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Saarschleife

Saar loop and treetop path

Natural wonders on the Saar

It took the water of the Saar millions of years to dig 180 meters deep into the quartzite stone near Mettlach. The result is marveled at by thousands of tourists from all over the world every year: the Saar loop with the Cloef viewpoint.

Anyone who has ever looked down at the bend in the river will never forget the sight. The result of millions of years of constant hydropower is too fascinating: the two cities of Merzig and Mettlach are approximately two kilometers apart as the crow flies. However, if you take the cycle path along the Saar, which flows through both cities, the route is many times longer. The water has found its own path through the Taunus quartzite over millions of years. The resulting river bed looks like half a loop, hence the name Saarschleife.

Our tip: Explore the Saar loop and Montclair Castle

Highlight in Saarland: The Saar loop

From our hotel in Schwalbach you only need around 25 minutes by car to the Saar loop in Mettlach. The small town is also easy to reach by train. Next to the Saar loop, Montclair Castle is worth seeing: in the middle of the Saar loop, on the ridge surrounded by water, the medieval castle sits enthroned. Explore the adventurous history of the imposing building in the castle museum and enjoy the view from the towers.

Saarschleife
Baumwipfelpfad

To be able to visit both Montclair Castle and the Saar loop, we recommend the Saar loop table tour, an award-winning circular hiking trail. The varied hike starts in Mettlach at the brewery, takes you up to Montclair Castle, down to the Saar, which you cross with a ferry, up to the Cloef viewpoint and back to Mettlach.

The Saar loop reveals its full splendor when you look at it from above. The Cloef viewing point, which is located in the Mettlach district of Orscholz, is suitable for this. From a height of 180 meters above the river you can see the entire loop of the river. The viewpoint is easy to reach by car, but there are a number of worthwhile hiking trails that lead up.

Baumwipfelpfad an der Saarschleife
Baumwipfelpfad an der Saarschleife
Baumwipfelpfad an der Saarschleife

Treetop path on the Saarschleife

The path winds around 800 meters through beech, oak and Douglas fir trees and reaches a height of 23 meters. Once here, the path winds its way over the treetops up into the air and ends in the 42 meter high observation tower, which offers a breathtaking view of the Saarschleife valley. The view also opens up to the green hills of the Saar-Hunsrück Nature Park and, on a clear day, even as far as the Vosges. The maximum gradient of 6% also enables wheelchair users, families with strollers and people with walking difficulties to easily manage the 20 meters in altitude.