Discover Trier-Saarburg: Romans, cycling routes and Saar views

Between views of the Saar, striking sandstone and traces of Roman history, Trier-Saarburg offers several themes around which to plan your stay. In Saarburg, well-preserved sections of the castle complex and panoramic views over the Saar Valley are part of the picture, as is the waterfall in the old town, which the Tälchen-Tour recommends visiting as a detour. Elsewhere, stories reach back to Roman roadside settlements and imperial palaces.

Saarburg: Views and history

Large sections of the Saarburg’s curtain walls and a residential tower have been preserved. Several viewing platforms and the tower offer panoramic views over the Saar Valley. Here, historic architecture and views of the landscape sit side by side. Those interested in both will find a different focus here than in the Roman sites described elsewhere in the region.

Roman traces in Tawern, Konz and Kastel-Staadt

The Roman roadside settlement of Tabernae in Tawern is considered the origin of the town. It was established shortly before the turn of the era on the main Roman road from the Moselle via Metz to Rome. The pavilion houses an authentic 1:75 scale model of Tabernae; in the forest, there is also the large reconstructed temple complex of Tawern. The free ARGO app lets you view the temple complex on site at full size and as a 360-degree augmented reality display. The model and the AR display present different scales side by side: the settlement as a scale model and the temple complex in a digital view.

Part of the Roman imperial palace in Konz has survived: a cold-water pool about 4 metres high. The former terrace of the imperial palace offers views of the Moselle and Saar rivers and the surrounding mountains. The Roman theatre in Kastel-Staadt has a 2.5-kilometre archaeological discovery trail. Each of these places offers a different focus—from a surviving architectural feature to views of the landscape and a trail associated with the theatre.

Tours and landscapes

The Tälchen-Tour is designated as a moderately difficult circular route. It is 37.28 kilometres long, with an indicated duration of about 2 hours and 45 minutes. The tour begins and ends in Konz, leads to the Wiltinger Saarbogen nature reserve and recommends a detour to the waterfall in Saarburg’s old town. The stated distance, difficulty level and approximate duration give you a concrete framework when planning a tour as part of your trip.

The Kasteler Felsenpfad offers a different impression of the landscape. It leads through a striking red sandstone landscape with distinctive rock formations. The Pinschbachtal valley and Altfels offer panoramic views over the Saar Valley. When weighing up these tour options, you can compare the clearly stated distance and duration of the Tälchen-Tour with the rocks, sandstone and viewpoints along the Kasteler Felsenpfad.

Cycling and hiking trails are also among the region’s attractions: there is a dense network of cycling and hiking trails along the Viezstraße. The Trier-Saarburg district has 492 kilometres of cycling routes. The Tälchen-Tour and this cycling network provide different points of reference for planning your trip; the details provided can help you make your choice based on the type of tour and the time you have available.

Viez and Freudenburg Castle Ruins

In the wider region, the Viezstraße is a 175-kilometre route from Merzig on the Saar, through the Saarburg region, to the Moselle city of Trier. Along the Viezstraße, fruit growers, fruit brandy distillers, farmers, hoteliers and restaurateurs offer information, regional recipes and experiences centred on Viez. This gives your trip a culinary dimension alongside its landscape and history themes.

The Freudenburg Castle Ruins date back to a castle built in the 14th century to control the military road between Trier and Metz. A guided tour of the castle ruins can be booked on request. This is something to bear in mind when planning your visit: tours are available on request. This allows you to consider the site’s history separately from the question of which tour or accommodation location suits you best.

Plan your stay around your interests

Plan your stay around the experiences that interest you most.

Discover more destinations: Welschbillig, Leiwen, Ockfen, Rascheid, Schillingen, Schoden, Trier, Palzem, Kell Am See, Fell, Waldrach, Trassem, Kenn, Holzerath, Hentern, Hermeskeil, Bescheid, Heddert, Grimburg, Gusenburg, Lampaden, Neuhütten, Waldweiler, Geisfeld, Züsch, Reinsfeld, Kordel, Zemmer, Ensch, Konz, Mertesdorf, Wiltingen, Longuich, Nittel, Riol, Irsch, Mehring, Merzkirchen, Taben-Rodt, Thörnich, Schweich, Detzem, Saarburg, Schleich, Wincheringen, Klüsserath, Serrig, Köwerich, Temmels, Gusterath, Igel, Kelsen, Wellen, Freudenburg, Tawern, Biebelhausen, Wasserliesch, Beuren, Baldringen, Newel, Butzweiler, Trierweiler, Wehr, Pölich, Föhren, Kahren, Bekond, Naurath, Krettnach, Greimerath, Mannebach, Saarburg-Hosteberg, Longen, Kanzem, Morscheid, Kasel, Wawern, Oberbillig, Langsur, Zerf, Schöndorf, Ralingen.

Go to the main travel overview: Rhineland-Palatinate.