Mettlach: Former Abbey, Ceramics and Trails

Mettlach brings together company and ceramics history, sacred architecture, parkland and trails in the surrounding area. Its attractions offer a range of perspectives, from the history of Villeroy & Boch to historic boundary stones and an interactive route. This gives you the chance to discover the town from different points of view.

Villeroy & Boch in the Old Abbey

The former Benedictine abbey in Mettlach is home to Villeroy & Boch’s headquarters. In the Old Abbey, Villeroy & Boch World presents displays and exhibits across more than 2,000 square metres. These include depictions of the design process, manufacturing and products. A ceramics museum and a multimedia exhibition also showcase the company’s history and products. The themes therefore span the company’s history, design and manufacturing, through to the products on display. The scope and content of the exhibitions may change over time.

Old Tower and Abbey Park

The Old Tower was built between 987 and 994 as the Church of St Mary. It is the oldest surviving sacred building in Saarland. Mettlach Abbey Park offers a different focus: it is home to more than 30 tree species from every continent. Together, these places reveal different sides of Mettlach, from its early sacred architecture to the diversity of the park.

Trails with Different Themes

Nearby, the Saarhölzbach Trail winds through the landscape of the Saarhölzbach Nature Reserve and the Hundscheider Bachtal valley. Historic boundary stones along the route mark the former border between the Saar Territory and Germany. Trail conditions may vary; check them before setting out.

The Denkspur in the Mettlach-Orscholz area offers a different kind of trail. It is an interactive hiking route with nine stations and various tasks. The routes therefore have different focuses: along the Saarhölzbach Trail, you will encounter historic boundary markers in the landscape, while the Denkspur offers tasks along its route.

To the Cloef: Drive and Walk

Two travel times are relevant for getting to the Cloef viewpoint: the journey on bus route 207 to the Cloef Mettlach-Orscholz stop takes about ten minutes; from there, it is around a 20-minute walk to the viewpoint. Check the timetable before travelling, as public transport information may change.

More Destinations in the Merzig-Wadern Travel Region

The wider Merzig-Wadern travel region offers more cultural attractions. In Perl-Borg, the reconstructed Roman Villa Borg is a Roman villa rustica with archaeological treasures. Guided tours are offered in German, French, English, Dutch and Luxembourgish. In Merzig, the operational precision-engineering workshop at the Fellenberg Mill, dating from 1927, demonstrates how water power is still used to set machines in motion and operate them.

Discover more destinations: Beckingen, Merzig, Losheim Am See, Perl, Nohn, Wadern, Weiskirchen, Orscholz.

Back to the travel overview: Merzig-Wadern.