SAARBRUECKEN  GERMANY

                                                                           St.Johanner Markt,Saarbruecken

The name Saarbruecken, referring to bridges over the river, has come to mean bridges of understanding between the nations. Goethe was very taken with the beautiful residence of the Princess of Nassau-Saarbruecken and Baron von Knigge praised the decorum of the townsfolk and found them hospitable and welcoming to strangers.

                                                                              Rathaus (Town Hall), Saarbruecken

If you have once visited Saarbruecken you will find yourself coming back with pleasure and with the sense of returning to old friends. It is a town that is truly pleasant to live in and it is an open secret that the people here understand the art of cooking and can appreciate a good wine.

The town lies in an enchanting position with the river winding through it, surrounded on all sides by wooded hills, with its wildlife parks and woodland countryside, with its red and fallow deer. A walk to the nearby belvedere on Schwarzenberg gives you a magnificent view right over to Donon in the Vosges Hills.

                                                                                    Saar Schloss, Saarbruecken

In the course of its 1,000 year history the town of Saarbruecken, has come under seige, in particular in the Second World War, when it was bombed and reduced the place to rubble and ashes. The imposing town houses of the Baroque and Classicistic era have in part been rebuilt, creating a wonderful variation of traditional buildings, arcades and walkways, in particular the magnificent st.Johanner Markt, a pleasant place to sit at one of the Cafe's and watch the world go by.

A typical walkway just off St.Johanner Markt (above)....... The Saar Parks and Staden and the Franco-German garden offer oases of rest and retreat.........Saarbruecken has a special warmth, and I have visited at all times of the year and enjoyed its cosy charm..and remember that wonderful first visit, and get excited in anticipation of my next visit.

As for culture, there is the Stattstheater (National Theatre), the theatre "In der Feuerwache" (In the Firewatch House), the Landestheater (State Theatre). Also two Symphony Orchestra's. Major public events are held at the Kongresshalle and Saarlandhalle. Museums:- Moderne Galerie and Museum fur Vor und Fruhgeschichte (pre history and early history) and the geological museum of the Saarberg works.

This page on Saarbruecken is just a brief view of this charming town, and of course my visits to see my good friend Claudia Kohde Kilsch (Claudia Lehmann). 

Greater Saarbruecken has a population of about 200,000 and is twinned with Nantes in France and Tbilissi in Georgia. ....Greater Saarbruecken was created in 1909 when the three neighbouring towns of Saarbruecken, St.Johann and Malstatt-Burbach were linked together.

Architecturally the most interesting buildings are without doubt the Landwigskirche (Church) and the Palaces surrounding it, and close by the Friedenskirche (Church of peace) which contains some remarkable icons.

There are wonderful traditional festivals of Alt Saarbruecken (I have attended this and the whole town seems to take part) and also the St.Johann festival.

Also the wonderful traditional Christmas Market, which really gives you the spirit of a real traditional Christmas, and when I visited at that time there was plenty of snow, and a real flavour of Christmas.