The castle at the Saar

High above the Saar, the remnants of one of the oldest and most beautiful hill castles in the West dominate, serving as a picturesque landmark and namesake for the town of Saarburg. In 964, Count Siegfried of Luxembourg acquired the castle hill from the Trier Cathedral and built a proud and powerful castle complex. The castle ring was 137 meters long and up to 50 meters wide. The castle also included houses for 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 in the possession of the Archbishops of Trier, who over the centuries transformed it into one of the most important fortifications in their territory. After a tumultuous history marked by multiple destructions and reconstructions, the castle lost significance from the 18th century and fell into ruin. In 1860, the town of Saarburg acquired the ruins and established the viewing platform in the upper part of the curtain tower 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 a moody backdrop high above the town. Since 2010, several enhancements have been made to the castle by the town of Saarburg. The 11 goats that have become a true attraction, working as landscape caretakers on the Saar-facing castle hill and keeping the vegetation low. The castle complex is freely accessible.

Accessibility:

Access from the parking lot to the elevator with a maximum incline of 6%, ramp to the patio of the castle restaurant; the lower viewing platform is accessible via a wheelchair lift.

The viewing platforms of the castle complex are certified offerings according to Reisen für Alle. Detailed information on accessibility is available. The tower is not accessible.

Our Tip:

Narrow footpaths have connected the town, castle, and Saar banks both then and now. The Churbelunpfad takes you around the castle complex for about 700 meters (duration approx. 1/2 hour) with lovely views. After a visit to the castle restaurant, you can then unwind comfortably after the tour.

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 structures from all sides and create your very own picture of the past.

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