The municipality of Mandelbachtal and its eight villages are located in the centre of the Bliesgau biosphere reserve. Due to its favourable climate and good geographical location, the valley was already settled by Celts and Romans. The small hamlet of Gräfinthal is one of the Bliesgau's special gems. Gräfinthal Monastery was founded in 1243 as a Wilhelmite monastery. It has had a chequered history. Benedictine monks have been living in the monastery again since 1999. An original relic from the Baroque period in Gräfinthal is a pigeon house on four pillars (1766) along with a crystal-clear horse trough. The old brewery and smithy have been turned into inns, the "Klosterschenke" and the "Gräfinthaler Hof", where guests are spoilt with culinary delights. In the immediate vicinity is the Gräfinthal open-air theatre, where popular children's plays and plays for adults have been performed in the summer months for over 85 years and are very popular with young and old alike.
The customs museum in Habkirchen brings the history of a border region from the 18th century to the recent past back to life. A few metres further on is the European Friendship Bridge, which leads across the Blies to Frauenberg in France. In the House of Village History in Bliesmengen-Bolchen, a former barn, the life of the rural population in the Mandelbach Valley in the 19th and early 20th centuries is vividly illustrated.
The Wack organic farm is located directly on the Way of St James and the Saar-Nahe high-altitude cycle path between pastures and orchards on a ridge along an old Roman road. Organic farms have joined forces here and founded the Bliesgau dairy. Delicious dairy products such as yoghurt, fresh milk and cream cheese can be purchased in the farm shop or directly at the roadside self-service "Milchheisje". Mandelbachtal is also known for its numerous riding stables, which offer riding courses and holidays with horses.
