Saarburg, Germany Walking Tour [HD 4K 60fps]

Saarburg, in the Rhineland-Palatinate state of Germany, is a picturesque little town on the banks of the river Saar in the hilly country a few kilometers upstream from the Saar's junction with the Moselle. Now known as a tourist attraction, the river Leuk flows into the town center and makes a spectacular drop there before joining the larger Saar that bisects the town. The waterfall is the result of a 13th-century project to redirect the Leuk through the city center.

The history of the city begins with the construction of the now-ruined castle by Graf Siegfried of Luxembourg in 964. It received its town charter in 1291. The city has a bell foundry, the Glockengießerei Mabilion, which has been in operation since the 1770s, and as of 2003 the only one in Germany that makes bronze bells. We see the foundry at the end of the video, witness to Saarburg’s proud history with bronze bells, being the producers of bells for many German cathedrals.

In the course of the wars of religion in the 16th century, the strategic importance of the Saarburg as a fortress increased. A large number of armed conflicts followed over the fortified mountain ridge, which took their toll. Since 1756 the castle has been falling into disrepair. As a sign of growing historical interest, the city finally bought the castle ruins in 1860 for 325 thalers.

The first residents outside the castle complex settled in houses below the castle at the beginning of the 13th century. In 1291 King Rudolf von Habsburg (1218 to 1291) granted Saarburg city rights together with the towns of Wittlich, Bernkastel, Welschbillig, Mayen and Montabaur. Around 1500 the place already had 100 fireplaces, not including those of the nobility and clergy. Fishing, shipping and leather production shaped economic life in addition to the weaving trade. Until the end of the 18th century, Saarburg belonged to the Electorate of Trier and the Kurrheinische Reichskreis. Since the middle of the 14th century it was the seat of the Trier office of Saarburg.

By separating the Left Bank of the Rhine from France, the city became the seat of the administrative authority of the canton of Saarburg, which belonged to the Arrondissement of Trier in the Saardepartement, from 1798 to 1814. This was followed in 1816 by the appointment of the city to the seat of the Prussian district administrator for the Saarburg district. It also became the seat of the mayor's office in Saarburg. When the Allies bombed the Saar Bridge on December 23, 1944, around 50 percent of parts of the city and the church building of St. Laurentius Church were destroyed. From 1945 to 1948 Saarburg was occupied by troops from Luxembourg. From 18 July 1946 to 6 June 1947 Onsdorf, in its then municipal boundary, formed part of the Saar Protectorate. French troops complemented the occupation until 1955.