SAARBURG
Walking Tour - Tourist Town on the Saar River
An 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
The 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
From
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
If
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
Once 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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See Also:
RHINE & MOSEL WINE FESTIVALS BY RAIL
MONASTERY BREWERY & WINE - BERNKASTEL-KUES
