MARCH 2023
We recently had a weekend of wintercamping in the beautiful Saarland region in Germany. Saarland is the smallest bundesregion in Germany and definitely worth a visit. You will find interesting villages combined with lush nature in Saarland, so definitely a fun spot for a little adventure. Our Saarland trip focused on visiting the Baumwipfelpfad Saarschleife and the industrial park Völklinger Hütte. Read all about our experience in this blog.
Saarburg
We decided to park our van in lovely Saarburg. Saarburg is a small town at the river Saar, which even features a little waterfall in the city center. It is one of the liveliest towns in the area, so definitely a good spot to stay. We parked our van for free in the parking lot next to Saarburg’s castle. Saarburg is also known for its wine, so you will find the town surrounded by vineyards. It must be even more lovely when you are visiting outside of winter and the vines are green.
Baumwipfelpfad Saarschleife
In Mettlach you will have the opportunity to visit the Baumwipfelpfad Saarschleife (treetop-walk). The Saarschleife is the bend that you will find in the river the Saar near Mettlach and you will get a beautiful view if you visit the Baumwipfelpfad. In Germany and some neighboring countries you will find Baumwipfelpfads, they all have their own designs and are located in outstanding pieces of nature. I loved visiting the one near Baden-Baden and will take every opportunity I get to visit a baumwipfelpfad. It costs € 12,50 to enter for adults and it is free for children under 6. I find this an incredibly kid friendly activity as there is so much to see and do for them. The one at the Saarschleife featured a little slide and it was located next to a playpark. It is also very educational, with lots of explanations of the nature and animals, which is done in a fun way. Hugo wasn’t feeling too well when we visited, which was such a waste of this fun activity. The parking lot is located right next to the entrance of the Baumwipfelpfad. don’t forget the parking fee. Google maps does not indicate the Baumwipfelpfad well, so when you see the big parking you have arrived.
Völklinger Hütte
The Völklinger Hütte is an ironworks industrial park located close to Saarbrücken. It is not used for iron anymore and now is a world heritage site. If you pay the hefty entrance fee of € 17 per adult, you are able to wander around this property, learn about its history and see some street art. If you love abandoned areas, ruins and industrial architecture, it is a must. What I found particularly fun, is that the higher levels are also accessible, which is not the case in each industrial park. It is mandatory to wear a yellow helmet, which adds a new dimension to your pictures. There were some interesting exhibitions going on when we visited, a street art exhibition and one that honored the workers that used to work here. There has been a history of forced labor here and the exhibit was very impressive. Völklinger Hütte was closed in the 1970s and has been preserved very well. Lots of the site are not accessible with a stroller, so I would recommend visiting with a baby carrier if you are visiting with a small kid. Besides that, it is definitely an activity that kids will love as you are allowed to climb on some parts and there are some playing areas.