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Bargain Travel Europe guide to Europe on a budget for unusual destinations,
holiday travel tips and secret spots missed by travel tours.



SAARBURG
Walking Tour - Tourist Town on the Saar River

Saarburg Leukbach River View photoAn idyllic little city surrounded by the forests and wine vineyards of the Saar Valley in western Germany near Trier, Saarburg’s history began in 964 as a stronghold of the Counts of Luxembourg with the construction of a castle by Count Siegfried of Luxembourg. The town which received its official charter in 1291 takes its name from the castle, rather simply “Saar Castle”. The castle itself, once one of the largest in the area, on a steep cliff above the Saar River mostly fell to ruin after the 30 Years War and occupation by French forces, but the town below remained to thrive. The most unique feature of the Saarburg is the waterfall right in the center of the old village, in a section known as “Little Venice”, but the charming ambience of the picturesque middle-ages “burgh” is well worth a walking tour.

Townhall

Saarburg Townhall photoThe old town hall where the tourist office is located, was originally in the former electoral mill (now the AmüseuM) on the town’s Butter Markt (butter market) the central market square from the middle-ages. In 1900 the town hall was burned to the ground, rebuilt in 1906, incorporating parts of the old. A coat of arms by sculptor Simon Treves from 1628 survived and remains on the rear gable. The two story building of quarry slate with its mirrored halls now houses the city council and the library.

Waterfall

Saarburg Waterfall photoFrom a small iron bridge, near the St Laurents Church you can watch the spectacle of water cascades tumbling over rock, through the medieval half-timber and Baroque age houses. The steam of the Leukbach River originally flowed around the neighborhood today known as Niederleuken, which pooled in fish ponds where the early inhabitants could catch a meal and formed and moats of the Saarburg castle. In the 13th Century, to provide water for fighting fires which tended to ravage the wooden buildings of medieval town the stream was redirected through the town over the waterfall with the added benefit of powering the wheels of a flour mill. In 1657 the Hackenberger Mill was designated as the official mill of the Palatine Elector and today is the mill museum.

Amüseum

Amueum Saarburg photoIf walking down to the waterfall, visit the town's history museum, the Amüseum, in the old mill house, which tells the story of the traditional trades of Saarburg, artifacts and exhibits of the bell foundry, printers, tanners and shoemakers. Here you’ll also find the oldest still operating water mill turbine, along with changing temporary exhibitions. At the bottom, the original mill dates from the 1200s when the waterfall of the Leukbach was redirected. The Hackenberg Mill Musem complex is three consecutive mills of varying grades, with wheels a still turning at the bottom of the falls. Grain was ground into flour until 1974. With the original drives a ton of flour could be produced every day. At the bottom of the mill, visitors can view the complex of gear wheels operated by the thick strap of leather from the main power wheel (Mahlstuhl) above.

Bell Foundry Mabilon

The Mabilon family of bell makers traces their roots to the 16th Century, back to Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil from Anjou in France. They first were itinerant founders, traveling the roads to ply their unique trade. In the late 1700s, Urbanis Mabilon, tired of the road, settled in Saarburg and opened a permanent foundry, just outside the city walls in the district of Staden. The tradition was carried on until the last of foundry masters, Wolfgand Hausen-Mabilon passed on. Today the factory built in the 19th Century, one of the last to forge bronze bells in Germany, remains as a museum, with the facility fully preserved with the furnaces, clay pit and mines equipment, giving the feeling that the next bell just waiting to be poured.

The Saarburg Castle

Saarburg Castle Tower photoOnce a mighty stronghold, the castle of the Count of Luxemburg is a shadow of its former self. 137 meters long and 50 meters wide the walls crowned the hill bank along the curves of the Saar River. Today what remains are some of the walls, the upper Castle House and the late Baroque Electoral House in the upper courtyard. The original castle was expanded under the Archbishop of Trier in 1102 to 1124. The castle well was constructed in 1362, reaching down 60 meters to the level of the river, added when Bohemund II took up residence. After falling to ruin after the Wars of European Succession much of the castle was quarried for building stones. The castle now offers a restaurant and the original donjon watch tower can be climbed up tight spiraling stairs for an impressive view.

Saarburger Chairlift

To get to the heights above the Saar for a hike or bicycle ride among the wine vineyards trail or forest glens, take a ride in the double chairlift (Saarburger Sesselbahn) for views of the beautiful Saar Valley. At the base station of the lift is a bike rental vendor, and the chair lift has a rack to carry the bike up the hill. From Warsberg at the top are wonderful walks to some interesting sights and just next to the mountain station of the lift is a summer toboggan run.

A city tourism map can be obtained from the tourist office for a self-guided tour around Saarburg, or arrange to take one of the guided tours offered, a Medieval City Tour or Nightwatchman’s Tour. A river cruise boat departs daily in season for a cruise on the Saar River. Other sights nearby are the Bird of Prey Park for falcon shows, and about ten minute from town the Hermitage where Blind King John of Luxemburg was entombed for a time (see Hermitage Castle) and the impressive viewpoint of the Saar Loop (see Saar Loop Overlook). Saarburg can be reached by rail between Koblenz and Trier. © Bargain Travel Europe

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