Saarschleife - the Saar Loop

[kerouac2]

I have been wanting to see the Saar Loop in Orscholz for some time and since I was in the area, I finally got there this weekend.  The Saarschleife is probably considered to be the #1 tourist attraction in the Saar, unless it is the Villeroy & Boch outlet store in Mettlach just a few kilometres away, which has a bigger car park.  But the Saarschleife also has a huge lot for tour buses, plus an overflow lot about 300 metres away.  Why would they need this?

It is not immediately obvious, because you need to walk a bit through the forest for a start.

this way or that way?

And then there were these walkways in the trees.

[kerouac2]

I followed the sign.





And then I arrived at the first panorama.



Here is the famous loop of the Saar River. Well, it's famous in the Saar-Lor-Lux region.



Maybe we'll get a better look later, but this was already pretty good.





This is the official viewpoint.





There were plenty of informational panels in the local language, but there were also plenty of others in French and English.

[kerouac2]

Clearly I need to get up there.



I walked back to the treetop walk ticket office.



It is in the mother ship with biergarten and conference centre.



the entrance



This company has a lot of treetop walks all over the country. Perhaps our German based members have been hiding them from us.





I was extremely impressed by the design because the slope is never more than about 2 or 3 degrees, so it is not difficult for anyone.



There were lots of families with strollers and also even some wheelchairs.



Obviously I saw down where I had been before.



Perhaps in about a month the leaves will be spectacular. At the moment most of them think it is still summer.







This tree clearly overcame some sort of major handicap.





All along the walkway, there were little things to make sure the kids did not lose their motivation. (There was a ladder to get back up.)



And here is the observation tower.

[kerouac2]

I guess some people over the age of 80 find a need to sit down for a bit.



It was a long winding path to the top but just as easy as all the rest.





People going up arrive on the right. People leave go to the left.





Here is the village of Orscholz.



Maybe I'll take a boat on the Saar some day.



Here is the top platform with more seating from some reason.



And so here is the proper view of the Saarschleife.



It is indeed quite a bit higher than the lower (free) platform.





Not a place for people with vertigo.



But certainly quite romantic for others.

[kerouac2]

I am actually quite close to my usual haunts. Maybe that's why half of the visitors were speaking French.













Besides the view, I was also impressed by the engineering prowess.





Finally it was time for me to go, too.

[kerouac2]

And here is the final exit.



It was about 13:00, so even though the weather was not optimal, the biergarten was starting to fill up.



The village was only a short walk away. Maybe next time.



I stopped in Mettlach for a few minutes to glimpse the Saar at ground level.  A coal barge in 2022!





Maybe this is the old Villeroy & Boch factory, maybe not.

I'll get back to the area again one of these days.

[htmb]

Lovely views! Glad you decided to walk to the top.

[htmb]

Did you mention the cost of a ticket to the top?

I bet the view from up there is even more outstanding when autumn colors are at their peak.

[kerouac2]

No I did not mention the cost. The full rate is 11.50 or 10.50 if you're old.

[mich64]

Fantastic, beautiful views. A different perspective at each layer. I enjoy forest walks especially when there are firm packed even trails like I seen in some of the photos.

[lugg]

Wow - this is so good to see , your photos really bring it home. Second image below " This is the Official Viewpoint" is fantastic but all your images of the trees/greenery are fab too. In awe of the engineering that allows so many to view -accessible indeed it seems.

[kerouac2]

There are so many things to see everywhere in Europe that I am ashamed not to have seen more of them. But during my airline career, I really concentrated on the four points of the globe and always told myself "when you get old, you'll still have plenty of time to see Europe." That time seems to have arrived.

[lugg]

Sept 27, 2022 15:09:30 GMT kerouac2 said:

and always told myself "when you get old, you'll still have plenty of time to see Europe." That time seems to have arrived.

I get that and for me too xx

[mossie]

Take my advice and do it while you still can. At 90 I am feeling sorry for myself and have reached the doddery old fool stage. Am no longer too steady on my feet and risk falling.

Have fun.

[lugg]

Sept 29, 2022 7:16:19 GMT mossie said:

Am no longer too steady on my feet and risk falling.

I will Mossie - hope you are ok otherwise and please no falling? I just hope that I can be as active as you are now virtually at 90 but also as you have been physically for many years.

[kerouac2]

And Mossie is young and spry here! That counts for something, doesn't it?