Your wine & architecture experience: Saar & Upper Mosel!

Wine architecture in the heart of Europe

Away from the more well-known Mosel holiday locations, the Upper Mosel and Saar regions have plenty to offer. Plus, Luxembourg and France are reachable in next to no time at all. The advantages of a unified Europe are particularly evident here. There are no border barriers or customs checkpoints; instead you get the famous Luxembourg winegrowing village of Schengen, the cradle of a borderless Europe!

The Upper Mosel borders directly on the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. It’s only the Mosel itself that divides the river valley into a Luxembourg side and a German side. Bridges ensure cross-border travel. The architecture of the winegrowing villages reflects the cultural differences between the countries, which adds to their special charm. Language-wise, the Mosel people have so much in common that they can communicate without any difficulty. The vines that grow on dolomite rock on both sides of the valley are mainly of the Burgunder variety. The traditional Elbling grape variety is a speciality along the Upper Mosel and you should definitely give this wine a try!

Only a narrow and very scenic ridge, known as the Saargau, separates the Upper Mosel from the Saar. World-famous Riesling wines grow on the steep slopes of the Saar Valley, and the magnificent architecture of the vineyards bears witness to the economic success of the estate owners. Saar Riesling wines are characterised by their elegance and minerality. These wines are considered to age well and can often still surprise you with their freshness decades later.

Five wineries for special wine tastings

There are some very impressive historic wineries along the Saar and Upper Mosel, whose architecture and grounds can only be described as “stately”. A clear sign that their wines have enjoyed popularity in the past and continue to do so today! The following five wineries stand out with their distinctive architecture, which ranges from ultra-modern to baroque in style:

Gedeckte Tische im Garten eines Weinguts

The Piedmont and Reverchon wineries in Konz-Filzen are located right next to each other and form an interesting ensemble (Saartalstraße). Built in 1698, Weingut Piedmont consists of a large baroque estate that once belonged to the wealthy Benedictine Abbey of St. Maximin in Trier. Today, it’s run by the fifth generation of the Piedmont family. The roots of Weingut Reverchon also date back to the 17th century, but it now has the look of a Swiss country house. It originally belonged to a Huguenot family that managed a bank in Trier. The current owner Hans Maret is committed to responsible, natural cultivation of his steep-slope vineyards.

Ansicht auf die Remise mit Altbau des Weingutes Cantzheim in Kanzem.

Just 2.5 km away is Weingut und Gästehaus Cantzheim. The elegant baroque building was constructed in 1740 as a monastery winery and was then owned by the Episcopal Seminary of Trier for many years. Georg Thoma bought the estate in 2007, hired the renowned architect Max Dudler and had the historic manor house renovated as well as two new buildings added. Today, the late Baroque manor house is flanked by a monolithic outbuilding made of stamped concrete and an orangery made of steel and glass.

Außenansicht auf das Weingut Van Volxem in Wiltingen.

Your next destination is Weingut Van Volxem, which is located in the middle of the Wiltinger Schlossberg vineyard and visible from afar (approx. 4 km from Kanzem). Four architects from South Tyrol and an interior designer from Bad Soden were commissioned by Roman Niewodniczanski to design the ensemble of buildings with shell limestone façades, that stands on more than 6,800 square metres of land. The modern, elongated main building blends harmoniously into the landscape, and is fronted by a pond that collects rainwater from the large roof area, as well as slate beds and orchards. The visitor centre, a two-storey monolith featuring eight-metre-wide panoramic windows, rises over the landscape.

Außenansicht Weingut Dr. Wagner in Saarburg.

About 6 km further on is Weingut Dr. Wagner in Saarburg. Built in 1898, complete with turret, sweeping staircase and balcony, the winery stands proudly in the middle of park grounds. The wines mature in old oak barrels in the Saar’s largest vaulted cellar. Today, the stately winery is run by Christiane Wagner, who is the fifth generation of her family to continue the business. You can taste her wines and sparkling wines in all comfort in the winery’s inviting vinothek.

Ansicht auf das Weingut Würzberg.

After another 7 km you will reach Weingut Würtzberg in Serrig. The Neo-Renaissance style estate villa presides picturesquely above the vineyards. The coat of arms on the gable of the house, entwined with wild vines, gives a hint of its prominent builder: Clemens Freiherr von Schorlemer, a Prussian minister of state. The former Prussian winery with its more than 32 hectares of park, vineyards, meadows, woodland, courtyard, residential premises, vinothek, holiday accommodation, wine press house and cellar is now owned by the Heimes family and has been listed as a historic state site under the name “Denkmalzone Würzberg”.

SaarRieslingSommer

Top wineries invite you to their major wine tasting event

If you plan your trip to the Saar and Upper Mosel for the end of August, you can enjoy the SaarRieslingSommer, a great wine-tasting event in which all the Saar wineries of note will be taking part . German TV presenter Günter Jauch’s Weingut Von Othegraven is also among the participants.
Scheduled date: 26 - 27 August 2023

Saarburg and Klause Kastel

An old town complete with waterfall and an architectural highlight of German Romanticism

Ansicht auf die Burganlage in Saarburg.
Ansicht auf ein Paar bei der Besichtigung der Glockengießerei in Saarburg.

The town of Saarburg is pretty unusual: a broad stream flows through the centre of the old town and cascades down into the valley in a large waterfall. It’s the perfect place to sit and enjoy a coffee or ice cream. Overlooking the town is the Saarburg (built in 964), one of western Germany’s oldest hilltop castles and once the seat of a powerful noble dynasty. Its commissioner, Count Siegfried of Luxembourg, also founded the town and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg! During the 14th century, the Saarburg became property of the church and was, for a time, the preferred residence of the archbishops of Trier.

Tip: Visit the Mabilon Bell Foundry Museum (Museum Glockengießerei Mabilon) located at Staden 130. Dating back to 1770, the family-run business produced bells that were sold all over the world for almost three centuries. Today, the museum is part of the KulturGießerei sociocultural centre, which also provides a great setting for cultural events.

You can find even more tips for your next visit to Saarburg in our City Experience Saarburg.

Ansicht auf die Klause Kastel in Kastel-Staadt.

An architectural treasure of German Romanticism awaits you just 10 km away from Saarburg: the Klause Kastel hermitage in Kastel-Staadt. Built into the chiselled sandstone cliffs high above the Saar, it offers stunning views over the valley. It was built according to plans by Karl Friedrich Schinkel, a great painter and architect of German Romanticism. The story behind the hermitage´s construction is fascinating.

The Konz Music Festival:

Chamber music at its best

A musical event highlight in the Saar Upper Mosel region is the Konz Music Festival, under the artistic direction of pianist Joseph Moog. The festival features chamber music concerts with international artists, which are performed in the historic former monastery of St. Bruno in Konz as well as at various venues in the surrounding area.

Nittel wine village

International flair and culinary delights await at the Culinarium restaurant

Nittel is without a doubt the top location for wine enjoyment along the Upper Mosel. There are a number of beautiful wine taverns and inns here, as well as great restaurants. The village gives you a vivid impression of what it means to live in the heart of Europe; many Luxembourgers live on the German side, many Germans work in Luxembourg and all of them like to stop off in Nittel! People talk to each other in Mosel Franconian and get along famously.

Außenansicht des Weingutes Matthias Dostert.

Of the many great places to stop for a bite to eat, we would like to recommend one in particular: the Elbling producing winery Matthias Dostert. Its award-winning still and sparkling wines are the ideal companion to the culinary delights served at the winery’s "Culinarium" restaurant. Chef Walter Curman offers creative cuisine that combines international influences with regional classics. The ambience is modern with a friendly feel-good energy.

One more tip

The Saar and Upper Mosel are also within easy reach of Trier so you can easily plan in a day trip to the Roman city. You can find out more about Trier in our City Experience Trier.

Book your Mosel holiday now!

14.10.2024
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21.10.2024

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