European Archaeological Park of Bliesbruck-Reinheim

The European Archaeological Park of Bliesbruck-Reinheim straddles the German-French border in southeastern Saarland and Lorraine, and lets you step from Celtic times into Roman Germany within a single day. Across roughly 700,000 square meters you find a reconstructed Celtic princess's burial mound, a Roman palatial villa and the remains of a Roman small town with its baths. If you enjoy archaeology and quiet countryside, this is one of the most interesting day trips in the region.

What makes it special

The park was founded in 1989 as a joint German-French project. Reinheim became famous after the discovery of an early Celtic princess's grave dating to about 370 BC, uncovered in a gravel pit in 1954. On the French side, archaeologists have been digging since 1971 in a Roman roadside settlement where about 2,000 people lived, mostly craftsmen. The park draws around 50,000 visitors a year, and it sits in the Bliesgau, a UNESCO biosphere reserve.

What to see

• Celtic princess's grave: Three burial mounds were rebuilt to their original size in 1999; you can walk into the princess's mound and view the burial chamber.
• Roman palatial villa: At about seven hectares it is among the largest villa complexes of the Saar-Moselle region. Some parts are reconstructed, and finds are shown on the upper floor of the Taverne.
• Roman baths at Bliesbruck: A modern protective roof (built in 1993) covers the bath complex, next to rows of craftsmen's houses.
• Maison Jean Schaub: A permanent exhibition runs from the Stone Age to Roman times and houses a tourist office.
• Building at the Border: An exhibition on the park's history and the idea of Europe.

Planning your visit (as of October 2026)

Allow two to four hours if you want to see both sides of the border. The park grounds are car-free and open year-round at no charge. The museum areas run from March 15 to October 31, Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on weekends from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission to the museum areas is 5 euros for adults and 3.50 euros reduced; children and teenagers up to 16 get in free. The ticket is valid on both the German and the French sides of the park. The Taverne restaurant is open Friday to Sunday from noon to 10 p.m. all year.

How to get there

The park is at Robert-Schuman-Straße 2 in Gersheim-Reinheim. Drivers can use the free car park by the Blies bridge, about 150 meters from the entrance, which has accessible spaces and electric vehicle chargers. By public transport, bus line 501 stops at Reinheim Kulturpark about 30 meters from the gate and runs hourly every day. From Saarbrücken you connect via the Saarbahn light rail (line S1) to Kleinblittersdorf or via Deutsche Bahn to Blieskastel-Lautzkirchen. A Biosphere Ticket costs 9 euros for up to five people.

Nearby

The Bliesgau biosphere reserve offers hiking and cycling right outside the park, and the French town of Sarreguemines lies just across the border.