Saarland

The story of Saarland

The Völklingen Ironworks was the first industrial monument of its age on the UNESCO list: you walk between blast furnaces, climb to the top and see art exhibitions in the old halls. In Saarbrücken, the Saarlandmuseum's Modern Gallery has German Expressionist painting, and the Historical Museum Saar tells the story of a land that changed hands several times. At Mettlach, the river Saar makes a spectacular hairpin bend, and Villeroy & Boch, the porcelain makers, have their ceramics museum in an old baroque abbey. Saarland is also a land of Celts and Romans: the rebuilt Roman Villa Borg, the Celtic ring fort at Otzenhausen and the grave of a Celtic princess at Reinheim. Saarlanders love to eat: Dibbelabbes (grated potato baked with leek and bacon), Hoorische potato dumplings, Lyoner sausage, and the Schwenker, meat grilled on a swinging grill. In January the Max Ophüls Prize film festival fills Saarbrücken's cinemas, the old town festival brings music to the streets in summer, and in December the Christkindlmarkt lights up the St. Johanner Markt square.