Saarland
Art, History & Archaeology Sites & Museums
Saarland may very well be one of the smallest states in Germany, it nonetheless has an incredibly rich historical heritage, from ancient archaeology to industrial history. From Roman villas to medieval castles and abbeys, Baroque palaces to industrial era iron works. The Völklingen Ironworks is the only fully intact example of a 19th and 0th century pig iron production plant in all of western Europe and North America. Besides the deep breadth of cultural attractions of this state, Saarland has some strikingly beautiful natural landscapes. The most striking of which is the Saarschleife, a u-shaped bend in the Saar River that is surrounded by cliffs and forests. Like much of this part of Europe, and within the Mosel wine area, Saarland is also known for its excellent vineyards and wineries.Â
This page, part of our Germany Travel Guide, provides details of the art, archaeology and history sites, museums and related attractions to visit in the state of Saarland. Readers wishing to visit these places will find visitor information, links to official websites as well as other helpful resources. Those who have an account (free of charge) can create their own travel lists and itineraries. To benefit fully from this website’s travel planning features, see the User’s Guide. The information on this page has been put together by various members of the Archaeology Travel team, based on both personal visits and research. The page was last checked and/or updated on 25 October 2023.
Create Your Saarland Itinerary & Travel Lists
If you are planning a trip to Saarland, and other regions in Germany, you can use our Itinerary Builder with the list of sites and museums below to create your own travel lists (such as places you have been to, places you would like to visit) and itineraries. These can be shared with your friends, privately and on social media. To make use of this feature, however, you will need to login or register as a new user. Registering to use these features is free of charge. Once registered and logged in, you can use the lists below to select sites and museums you would like to add to your itinerary and/or travel lists. Please Note: the lists below only include sites and museums in the German state of Saarland, go to the German Travel Guide to find places to visit in the other states.
Archaeology & History Sites in Saarland
Nennig Roman Villa
In 1852 a farmer came across tesserae while he was digging a pit. This led to the discovery of the Roman villa, and one of the most outstanding mosaic floors north of the Alps. At 15.65 x 10.30 metres, this mosaic is certainly one of the biggest. The mosaic depicts the various activities that take place in the amphitheatres, including a somewhat graphic scene of gladiators fighting each other, men hunting wild animals, as well as animals hunting other animals. Also, on the edge of town there is an Iron Age tumulus.
European Archaeological Park of Bliesbruck-Reinheim
The German-French border between Gersheim (Saarland) and Bliesbruck (Moselle) has a wonderful concentration of Iron Age and Roman archaeological sites. Consequently the European Archaeological Park of Bliesbruck-Reinheim is a cross-border venture between the two countries. The park is well set up for visitors. On view are excavations and reconstructions of Iron Age and Roman villages, an Iron Age tomb and a Roman villa.
