Particularly worth seeing are the city of Saarbrücken with its baroque buildings, the Völklingen Ironworks UNESCO World Heritage Site, the fortified city of Saarlouis, the city of Merzig with its wolf park, the Saarschleife (a series of bends in the Saar river), the lifestyle supplier Villeroy & Boch and the picturesque city of Saarburg.
Directions
The starting point of the Saar Cycle Path is the town of Sarreguemines. The local ‘Circuit de la Faïence’ (earthenware tour) leads to sites of 19th and 20th century earthenware production that are characteristic of the town. On a well-developed former towpath, you cycle along the Saar to Saarbrücken. The state capital offers numerous other attractions in addition to the modern restored castle, the baroque ensemble around the Ludwigskirche, the Stiftskirche St. Arnual and the old town with the St. Johanner Markt. A section of the route characterised by industry continues to Völklingen, where the Völklingen Ironworks, closed in 1986, dominates the city's skyline. The blast furnaces, which are still in their entirety, were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994 as a unique testimony to the history of technology and industrial culture. The ironworks and the neighbouring blower house, which houses changing exhibitions, are a must-see on a cycle tour along the Saar. The next stop is the town of Saarlouis, which was founded in 1680 by the French Sun King Louis XIV and expanded as a fortress by his famous master builder Vauban. The French flair of the old town with its many cafés and restaurants attracts many guests throughout the year. The town of Merzig is not only known for its excellent apple wine, the Viez. A visit to the Wolfspark (wolf park) of behavioural scientist Werner Freund, the cultural programme in the tent city or the Merzig health and adventure pool is also a special treat. A few kilometres further on, you will reach a true wonder of nature: the Saarschleife ( Saar loop). A climb to the Cloef lookout point is rewarded with a magnificent view of the river landscape. In Mettlach, the headquarters of the traditional company Villeroy & Boch, the imposing company building with the ‘House of Villeroy & Boch’ adventure centre is particularly worth seeing. The last stage leads via Saarburg, a picturesque little town with a waterfall and castle, to the confluence of the Saar and Moselle rivers in Konz.
More information
Kartenmaterial:
Bikeline Radtourenbuch: Saar-Radweg
- Präzise Karten im Maßstab 1:50.000
- verlässliche Wegbeschreibung
- zahlreiche Stadt- und Ortspläne
- mit Übernachtungsverzeichnis
Tourismus Zentrale Saarland
Tel.: 0681 - 9 27 20 - 0
www.urlaub.saarland
