Saar-Bliesgau round

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

On the completely newly and very comfortably upgraded cycle path, we pass 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 cycle under the railway bridge in Sarreguemines and turn right just under the first road bridge.

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

The small detour is worthwhile. The popular pilgrimage site Gräfinthal is counted among the religious and cultural-historically significant places in Saarland. The context 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 round leads us on the Saarland cycle path through the town and then parallel to the country road to Habkirchen. Just after Habkirchen, a particularly idyllic section begins through the floodplain landscape of the lower Blies. For a short time, we cross into France again and reach in Bliesbruck the Bliestal leisure path, a perfectly developed cycle path on the former railway track. In Reinheim, a detour to the European Cultural Park Bliesbruck-Reinheim, a cross-border archaeology park, is possible.

Away from all traffic, paved and completely flat, the Bliestal leisure path takes us through the floodplain landscape of the Blies. From time to time, we cycle past small villages. Former station buildings have now been turned into restaurants. Cycling could hardly be more beautiful.

Warning shortly after Blieskastel: The Saarland cycle path on the railway track is led to the right onto a service road. But we turn left to Lautzkirchen station. Here there is the possibility to take the train to Saarbrücken and then cycle back along the Saar to the lock at Güdingen.

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

A small 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, the only significant climb of the entire route awaits: approx. 100 m up to Biesingen. In the town, the cycle paths separate and we follow the Saar-Nahe high cycle path branching off to the right in the direction of 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 single farms (including the Bioland Bliesgau dairy with self-catering houses at Eichelberger Hof) we reach the Höhenweg path up to Heckendalheim. Here it goes slightly downhill and then once again particularly scenic to Saarbrücken-Ensheim airport.

The descent into the Wogbach valley compensates for the climb in the Long Valley. At the bottom, our route branches sharply left, but before that there is an opportunity to rest in one of the two excursion restaurants.

At the bottom, our route branches sharply to the left, but before that there is an opportunity to rest in one of the two excursion restaurants. Initially through the forest and then through the open valley with magnificent meadows, we reach Brebach-Fechingen. Via side paths and through town streets, it goes on to Güdingen and back over the Saar to the lock. We can end our extensive and beautiful day route in the garden restaurant with a view over the Saar.