Spa hotels in the Saarland
Germany's smallest and most French territorial state: the Saar loop with its treetop walk, the Bostalsee, the UNESCO World Heritage Völklingen Ironworks and the Bliesgau biosphere reserve — with pleasure and a way of life.
Holidays & wellness in the Saarland
The Saarland is Germany's smallest territorial state — and its most French. On the border with France and Luxembourg a way of life of its own has survived: here people take time to eat, the day rarely ends without pleasure, and “savoir-vivre” is no advertising slogan but everyday life. Its landmark is the Saar loop, where the river near Mettlach winds into an almost complete loop — from the Cloef and the treetop walk opened in 2016 you look down on one of the most beautiful river views in Germany. Where iron and coal once shaped the land, recreation has moved in. The closed Völklingen Ironworks is UNESCO World Heritage and a stage for exhibitions, the Bostalsee the largest recreational lake in the south-west, and in the Bliesgau biosphere reserve you relax in a thermal bath in Moorish-Andalusian style. Small, mild and fond of pleasure — the Saarland is a wellness region for explorers who like it unhurried.
What this region stands for
- Pleasure wellness & savoir-vivre
- Saar loop & treetop walk
- Bostalsee: swimming & sailing
- Bliesgau thermal bath & biosphere
- Hiking in a mild climate
Why wellness here?
The Saarland's wellness profile rests on three pillars: pleasure, nature and a mild climate. The position on the French border has shaped a pronounced culture of pleasure — the Saarland counts as one of the best food regions in Germany, and slow food, wine from the nearby Moselle and French cuisine belong to recreation here the way the thermal bath does elsewhere. The climate is a shade more Atlantic and milder than in the rest of Germany, ideal for hiking and cycling across long stretches of the year. Nature supplies the backdrop: the Saar loop with the treetop walk high above the river, the Bostalsee with beach, sailing ground and holiday resort, and in the south-east the UNESCO Bliesgau biosphere reserve — a gentle landscape of orchard meadows and orchids in which a thermal bath in Moorish-Andalusian style with indoor and outdoor pools and a large sauna landscape invites you to relax. Plus the industrial culture of the Völklingen Ironworks as an unusual contrast. Whoever wants to combine recreation with pleasure and short distances is surprisingly well placed in the Saarland.
When to travel here
Spring (April–May): orchard blossom in the Bliesgau, fresh hiking time above the Saar loop. Summer (June–August): high season on the Bostalsee with beach, sailing and resort life. Autumn (September–October): the pleasure season with wine, game and mild hiking days; the forests above the Saar loop glow. Winter: a quiet time for thermal bath, sauna and industrial culture. The mild climate stretches the season at both ends.
Sights and anchors for the spa-free day
Saar loop & treetop walk
Near Mettlach the Saar winds into an almost closed loop — the landmark of the state. From the Cloef viewpoint and from the treetop walk opened in 2016 with its 42-metre tower you look over forest and water at one of the most impressive river views in Germany.
Bostalsee
The largest recreational lake in south-west Germany in the St. Wendel country — with sandy beaches, a sailing and surfing ground, a circuit path and a large holiday resort. A destination for families, water-sports enthusiasts and everyone who combines recreation by the water with an active holiday.
Völklingen Ironworks — UNESCO World Heritage
The only completely preserved ironworks from the heyday of heavy industry and UNESCO World Heritage since 1994. Where pig iron once flowed, major exhibitions and concerts take place today — an impressive place where industrial history and culture merge.
Bliesgau biosphere reserve
In the south-east of the state stretches the UNESCO Bliesgau biosphere reserve — a lovely landscape of orchard meadows, beech forests and orchids. In its midst a thermal bath in Moorish-Andalusian style with healing water, pools and a sauna world invites you to recreation.
Saarbrücken & the way of life
The state capital carries French flair: the St. Johanner Markt with its cafés, the baroque Ludwigskirche, the Saar promenade. Here you see most clearly what makes the Saarland — the closeness to France and the joy of the good life.
Official tourism portals
Up-to-date information on getting there, events, opening hours and visitor's tax is available directly from the destinations.
Frequently asked questions about the region
What makes the Saarland special as a destination?
Its position on the French border shapes everything — cuisine, way of life, the relaxed pace. The Saarland counts as one of the best pleasure regions in Germany. Add the Saar loop as a natural landmark, the Bostalsee, the industrial culture of the Völklingen Ironworks and the Bliesgau biosphere reserve — plenty of variety in a small space.
What is the treetop walk at the Saar loop?
An adventure trail opened in 2016 above the Cloef viewpoint that leads on walkways through the treetops and culminates in a 42-metre viewing tower. From there the famous view of the Saar loop opens up — largely barrier-free and suitable for the whole family.
Is the Saarland good for wellness?
Yes — in the Bliesgau biosphere reserve a thermal bath in Moorish-Andalusian style with healing water and a large sauna world invites you to relax, plus there are spa hotels on the Bostalsee and in the region. Above all, though, wellness in the Saarland is closely tied to pleasure: good cuisine, wine and a way of life are part of it.
Why is the Völklingen Ironworks World Heritage?
It is the only completely preserved ironworks in the world from the heyday of heavy industry and became UNESCO World Heritage in 1994. Today the closed works is an extraordinary cultural and exhibition venue — a monument of the industrial age through which you can roam freely.
When is the best time to travel to the Saarland?
The mild, slightly Atlantic climate makes a long season possible. Spring and autumn are ideal for hiking and pleasure trips, summer for the Bostalsee and life outdoors. Thermal bath and industrial culture work all year round.
Saarland — spa hotels & holidays
Small, mild and fond of pleasure
The Saarland has to be discovered first — and then often becomes a surprise. Here the Saar winds into its famous loop, here stands with the Völklingen Ironworks a World Heritage site of the industrial age, here lies in the Bliesgau a UNESCO biosphere reserve. And over everything hovers a way of life that sounds more like France than Germany.
Wellness with taste
In the Saarland recreation means not only thermal bath and sauna but also a long lunch, a glass of wine and a walk above the Saar loop. The mild climate invites you outdoors almost all year, the short distances make discovering easy. Whoever values the unhurried and is not averse to good food finds here an unusual feel-good state.