You want to know who or what is behind the saarroamers? We are a small collective of photographers with a common goal: We want to show our home from its most beautiful and spectacular sides. That's why we've been "roaming" through the country together since 2016. At the same time, we also want to inspire other Saarlanders to do the same and discover our common homeland anew. All this is true to the motto "Small country with a big landscape".
We are often asked about our favorite places in Saarland. Most of the time we say "We don't have" or "There is no such place for us". People are surprised, because they think, there must be a favorite place for you, too! Well, true again. Our absolute favorite place is... the SAARLAND. The Saarland has so many beautiful, undiscovered corners that even after more than four years of "roaming" we are always thrilled when we come across its wonderful treasures. That's why we had such a hard time choosing our favorite places for this article.
However, after much deliberation, we have decided to introduce you to the following seven favorite places in Saarland.
Für viele ist er auf den ersten Blick unscheinbar. Aber wir können uns kaum etwas Schöneres als den Wald vorstellen, wenn es um einen Rückzugsort vom Alltagsstress geht. Mit 39 Prozent Waldfläche zählt das Saarland zu den waldreichsten Regionen Deutschlands. Deswegen lässt es sich hier überall ganz einfach mal zu einem Spaziergang ins Grüne abtauchen. In den Schutzgebieten Urwald vor den Toren der Stadt, Nationalpark Hunsrück-Hochwald und Biosphäre Bliesgau kann man sogar mehrere Stunden am Stück wandern, ohne auch nur einer Menschenseele zu begegnen. Wir sind am liebsten bei Sonnenaufgang im Wald unterwegs. Wenn Nebel über den Boden wabert und die Sonnenstrahlen langsam hinter den Bäumen hervorkommen, ist für uns der beste Augenblick.
The approximately five-kilometer-long hiking trail delights us with dark valleys and bizarre rock formations made of sandstone. Especially in the fall, when the fog rolls up the mountain, there are the most beautiful opportunities for really mystical photos here. If you want to try climbing or bouldering in addition to hiking, this is the place for you. There are plenty of marked routes to try out.
The old town of Ottweiler was love at first sight for us. The many medieval half-timbered houses, the old fortified tower 'Zibbelkapp' and the winding streets have really done it to us. Here we find an impressive number of motifs in a small space.
Little Tip: The best time to photograph here is on a Sunday morning, when the city is just waking up and there aren't many people on the streets yet.
By train comfortably and without traffic jams to Ottweiler: Plan arrival.
The World Cultural Heritage Site Völklingen Ironworks ist neben der Saarschleife sicher das bekannteste Foto-Motiv im Saarland. Besonders angetan hat es uns hier die Verbindung von Industriekultur mit zeitgenössischer Kunst. Der Landschaftsgarten ‚Paradies‘ mit seinen Urban-Art-Installationen, Erzhalle und Möllerhalle, Hochöfen sowie Gebläsehalle bieten spannende und ungewöhnliche Fotomotive.
Little Tip: In the evening, parts of the Völklingen Ironworks are illuminated in color. A great opportunity to capture not everyday pictures.
Take the train to Völklingen comfortably and without traffic jams: Plan arrival.
Hard coal mining played a major role in the Saarland, and even today some 90 large tailings piles dot the landscape. Probably the most spectacular is the 150-meter-high Duhamel tailings pile in Ensdorf. At its summit stands the Saarpolygon, erected in 2016 and 30 meters high, a monument that aims to commemorate the end of mining in the Saar region. What's exciting about it is that the construction takes on completely different forms depending on the angle from which you look at it. We've been up there many times, but we're always fascinated by how many possibilities there are for really impressive pictures. And at sunrise or sunset, the view over the surrounding landscape is simply magnificent.
By train comfortably and without traffic jams to Ensdorf: Plan arrival.
With Mettlach, one usually associates the company Villeroy & Boch, the Saarschleife and the associated treetop path. The Saarschleife is a breathtaking sight for us every time, especially at sunrise. But we find that the city itself also offers many exciting motifs. For example, the Old Tower, one of the oldest upright medieval buildings in Saarland. Ziegelberg Castle, located on a hill on the outskirts of the city, along with its park, is also one of our favorite spots. However, we find Saareck Castle, located directly on the Saar River, the most exciting to photograph. With its large park, the castle really offers a lot of angles to photograph it really beautifully.
By train comfortably and without traffic jams to Mettlach: Plan arrival.
In Germany, when you think of steam locomotives with great photographs, the Brockenbahn comes to mind for many people. As if we didn't have a steam locomotive here in the Saarland that was at least as spectacular! The trips of the museum railroad in Losheim are always one of the highlights of the year for us; their traffic days are even marked in our calendar. Especially in winter, the 15-kilometer route through forests and meadows offers many opportunities for unique photos that you would not have expected in Saarland.
By train comfortably and without traffic jams to Losheim: Plan arrival.
Cover photo: Mystical moods and lots of nature: The saarroamers show the Saarland from its most beautiful side © saarroamers
