Montclair Castle

Montclair Castle (Burg Montclair) near Mettlach is a medieval ruin high above the Saar Loop and one of the finest hiking destinations in Saarland. From the restored towers you look down into the deeply cut Saar valley, and in the courtyard a bistro with a beer garden invites you to rest. The castle can only be reached on foot, which makes the visit a small adventure. If you are looking for things to do at the Saar Loop, this is a historic viewpoint with real atmosphere.

History: Old and New Montclair

The castle stands about 290 meters above sea level on the ridge that the Saar River wraps around, roughly 150 meters above the water. An earlier fortress, today called Old Montclair, was almost 900 meters long and counted among the largest castles of the High Middle Ages in Germany. It surrendered on December 22, 1351, after a siege led by Archbishop Balduin of Trier, and was partly destroyed. The present ruin, New Montclair, was built between 1428 and 1439. Its two round towers on the east side still rise about 22 and 20 meters. The district of Merzig-Wadern bought the ruin in 1991 and had it partly rebuilt in 1992 and 1993.

What to see

• Round towers and walkways: Bridges and steps lead you up to the tower platforms.
• View of the Saar Loop: From the platform you look into the Saar valley.
• Castle museum in the northeast tower: A small museum is housed in this tower.
• Castle bistro: The courtyard seats about 150 guests.
• Wall remains of Old Montclair: Traces of the first castle lie along the ridge.

Visiting (as of October 2026)

Allow two to four hours, including the walk. The courtyard and the bistro are free; the towers and museum rooms cost 2 euros per person, and children up to 6 get in free. From August 10 to October 31 the castle is open on Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Friday to Sunday and on public holidays in Saarland from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; it is closed Monday through Wednesday. It may close early in bad weather, and hours after October 31 are posted on the castle website. Dogs must be leashed and are not allowed in the museum or on the tower stairs.

How to get there

Mettlach lies in northwestern Saarland, near the borders with Luxembourg and Rhineland-Palatinate. There are two ways to reach the castle. From the large Montclair forest car park, which also takes buses, it is about 300 meters to the start of the forest trail to the castle. Or take the small Saar ferry at Welles Steinbach and walk about 3.5 kilometers; the ferry runs from April to October, Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5:45 p.m., and costs 2.50 euros for adults. Mettlach has a train station, but you still need to walk or drive the last part.

Nearby

The famous Saar Loop viewpoint at Cloef lies across the valley. In Mettlach you can also visit the Villeroy & Boch World in the Old Abbey.