Saarbrücken

This Baroque castle is undoubtedly the most prominent landmark of Saarbrücken. First mentions of a "Castellum Sarabrucca" date back to medieval times, but the city had seen several attacks and revivals until the building reached its current imposing presence. Today, it is home to various cultural events and the Invisible Jewish Memorial, made up of cobblestones engraved with cemeteries from all across Germany.

Get a taste of local life at the city's most popular gathering venue, and take a stroll along the narrow alleyways lined with myriad cafés and restaurants. The fountain in the middle of the square was designed by Friedrich Joachim Stengel, and together with Ludwig's Church and the Castle, it forms what is called the Stengel triangle. You'll also find Fröschengasse here, formerly a workers' district with Baroque-style houses.

This 18th-century Baroque Catholic church had undergone destruction and renovation several times throughout its history; today it is renowned for its exceptional, three-part organ system, and is a dominant element on the Saarbrücken's cityscape.

Formerly a coal port, the city's central park has developed into locals' favourite outdoor spot since the 1980s, proudly holding a Landscape Architecture Prize for the design by Peter Latz. It has a photographable open-air stage, a pond, skate park, and plenty of paths for a stroll along the Saar river. It neighbours on the movie theatre CineStar, among other attractions.

This 18th-century Evangelical church is a neo-Gothic addition to Saarbrücken's diverse architectural scene. The surrounding square is also a major gathering point.

This 50-hectare park was established to celebrate French-German relations, and has several jogging trails, a funicular and narrow-gauge railway, blossoming flowerbeds, a pond, catering services, and holds plenty of events and markets throughout the year.

Saarland's cultural centre holds a diverse range of performances from opera to ballet productions, and neighbours on a nice verdant park with trees lining the Saar river.

Saarbrücken's history museum, neighbouring on the Saarbrücken Castle, presents the turbulent history of the French-German border area with special emphasis on the era following the Franco-Prussian war of 1870–71, through various permanent and temporary exhibitions.

Saarbrücken Zoo is home to more than a thousand animals, and provides fun and interactive programmes to introduce them all to you. Join the penguin and seal feeding, or even stay for the night for some bat spotting!

Home to an ever-growing number of llamas, alpacas, and donkeys, Saar Alpaka Farm offers visitors fun and educative tours, unique worldwide in that you might even get to cross the border with this adorable family.

There are several interesting landmarks in Mettlach that make this small town worthy of a day trip: its 19th-century Old Abbey is the headquarters of ceramics manufacturer Villeroy & Boch; there is also a visitor centre, while nature lovers can admire the beauty of Saarschleife, a spectacular bend of the Saar river just a few kilometres from the city.