The castle at the Saar

High above the Saar, the remains of one of the oldest and most beautiful hill castles in the West stand majestically, serving as a picturesque landmark and the namesake of the town of Saarburg. In 964, Count Siegfried of Luxembourg acquired the castle hill from the Trier Cathedral and built a proud and mighty castle complex. The castle ring was 137 meters long and up to 50 meters wide. The castle also included the houses of the castle men and an administrative building on the site of today's rectory and Protestant church. From the early 12th century, the castle was owned by the Archbishops of Trier, who expanded it over the centuries into one of the most important fortifications in their region. After a tumultuous history and several destructions and reconstructions, the castle began to lose its significance from the 18th century and fell into ruin. In 1860, the city of Saarburg acquired the ruins and established the observation platform in the upper part of the keep in 1896. The ascent of over 100 steps via the narrow spiral staircase is rewarded with a magnificent panoramic view of the Saar valley. In the evening hours, the castle lighting provides an atmospheric backdrop high above the town. Since 2010, the city of Saarburg has made several enhancements to the castle. The goats, which are active as landscape caretakers on the Saar-side castle hill, have become a real attraction, keeping the vegetation low. The castle complex is freely accessible.

Accessibility:

Access from the parking lot to the elevator system with a maximum gradient of 6%, ramp to the forecourt of the castle restaurant; lower observation platform accessible via wheelchair lift.

The observation platforms of the castle complex are certified offerings according to "Travel for All". Detailed information on accessibility is available. The tower is not accessible.

Our Tip:

Narrow footpaths connected the town, castle, and riverbank then as they do today. The Churbelunpfad leads around the castle complex in about 700 meters (duration approx. 1/2 hour) with magnificent views. A visit to the castle restaurant allows guests to leisurely conclude their walk.

Augmented Archaeology - Experience the Past Anew:

Discover Roman and medieval buildings and monuments in their original appearance. With the free ARGO app, you can use an augmented reality application on-site to view the historical buildings from all angles and create your own image of the past. 

Information about the Saar-Obermosel vacation region can be found at www.saar-obermosel.de