Saar-Bliesgau Loop

We start very comfortably on the Saarland cycle path upstream along the Saar to France.

On the completely new and very comfortably expanded cycle path, we come directly along the upper Saar past Grosbliederstroff and Welferding to Sarreguemines. Two locks can be admired: They look like 100 years ago and are still in operation today. We ride under the railway bridge in Sarreguemines and turn immediately right under the first road bridge.

Pushing the bikes, we go up onto the bridge and over the Saar. The newly installed French signage leads us through the town past the swimming pool and the museum of stoneware technology to the new cycle path along the country road over Blies-Guerswiller to Blies-Schweyen. Here we cross into the German Bliesmengen-Bolchen and immediately come across the turnoff to Gräfinthal.

The short detour is worth it. The popular pilgrimage site Gräfinthal is one of the religiously and culturally historically significant places in the Saarland. The connection of a historically shaped architectural ensemble in an intact landscape makes Gräfinthal, with its outstanding gastronomic offer, one of the most popular excursion destinations in the Bliesgau.

Back to the turnoff in Bliesmengen-Bolchen, our Saar-Bliesgau loop leads us along the Saarland cycle path through the town and then parallel to the country road to Habkirchen. Just behind Habkirchen begins a particularly idyllic section through the floodplain landscape of the lower Blies. For a short time, we re-enter France and reach in Bliesbruck the Bliestal leisure path, a perfectly developed cycle path on the former railway line. In Rheinheim, a detour to the European Cultural Park Bliesbruck-Reinheim, a cross-border archaeology park, is possible.

Away from all traffic, asphalted and completely flat, the Bliestal leisure path leads us through the floodplain landscape of the Blies. Occasionally we pass small villages. Former station buildings now house restaurants. It hardly gets any more beautiful than this for cycling.

Attention, shortly after Blieskastel: The Saarland cycle path on the railway tracks leads right onto a farm road. But we turn left to Lautzkirchen station. From here, it is possible to take the train to Saarbrücken and then cycle back along the Saar to the lock at Güdingen.

From the station, it initially goes through Lautzkirchen. We now follow the Velo visavis route and the Bliesgau cycle path and after a few meters also the Saar-Nahe highland cycle path. For a short section, we ride over a small residential street in poor condition. Shortly after, we reach Alschbach and follow the signs towards Biesingen.

A little scenic gem opens up before us: The "Long Valley" with its meadows and fields framed by the wooded slopes of the Bliesgau. Horses stand in the paddock and everything invites you to look and enjoy.

At the end of the valley awaits the only significant climb of the entire tour: About 100 m ascent to Biesingen. In the town, the cycle paths separate and we follow the Saar-Nahe highland cycle path branching off to the right towards Heckendalheim.

On an old Roman road, we cycle over the Bliesgau heights. On clear days, you can see the Vosges in the distance. Via Seelbach and solitary farms (including the Bioland Bliesgau dairy with self-catering cottages at the Eichelberger Hof), we reach the high path to Heckendalheim. Here it goes slightly downhill and then once again very scenic to Saarbrücken-Ensheim airport.

The descent into the Wogbach valley compensates for the ascent in the Long Valley. Down below our route sharply turns left, but beforehand offers a rest in one of the two excursion restaurants.

Down below our route sharply turns left, but beforehand offers a rest in one of the two excursion restaurants. First in the forest and then through the open floodplain with beautiful meadows, we come to Brebach-Fechingen. Via side paths and through town streets, it goes back to Güdingen and back over the Saar to the lock. We can end our extensive and beautiful day route in the garden restaurant overlooking the Saar.