Saar: Saarbrücken – Trier

Oh là là – the Saar loop

The Saar bike trail.

Look forward to a very well indicated/ signposted bike trail along the beautiful Saar. Even trails and comfortable daily stages take you from Saarbrücken to the mouthing of the Saar into the Moselle. Your trip starts with French flair in Saarbrücken. The traces left by the changing affiliation of the town to either Germany or France can still be witnessed today, also in the local cuisine. For the local population serving escargots, shrimps, or paté and kir or pastis for appetizers is nothing extraordinary. Try it, you will love it. Further highlights of this trip will be the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site Völklinger Hütte, the vestiges of former fortification constructions in Saarlouis and the fantastic view offered at the Saar loop. In Mettlach, the factory outlet and discovery centre of Villeroy & Boch invites for a worthwhile break just like the Old Town of Saarburg with its impressive waterfall: In a unique natural spectacle in the middle of the town, the water clashes down from a height of 20 metres.

1. day Saarbrücken Arriving

Make sure to arrive in Saarbrücken early to have time to visit the heart of the town, the famous St. Johanner market with its bars, restaurants and bistros. Parking facilities and your rental bikes will be provided at our partner hotel.

2. day Saarbrücken - Saarlouis 28 km

In the morning you will follow the even Saar bike trail through the former coal mining area to Völklingen. Here, a stop is a must. The Völklinger Hütte is one of 33 UNESCO World Cultural Heritage sites in Germany and in its importance equal to the Egyptian pyramids, the Chinese Wall, the cathedral of Cologne or the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. Visiting the Völklinger Hütte is a real adventure. You will have the chance to walk deep into the dark corridors of the chargers’ hall as well as to climb high up to the viewing platform by the blast furnace. Afterwards, you will follow the splendidly constructed bike trail along the Saar to Saarlouis, where the ancient fortification walls protect the beautiful town.

3. day Saarlouis - Mettlach 37 km

Use the morning to discover Saarlouis. The former fortification still determines the hexangular ground plan of the town centre. Discover the constructions by Vauban and the fortifications dating from the 19th century, constructed by the Prussians after the withdrawal of the French troops. The old walls and moats still build a harmony with the town panorama today and are occupied by the gastronomy under the name “Kasematten”. The moats filled with water have been integrated into the municipal green space. Back on your bikes the route leads through the beautiful Merzig lands with their typical apple trees to the impressive Saar loop. Here, you should exchange your bikes for walking shoes and walk up to the vantage point ‚Cloef’. After only 30 minutes you will enjoy a spectacular view over the Saar loop and the surrounding landscape! Back on your bikes, you will reach Mettlach in no time to stop at the visitor’s centre at ‚Villeroy & Boch’. 1000 years of cultural history, centuries of ceramics and pottery tradition along with futuristic concepts to the subject „Life and Living“ – all of this can be discovered in a great atmosphere.

4. day Mettlach - Trier 42 km

Following the Saar bike trail, you will find your way to Saarburg through wooded regions in the morning. There, the majestic castle lies enthroned over the narrow lanes of the town. The sights of this federal recreation resort do not only attract cyclists. The main highlight is the waterfall, a unique natural spectacle. In the middle of the town, the water falls down from 20 metres of height to bring the mill wheels in the valley into action. A coffee break in the picturesque Old Town supplies you with new energy for the next stage. Led by Roman vestiges, you will reach Treves via Konz. Visit the historical Old Town on your own and do not miss out on the Roman thermal baths or the Porta Nigra.

5. day Trier Departure

Your bike trip ends in the heart of Trier today. Anyone who wishes to travel back to Saarbrücken should book our shuttle transfer. It will transport any luggage and the bikes as well. Departure will be at 11:30 am every sunday, arrival in Saarbrücken around 1.30pm. If you wish to cycle even longer along the Moselle, you can prolong your trip to Koblenz.

Worth knowing

Below you will find specific information about the bike trip along the Saar bike trail. If you have further questions about this trip, you simply call us: Phone: 06421 – 886890.

Arrival by train

Saarbrücken is easily accessible from all major cities in Germany by train. We recommend to take a taxi from the station to get to our partner hotels in Saarbrücken. Current schedule information and price information can be found at: www.bahn.de.

Train schedule information

Parking facilities at the hotel

Our partner hotels in Saarbrücken offer good parking facilities for the entire duration of your bike trip. You will receive detailed information about the parking options at the hotel booked for your with the detailed travel documents two weeks before the start of your journey. 

Condition of cycle paths

The route is almost always flat, right on the riverbank of the Saar, mostly on a separate paved or finely graveled bike path. Along the route, you will find numerous information boards that will help you find your way around with detailed map sections. In short, the Saar cycle path is perfectly developed with high path quality.

Available rental bikes

If you choose to rent a Velociped rental bike for the tour, we take it to your first hotel and pick it up at your destination. You can choose between woman’s and men's bicycles either with 7-speed gear shift and coaster brake or 27-speed gear shift and freewheel or electric bikes. All ladies' bikes have a low opening that makes mounting and dismounting much easier. The bikes are suitable for all ladies from 150 cm in height and for all gentlemen from 165 cm in height. You simply specify your wishes at time of booking.

Available rental bikes

Transfer back to the starting point of the journey

Sundays at 11.30am there is the possibility to transfer back from Trier to Saarbrücken with a small bus (with bike trailer). Arrival at 1.30pm. The driver comes to pick you up at your hotel and has much room for you, your luggage and where required your own bicycle. The bus takes you back to your first hotel, thus ensuring a perfect return service without transfer and the hassle of hauling luggage.

Additional nights during the trip

We will be happy to book additional nights during your cycling trip. The booking of additional nights is possible in every regular accommodation place. 
The addtional night rates are as follows (2023): 

EUR 79, - per person / per night in a double room
EUR 119, - per person / per night in a single room

Extra costs which are not included in the price

A possibly applicable city tax is not part of the travel price and therefore has to be paid at the hotel locally.

7 days hotline service

In case of chain breakdown, flooding or other bad surprises that makes a continuation of your tour impossible: no problem, we also work during weekends and you can reach us 7 days a week in case of emergency.

Passport and visa requirements

For EU citizens, there are no special passport or visa requirements and no health formalities to be considered for this trip.

Travel insurance

The tour price already includes the statutory insolvency insurance. In addition, we recommend that you take out travel cancellation insurance upon receipt of your travel confirmation in order to protect yourself against financial disadvantages in the event of travel cancellation, interruption of travel, illness or accident.

Ludwigskirche

The Ludwigskirche, the most prominent example of a "place royal" architecture, is the tireless architect Stengel's masterpiece.
It is considered to be one of the most stylistically and aesthetically perfect Protestant baroque churches in Germany, comparable to the Michel in Hamburg or the Frauenkirche in Dresden. 

Ludwigskirche

Völklinger Hütte

A visit to the World Cultural Heritage Site Völklingen Ironworks is an adventure: the visitor can go down deep into the dark corridors of the burden shed and climb up to the lofty heights of the blast furnace viewing-platform.

Völklinger Hütte

Saar loop

The Saar loop is one of the most famous place to be of the region Saarland. The nicest view you will find at the viewpoint Cloef in Orscholz. It is located 180 m above the river. But there are also very nice views from the bank side of the river.

Saar loop

Porta Nigra Trier

For the newly arrived guest, the Porta Nigra is the best place to begin a tour of Trier. The gate dates back to a time (about A.D. 180) when the Romans often erected public buildings of huge stone blocks (here, the biggest weigh up to six metric tons).

Porta Nigra

Imperial Baths

Going to the baths was an important part of Roman life: Over 1600 years ago, the Romans built one of the grandest and most impressive baths in the world: the Imperial Baths. Today you can visit this gigantic bathing facility: go back in time to the Roman era, descend into the subterranean labyrinth and get a feel for history!

Imperial Baths