Discover Friedrichsthal: Forest, hiking trails and mining history

Friedrichsthal combines the forest landscape of the Saar Coal Forest with reminders of Saarland’s mining history. The town lies at the heart of the forest area, at an elevation of 240 to 360 metres. When planning your stay, you can explore nature trails, protected landscapes and the history of miners’ settlements as distinct highlights.

Forest and protected landscapes

Around 70 percent of Friedrichsthal is forested. Deciduous woodland predominates, with beech, oak and ash trees. The forest therefore shapes the landscape, alongside its various protected natural areas. At Quierschieder Kopf, protection serves to preserve the landscape’s diversity, distinctive character and beauty, as well as its ecological functionality.

At Grühlingswäldchen, a green belt is being preserved and developed within the built-up area. It provides a habitat for numerous animal and plant species. Hesswiese Neuwies protects a wet meadow with sedges and rushes, as well as a planting of silver poplars. A biotope in Hofertal includes a pond with extensive pondweed growth and a narrow strip of riverside vegetation; meadowsweet, tall herbs and streamside reeds grow there.

Hoferkopf and Villinger Park lie on the edge of Friedrichsthal and serve as a recreational area and habitat. The city’s only remaining sandstone area, dating back to the Carboniferous, is protected there. These places show different sides of the local natural environment, from the green belt in the built-up area to wet meadows, ponds and sandstone landscapes.

Hiking trails and choosing a route

There are many varied hiking trails in and around Friedrichsthal. The local recreation area and ponds of the former mine field can be explored on foot. The Saufangweiher pond complex lies along the Saar-Hochwald Trail, marked with a yellow dot. In 2014, the complex was connected to the 14-kilometre Industrial Culture Hiking Trail.

The Friedrichsthal Loop is 14 kilometres long and starts at Saufangweiher. One route leads through Jungenwald and over Erkershöhe to the Rechtsschutzsaal in Bildstock. From there, this route passes Bildstöckel on Hoferkopf and the entrance to Grühlingsstollen before returning to Saufangweiher. A trilingual information board near the civic centre on Barbara-Straße also describes an approximately two-kilometre circular walk to local sights. The two distances offer a concrete point of comparison for planning your day, without equating the routes.

There are further hiking opportunities nearby around Itzenplitzer Weiher and in Heinitz, Spiesen and Elversberg. Routes of varying lengths and difficulty levels are available there, suitable for all fitness levels. When planning, you can distinguish between the trails in and around Friedrichsthal and the additional options in the surrounding area.

Mining culture and history

Maybach is a typical Saarland miners’ settlement. Together with the surviving industrial buildings, the settlement forms one of the most important and representative mining ensembles from around 1900. Maybach was listed as a site of Saarland industrial heritage; its social and economic historical significance was among the reasons.

Another landmark is the Rechtsschutzsaal in Friedrichsthal-Bildstock. This cultural monument, dating from 1891, is of national importance and is associated with the beginnings of the Saar workers’ movement. It is also a stop on the Saarland Mining Route. Friedrichsthal is also part of the Landscape of Industrial Culture North project area, which forms part of the Saar Regional Park. Those interested in industrial heritage will find plenty to explore here during a stay that includes mining history as well as hikes.

Discover more destinations: Heusweiler, Quierschied, Riegelsberg, Großrosseln.

Back to the regional travel overview: Saarbrücken Regional Association.