This all-day cycle tour is characterised by the gently undulating and extensive landscape sections typical of the Bliesgau biosphere as well as the occasional shady forests. From the car park at Blieskastel-Lautzkirchen railway station, the route marked by the Velo-vis-à-vis signposting leads along the "Glan-Blies-Radweg" to the heights of Blieskastel-Webenheim. The route climbs up to the "Große Höhe" at Dellenhof via tarmac farm tracks. You can see far into the Saarland and Rhineland-Palatinate and occasionally cross a small wooded area. Continuing along the edge of the forest, you can even see the Vosges Mount ains on the horizon. Finally, the route leads through the beautiful cultural landscape via Gersheim-Niedergailbach down into the Blies Valley. The tour continues in the direction of our French neighbours, to Sarreguemines. Just before the border, you will come across a turn-off to a Gallo-Roman archaeological site. The Bliesbruck-Reinheim European Cultural Park is a cross-border archaeological park which displays excavations and reconstructions of both Celtic and Roman artefacts. In addition to the impressive walk-in reconstruction of a princely tomb, several Celtic houses and a Roman estate, the partially reconstructed thermal baths of the Gallo-Roman site on the French side are particularly impressive. Back on the railway line cycle path, the Glan-Blies cycle path, you gradually leave the Blies valley and cycle into France until shortly before Sarreguemines. The old town centre of Sarreguemines is well worth a visit. In addition to the particularly interesting casino on the banks of the Saar, restaurants and cafés invite you to take a break. If you are already tired, you can take the Saarbahn to Saarbrücken and from there the train back to Blieskastel-Lautzkirchen. But the onward journey is worthwhile: you leave the small border town on the French side via a cycle path through the lower Blies valley and re-enter the Saarland in Bliesmengen-Bolchen in the beautiful Mandelbach valley. A detour to Gräfinthal is a must! The historical architectural ensemble, together with its gastronomy, makes Gräfinthal one of the most popular destinations in the Bliesgau biosphere. Then it's a short way back to Bliesmengen-Bolchen and onwards via a short but quite steep climb into the Blies Valley. A picture-book landscape with orchards and marvellous views opens up before you until you reach the viewing tower on the "Heidenkopf". The route continues on forest paths down into the Mandelbach valley to the Haus Lochfeld cultural landscape centre. There is a freely accessible organic vineyard, a meadow orchard with herb garden, wild shrubs and wild rose hedges, a rose garden, a berry garden and an orchard. Via Erfweiler-Ehlingen, you reach Blieskastel-Biesingen and from there one of the most beautiful descents in the Saarland through the "Lange Tal" to Blieskastel-Alschbach and then back to Lautzkirchen railway station.
Autorentipp
Refreshment stops can be found in the baroque town of Blieskastel, in Gersheim-Herbitzheim, in the Bliesbruck-Reinheim European Cultural Park, in Sarreguemines and, depending on opening times, in various villages along the route. If you take a detour to Gräfinthal in the Mandelbach Valley, you will also find several places to stop for refreshments at the natural theatre.
Wegbeschreibung
Follow the direction signs and the Velo visavis route logo throughout:
Tour route:
Start at the railway station in Blieskastel-Lautzkirchen - continue in the direction of Blieskastel on the disused railway line, the "Bliestal Freitzeitweg" or also called "Glan-Blies-Radweg" to Blieskastel-Webenheim - directly behind the village first ascent with about 100 metres of altitude - continue on asphalted farm tracks to the "Große Höhe" near the Dellenhof and occasionally through forests - continue via Gersheim-Niedergailbach down into the Blies valley to Sarreguemines - detour to the European Cultural Park Bliesbruck-Reinheim (- in Sarreguemines you can take the Saarbahn to Saarbrücken and then a train to Blieskastel-Lautzkirchen) - from Sarreguemines continue along the lower Blies valley into the Mandelbach valley to Bliesmengen-Bolchen - quite a steep climb with a view of the Blies valley to the "Heidenkopfturm" lookout point - continue on forest tracks down into the valley, continue via Erfweiler-Ehlingen up to Blieskastel-Biesingen - then downhill through the "Lange Tal" to Blieskastel-Alschbach and back to Lautzkirchen railway station.
Ausrüstung
Bicycle helmet, repair material and much more can be found in our packing list on the website.
Sicherheitshinweise
Several sections of the forest and field paths are unpaved. In addition to the tarmac paths, the cycle tour is characterised by fine forest floors and gravel paths
If, after the first 25 km and approx. 350 metres in altitude, you feel like cycling back on easy, flat terrain, you can take the Saarland cycle path from Gersheim-Reinheim directly through the Bliestal valley back to Blieskastel-Lautzkirchen.
There is a second shortcut option in Bliesbruck in France. From there, you can cycle directly to Bliesmengen-Bolchen via Habkirchen on the Saarland cycle path. This shortens the tour by approx. 12 kilometres. The French part and the town of Sarreguemines are then omitted.
Weitere Informationen
In midsummer, the cycle path is often in the blazing sun, so make sure you have enough drinks and headgear with you.
Saarpfalz-Touristik
Tel. 06841 - 104 71 74
www.saarpfalz-touristik.de
Saarland Tourist Information Centre
Tel. 0681 - 9 27 20 - 0
www.urlaub.saarland
Have you discovered a defect on the tour? Then report it with the help of our defect reporter: https://bit.ly/MaengelmelderBliesgau. Thank you for your help.
