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Saarland
Capital: Saarbrücken
Area: 2,570km2
Population: 1.1 million
Saarland
is one of the sixteen states of Germany. The capital is Saarbrücken.
It has an area of 2570 km² and 1,045,000 inhabitants. In both area
and population, it is the smallest state in Germany other than the
city-states (Berlin, Bremen and Hamburg). Its location on the border
between France and Germany has given Saarland a unique history.
The Saar did not exist as a unified entity until its creation as the
Territory of the Saar Basin by the League of Nations after World War
I. Prior to this, some parts of the current entity were Prussian and
other parts Bavarian. The inhabitants voted to rejoin Germany in a
plebiscite in 1935.
From 1947 to 1956 the Saar was a French-occupied territory (the
"Saar Protectorate") separate from the rest of Germany. In 1955 the
inhabitants were offered independence in a plebiscite, but instead
voted to become a state of West Germany.
The state borders France (département of Moselle, which forms part
of the région of Lorraine) to the south and west, Luxembourg to the
west and Rheinland-Pfalz to the north and the east.
 It is named after the
Saar River, a tributary of the Moselle River (itself a tributary of
the Rhine), which runs through the state from the south to the
northwest. One third of the land area of the Saarland is covered by
forest, one of the highest percentages in Germany. The state is
generally hilly; the highest mountain is the Dollberg with a height
of 695.4 m (about 2,280 feet).
Most inhabitants live in a city agglomeration on the French border,
surrounding the capital of Saarbrücken.
A relatively small state of Germany, Saarland is approximately 1,005
square miles. The Hunsrück Mountains meet the Black Forest and the
region consists of fertile land as the rivers Saar, Moselle and
Blies wind through this area. With such an abundance of waterways,
popular river cruise ships beckon visitors to enjoy the amazing
panorama. The lakes of Bostalsee and Losheimer See are filled with
surfers and sailors. Bicycle enthusiasts are offered over 1235 miles
of scenic trails.
Celts and Romans settled ages ago in the hillsides and remnants of
their beautiful architecture is prominent today. The restored
Montclair Castle sets majestically on hill overlooking the Saar.
Fortifications of Saarlouis, built by Louis XIV, known as the French
“Sun King” are proof of bygone era.
 Saarbrücken
s the capital of the state of Saarland in Germany. The city sits at
the heart of a metropolitan area that bounds westwards to Dillingen
and northeastwards to Neunkirchen, in which most of the people of
the Saarland live. Saarbrücken is over 1000 years old and
visitors will appreciate and be amazed at the elegant Baroque
architecture.
Saarbrücken used to be the industrial and transport centre of a
great coal basin. Production included iron and steel, sugar, beer,
pottery, optical instruments, machinery, and construction materials.
However, over the past decades the industrial importance of Saarland
has declined, as the mining industry has become unprofitable.
Historic landmarks in the city include the stone bridge across the
Saar (1546), the Gothic church of St Arnual, the 18th century
Saarbrücker Schloss (castle) and the old part of the town, the St.
Johanner Markt. In 1815 Saarbrücken came under Prussian control, and
for two periods in the 20th century (1919–35 and 1945–57) it became
part of the Saar territory under French administration. For this
reason, coupled with its proximity to the French border, it retains
a certain French influence.
In modern German Saarbrücken literally means Saar bridges, and
indeed there are about a dozen bridges across the Saar river.
However the name actually predates any bridge at this spot by at
least 500 years. The historical name of the town is actually
Sarabrucca, derived from the Old High German word Brucca, which
became Brocken in High German (rock or boulder in English).[2]
 Town
of Ottweiler was renown as the Nassau-Saarbrücken Procelain factory.
Europe’s largest red sandstone caves are located in Homburg. There
is a interesting Roman-type open-air museum called “Schwarzenacker”
near Homburg. For history buffs, visit the archeological gardens
where evidence of an exciting culture existed over 2000 years ago.
Ottweiler is a municipality, former seat of the district of
Neunkirchen, in Saarland, Germany. It is situated on the river Blies,
approx. 7 km north of Neunkirchen, and 25 km northeast of
Saarbrücken.
The town is notable for the Ottweiler porcelain.
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