SAARLAND
- Mar 24
- 5 min read
Saarland is proud of its dialect, traditions and blend of German and French cultures, which is reflected in the local cuisine, music and festivals.
SAARLAND: ICONIC LANDMARKS
French influence and an industrial past give the region its distinctive character.
Saarland is Germany's smallest state not counting Berlin, Bremen and Hamburg. But don't let its size fool you: this region is a true crossroads of Europe, where German, French, and Luxembourgish traditions intertwine. The land is named after the Saar River, which meanders gently through these picturesque hills and forests.
The Saarschleife is considered the most iconic curve. Victor Hugo admired this place, and modern tourists enjoy the panorama from the top of the observation deck.
Following the natural beauty, we present industrial beauty. In 1994, the former Völklinger Hütte steelworks became the first industrial monument to be inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Formerly the largest iron and steel plant in Germany, it now hosts exhibitions and concerts.
To get a feel for the state capital of Saarbrücken, start your walk from the Old Bridge. This stone giant, built in 1546, not only connects the banks of the Saar River but also serves as the city's symbol. Next to the bridge is a pier from which small boats depart for France.
SAARLAND: COAT OF ARMS' HISTORY
The coat of arms unites the symbols of the lands that historically divided this region.
The Saarland lies on the border between Germany and France and has changed hands between the two countries numerous times over the centuries. The Saarland took its current form after World War II.
Even then, however, there were nuances: the United States and Great Britain sought to incorporate the Saarland into France, while France itself advocated turning the Saarland into an independent border state, similar to Luxembourg.
However, after a heated public debate in 1957, the residents themselves voted to incorporate the Saarland as a federal state into Germany.
The Saarland parliament adopted a modern coat of arms in 1956. The quartered shield features symbols of history: a silver lion on blue for Saarbrücken, a red cross on silver for Trier, a golden lion on black for Palatinate, and a red diagonal stripe with three eagles for Lorraine. These four holdings were the most important in the region that is now Saarland.
The County of Saarbrücken was an imperial territory of the Holy Roman Empire in southwestern Germany, with its seat in the city of Saarbrücken. Its coat of arms derives from the seal of Count Simon III, known since 1220, which depicted a lion. Later, other regalia were added to the lion: a golden crown, red claws, and silver trefoil crosses.
The red cross of St. George on a silver background is the emblem of the Archbishopric of Trier. It first appeared in 1273 on the seal of Archbishop Henry II.Medieval Trier, which attracted pilgrims with the relics of the Apostle Matthias, was one of three archiepiscopal centers in Germany. Until 1794, the archbishop, also known as the Elector, oversaw all aspects of city life. After the Napoleonic Wars, the area became part of the Prussian Rhine Province.
Palatinate-Zweibrücken was a principality and duchy of the Holy Roman Empire with its seat in Zweibrücken that existed from 1444 to 1801. Due to the fact that its rulers held the titles of Counts Palatine of the Rhine and Dukes of Bavaria from the Wittelsbach line, the coat of arms depicts the Palatine Lion and the Bavarian blue and white diamonds.
But only the Palatine Lion, as the more impressive one, made it onto the Saarland coat of arms. The golden lion with a red crown on a black shield signified the special status of the Counts Palatine of the Rhine — their privilege of being among the princes who elect the German Emperor to the throne.
There's a theory that the structure of the Saarland coat of arms contains a hidden message: a miniature France surrounded by German lands. This isn't accurate, but it does provide a reason to move on to the fourth part of the Saarland coat of arms.
Lorraine is one of the oldest medieval European states. Its coat of arms is a golden shield with a red band and three silver eagles. According to legend, during the First Crusade, during the siege of Jerusalem in 1099, Godfrey of Bouillon, Duke of Lower Lorraine, saw three eagles on the Tower of David and (for uncovered reason) killed them with a single spear throw. In memory of this event, he supposedly adopted the coat of arms, which remains the coat of arms of Lorraine to this day.
To be precise, these aren't eagles, but "alerions." In heraldry, an alerion is the figure of an eagle with outstretched wings, but without a beak or talons.
In the Middle Ages, alerions were believed to live somewhere in India. They are larger than eagles, fiery in color, with razor-sharp feathers, and hatch from eggs only every sixty years. Thus, the Red Book was born.
SAARLAND: FUN FACTS
Of the Olympic records and good manners.
From 1947 to 1956, Saarland existed as a French protectorate. During these years, life went on as usual, and Saarland even managed to participate in the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, Finland. The country was represented by 36 athletes, and at the opening ceremony, the Saarland team symbolically marched before the West German team. Among her notable sporting achievements was 19-year-old Therese Zenz's ninth-place finish in canoeing. This was celebrated as a significant achievement for the young athlete from a landlocked country.
Although Saarland did not win a single medal, its contribution to the Olympic celebrations was significant. Coal mining had been practiced in the Saarland region for hundreds of years, so it was Saarland that provided the miners' safety lamps used to transport the Olympic flame to Helsinki.
Beyond the German sensibility, French influences are evident at every turn in Saarland: in culture, language, and, of course, cuisine. Even the Saarland lifestyle is called "SAARvoir vivre" – a play on the French expression "Savoir vivre" and the name of the state of Saarland. Savoir-vivre is a French expression meaning "the art of living," "enjoying pleasure," or "good manners." It encompasses the rules of behavior, etiquette, and the ability to conduct oneself elegantly and pleasantly in society, enjoying life without disturbing others.
This includes not only knowledge of etiquette but also the ability to demonstrate politeness, consideration for others, and inner culture, for example, by constantly using the French words "Bonjour," "Merci," and others, as far as your French vocabulary allows.
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