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The River Saar (or Sarre in French) is the major tributary
of the Mosel, which is joins at Konz, just above Trier.
In its latter stages it cuts dramatically through the
Hunsrück massif to reach the milder wine growing area
between Saarburg and the Mosel, while the upper stages wind across
the more gentle landscapes of Lorraine. Culturally the area round the river has been at the heart of one of the major European flashpoints as much of the area has shifted between the French and German powers. The Saarland itself, Germany's smallest federal state, only fully joined Germany in 1957. Before then this part of Germany was a French protectorate, with its own currency and its own team in the 1952 Olympic Games. Indeed, the German Mark did not become legal tender for a further two and a half years after the Saarland joined Germany! |
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One of the legacies of this period is the French flair of the
major city of the area, Saabrücken. Even today, French is often
the first foreign language studied in school, rather than English. Much of the reason for France's long interest in the Saarland was its former industrial wealth. The southern Saarland, southern Luxembourg and northern Lorraine were all formerly dominated by the coal and iron industries, but today the industry is quiet. As a memorial to this part of the region's life, the steelworks at Völklingen were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. However, French interest goes back much further. The city of Saarlouis was founded in 1680 by specific order of Louis XIV and designed as a border fortress by Vauban. |
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Vines have long been grown on the lower Saar since Roman times.
Saarburg, dominated by its castle, is the main wine-growing
community on the River Saar. |
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The entire route is a dedicated cycle path alongside the river.
You only need to cycle on roads when visiting towns and villages. We offer a three day / four night cycle trip - the perfect short break - from Saabrücken to Trier, allowing you to experience these amazing cultural contrasts. Intermediate overnights are in Saarlouis and Mettlach. Daily distances are in the 18 to 25 mile per day range. For a longer trip, we can normally combine this trip with one of our Mosel Valley cycling tours. Please ask for more information. Alternatively, spend an extra day or two in Trier and get to know the oldest city in Germany better. |
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Detailed route and price information the Saar Valley Cycling Tour |
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