUP for short, is the perfect alternative for relaxing on the lake. It's easy to learn, and you can borrow a board by the hour. At Lake Bostal, the Salt surf school offers two-hour courses. You'll quickly learn the most important tips and tricks for keeping your balance. Afterwards, it's fantastic to let your board glide across the water and enjoy the view of the sailboats and green shores.

Cliff path in Kirkel forest

Wandern auf dem Kirkeler Felsenpfad. © Marcus Gloger

Kirkel's Tafeltour gourmet hike leads to natural highlights and places steeped in history © Marcus Gloger
 

Narrow, winding, root-covered paths lead through one of the largest wooded areas in the Saarland: the Kirkel Tafeltour is one of the most spectacular hikes in the Saarland. It's less about getting an adrenaline rush than immersing yourself in an almost mystical natural landscape. The trail leads past tall, bizarrely shaped, moss-covered, variegated sandstone formations to platforms offering sweeping views and impressive caves. The highlight of this almost eight-kilometre tour is the mysterious Women's Fountain, a place framed by imposing rocks in the middle of the forest, which was presumably already used as a place of worship by the Celts. Another historic site on the trail is the ruin of Kirkel Castle. It was from this conical cliff on which this imposing 13th-century keep stands that Roman legionaries watched over the trade route across the valley from inland Gaul to the Upper Rhine.