The Canal des Houillères de la Sarre, also known simply as the Canal de la Sarre, is a 65km-long canal linking Grosbliederstroff (between Sarreguemines in Lorraine and Saarbrücken in Germany) to Gondrexange (Lorraine), passing through Alsace bossue.a Gondrexange is the junction with the Canal de la Marne au Rhin. This canal dates back to the 19th century and was built to transport coal from the Lorraine coalfields. In this article, I give you a few ideas for activities along the Saare Canal .
Explore the Saar Canal by bike or boat
Nowadays, you can take a boat trip on the Saar Canal for river tourism, but you can also do it by bike! The Sarre Canal cycle route, part of Eurovélo 5, links Sarreguemines to Gondrexange. At Gondrexange, the Canal de la Sarre joins the Canal de la Marne au Rhin, making for a great cycling route! If you’re interested, don’t hesitate to read my article on my other website about my weekend cycling along the canals between Sarreguemines and Strasbourg.
Relax in the Saarland thermal baths
I’ll start with a relaxing idea: the Saarland Thermes, on the German side. These are thermal baths with an oriental atmosphere, whose water comes from a salty spring that gushes out on site, the Rilchingen thermal spring, renowned for its curative virtues. Ideal for relaxing after… Or before the bike!
Discover Sarreguemines and take a cross-border bike tour
Sarreguemines is a cross-border town, so it’s a good opportunity to skip borders and pedal on the German side too! I can recommend a lovely cycling loop, the Circuit des Bords de Sarre, offered by the Tourist Office. I’ve had the opportunity to walk it, and it’s a very pleasant itinerary, perfect for a first discovery of the area. The route is very green and passes through beautiful forest and meadow landscapes before reaching the charming banks of the Saar.
The bike tour starts at Moulin de la Blies, which I also recommend you visit. This is the former industrial site of an earthenware factory (yes, Sarreguemines is earthenware country!) which has been converted into a beautiful garden and museum. You can also visit the museum of earthenware techniques, which I found pleasant and instructive, and wander through the magnificent garden of the Moulin de la Blies. This is the perfect way to spend a day in Sarreguemines, and complements the bike tour! Note that you can picnic freely in the garden by bringing your own picnic, but it’s also possible to buy a packed lunch at the café du moulin, where you can feast on delicious local produce.
Discover Alsace Bossue by bike
Alsace Bossue– a funny name, isn’t it? The landscapes of this part of Alsace are gently undulating, which has earned it its amusing name. If you cycle or sail along the Saar Canal, you’ll pass through the pretty port of Harskirchen, which makes a pleasant stopover. Starting from Harskirchen, I recommend the “Saar between forests and orchards” cycling loop, which I tried out and really enjoyed. You’ll discover a little-known yet charming Alsace! You can also take this opportunity to discover the Parc Nature de Cheval, located right on the banks of the Saar Canal, which features horse shows.
In Harskirchen, you can easily stop off at Camping Coeur d’Alsace, for a coffee or a bite to eat at the snack bar (the burgers are really good!), or even sleep in your own tent or in a lodge or bivouac tent. I’ve tested these, and the comfort-price ratio is really top-notch!
Swimming in the Moselle ponds
You can’t come to the region without taking advantage of its ponds to refresh yourself! It’s a very pleasant and relaxing place, where you can really feel like you’re on vacation in the summertime – I loved it! As you’ll see from the landscape, there are ponds everywhere, but here are the three main bodies of water near the Saar Canal, where you’ll find leisure facilities and swimming:
- Mittersheim pond, also known as Lac Vert
- Stock pond at Langatte
- Gondrexange pond
Sleeping on the water in Langatte
Do you like ponds? How about a night on the water? This is what you can experience when you book one of the unusual gîtes at the Langatte leisure park on the Stock lake. Stilted accommodation is available, accessible by a small bridge or by boat only! I went there with some friends and really loved the place, you really feel elsewhere and disconnected! If sleeping on the water doesn’t appeal to you, there are also unusual accommodations in the trees, or simply gîtes by the pond.
