The former Benedictine abbey and the Villeroy & Boch World shape Mettlach as a cultural destination; the Abbey Park adds trees from every continent to the experience. For planning, it helps to distinguish between company history, sacred architectural history and exploring the Mettlach-Orscholz area. This lets you decide whether ceramics, the Old Tower or a hiking route will be the main focus, depending on your interests.

Ceramic History at the Old Abbey

The former Benedictine abbey houses Villeroy & Boch’s headquarters, a ceramic museum and a multimedia presentation on the company’s history and products. The Villeroy & Boch World in the Old Abbey building features presentations and exhibits across more than 2,000 square metres. Topics range from the design process and manufacturing to product displays. The exhibition content may change over time. Mettlach therefore highlights both the company’s history and the design and production of its products.

The Old Tower and Abbey Park

The Old Tower offers a different historical perspective. It was built between 987 and 994 as the Church of St. Mary and is the oldest surviving sacred building in Saarland. The Abbey Park provides a contrast in landscape, with more than 30 tree species from all continents. In this way, cultural history and parkland offer two distinct aspects of a visit to Mettlach, without covering the same theme.

Hiking Trails, Denkspur and Getting to the Cloef

The nearby Saarhölzbachpfad dream loop lies within the Saarhölzbach nature reserve and the Hundscheider Bachtal valley. Historic boundary stones along the route mark the former border between the Saar Territory and Germany. In the Mettlach-Orscholz area, the Denkspur offers a different way to explore: this interactive hiking route has nine stations with a variety of tasks. Trail conditions may vary; check them before your hike if necessary.

For the journey to the Cloef viewpoint, two approximate travel times are useful: bus route 207 reaches the Cloef Mettlach-Orscholz stop in about ten minutes; from there, it is around a 20-minute walk to the viewpoint. As public transport information can change, check the connection before travelling. This keeps the bus journey separate from the walk that follows, rather than combining the two into a single travel time.

Regional Products and Refreshment Stops

At Montclair Castle, a self-service station offers regional products. Refreshment stops are associated with the cycling and hiking trails in the surrounding area. Regional products from the Mettlach area include Viez, wine and spirits; the selection may change. If the station is important to your plans, check in advance whether it is open. This adds regional food and drink culture as a distinct travel highlight alongside ceramics, architectural history and nature.

More Destinations in the Wider Merzig-Wadern Destination

The wider Merzig-Wadern destination offers other distinct attractions. In Perl-Borg, you’ll find the reconstructed Roman Villa Borg, a Roman villa rustica with archaeological treasures. Guided tours are offered in German, French, English, Dutch and Luxembourgish. The Fellenberg Mill, dating from 1927, showcases another part of regional history: machines in its operational precision engineering workshop are still powered by water and demonstrated today. The Historic Copper Mine in Düppenweiler offers an underground tour featuring the Mystallica audiovisual multimedia installation.

For outdoor activities, Merzig offers a well-marked network of 300 kilometres of walking and hiking trails. Cyclists can find cycle paths on both sides of the Saar. The Garden of the Senses in Merzig has eleven themed garden areas and a children’s play garden; events are also held regularly. These include the Rose Days in June, with a rose and garden market and expert advice. Check the dates for the relevant season in advance. The Viez Festival in Merzig takes place every year on the first Saturday in October; confirm the date for the current year before your trip. These attractions broaden the picture of the wider Merzig-Wadern destination, while Mettlach’s abbey, Old Tower and Abbey Park remain the local focus.

Discover more destinations: Losheim am See, Perl, Beckingen, Orscholz, Nohn, Weiskirchen, Merzig, Wadern

View the wider travel overview: Merzig-Wadern.