Saarland - industrial heritage and French charm

2,600 square kilometres of "Saarvoir vivre" in the smallest but the sunniest of Germany's 16 federal states. Situated on Germany's borders with France and Luxembourg, Saarland is the bridge to its European neighbours. It is also one of the regions with the highest level of woodland. This is where the Hunsrück region, Schwarzwälder Hochwald forest, Lorraine-Palatinate cuesta and the Saar-Nahe hill country meet. The region only has a population of one million, but its inhabitants are extremely cosmopolitan. Due to its position close to the border, the Saarland has changed hands eight times in the last 200 years. It has also been home to Celts, Romans, medieval knights, Electors and dukes, all of whom have left behind their historical legacy.

A blend of stylistic periods - Saarland's beautiful towns and cities
In addition to the Bourbon lilies on the Saarlouis coat of arms, there are many stone reminders of the former garrison town's founder, the French Sun King Louis XIV and his famous architect Vauban. The fortifications in the idyllic "Saaraltarm" recreation area and the historical casemates are just two examples of its rich heritage. Ceramics and porcelain enthusiasts will be in their element in Mettlach. Set in the middle of an area of ancient parkland is the Villeroy & Boch company's head office and exhibition centre. The Old Tower is considered the oldest religious building in the Saarland region, while the former Benedictine Abbey was founded in the 18th century.

Saarbrücken
In the regional capital, Saarbrücken, which is  more than 1,000 years old and has a fascinating array of museums, a love of all things French is visible everywhere - in its picturesque lanes and courtyards and in its little bistros and countless restaurants. The main attractions include the St. Johanner Markt square, Saarbrücken Palace with its avant-garde centrepiece, an unusual blend of baroque and modern styles, and Ludwigskirche church. This typical example of the town's place royale architecture is regarded as one of the purest examples of a Protestant baroque church in Germany

Monuments to industrialisation - Völklingen Ironworks
The great Iron Age in Völklingen lasted a full century, from 1883 when the first furnace was fired up, to 1986 when the works were closed down. Now this fascinating monument to the industrial age, Völklingen Ironworks, has been declared a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. Six furnaces on a 250- metre long axis form the centre, then there is also the coking plant, vast halls, conveyor belts, lifts and giant blowers which blew hot air onto the melted iron to make it glow white.

The Saar Bow - an amazing natural feature
Set in attractive hill country, the River Saar, which is the lifeblood that runs through the region and to which it owes its name, meanders its way gently through the region. The Saar Bow is a remarkable natural feature and one of the Saarland's most beautiful scenes - a deep-set meander where the river has carved its course through the hard rock strata between Merzig and Saarburg. The Cloef observation point in Orscholz, near Mettlach, offers panoramic views of the Bow. Visitors can enjoy nature at its best on the region's excellent network of designated cycling trails and 21 premium-quality walking trails.

"Alea iacta est" - Schwarzenacker open-air Roman museum in Homburg
Numerous finds provide evidence of the Saarland's rich Gallo-Roman past. In the first century BC, Julius Caesar, the mighty Roman emperor, conquered all of Gaul, which then included the region now known as Saarland. At the Schwarzenacker Roman Museum in Homburg you can experience 2,000 years of the ancient Roman way of life.

 

The land of the "Lyoner"
In the Saarland, the "Lyoner" - a ring of Frankfurter-style sausage - is a revered delicacy. And rightly so, as this is where this typical German speciality is at its best. Anyone visiting the Saarland should also sample the national dish of Schwenker - marinated meat grilled over a fire of beechwood. Other firm favourites include potato specialities such as Dibbelabbes (grated raw potato, dried meat and leeks cooked slowly in a pot and served with apple sauce) and Gefillde (potato dumplings filled with mince, liver paté, pepper and salt). Nowhere else in Germany will you find such creative delicacies as Verheiratete, dumplings with potatoes in a creamy ham sauce. You will also find that the dishes on offer at the region's cosy bars, brasseries and award-winning restaurants are strongly influenced by French cuisine.