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Saarland

The Saarland, in the far west of Germany, is one of the country's 16 federal states (or Bundesländer). The capital is Saarbrücken. The state is the smallest apart from the city-states Berlin, Bremen and Hamburg.

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All Content on this topic

Rescue workers operating in the dark with the help of a floodlight at the site of a derailed passenger train in Saarland, Germany. October 15, 2025.

Germany: Busy train derails in Saarland, hitting large rock

The driver sustained cuts and bruises but police said no other injuries were reported.
TravelOctober 16, 2024
A half-sunken fire engine paves its way through the flood in Rußhütte, a district of the city of Saarbrücken, Saarland

Chancellor Scholz visits inundated southwest Germany

In the southwestern German state of Saarland, heavy rainfall has triggered the worst flooding in three decades.
CatastropheMay 18, 202401:28 min
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Saarland Premier Anke Rehlinger visit a flooded area after heavy rains flooded the region in Kleinblittersdorf, near Saarbruecken, Germany, May 18, 2024.

Germany: Scholz visits Saarland amid flooding

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has pledged federal "solidarity" after the western state of Saarland was hit by flooding.
CatastropheMay 18, 2024
Passersby trudge and drive through floodwaters on Fischbachstrasse in Saarbrücken, Germany

Germany: Floods hit large parts of Saarland

Much of the German state of Saarland is struggling with flash flooding caused by heavy rains.
CatastropheMay 17, 2024
The Saar Loop piece of land with a river as seen from Cloef viewing point.

10 reasons to love Germany's Saarland region

It may be small, but it's delightful. Let us show you the southwestern German state of Saarland!
TravelDecember 22, 202310 images
Rachel Stewart sits outside at a table on a sunny day. She holds a glass of white wine in her hand and more glasses as well as bottles of white wine lined up on the table.

German road trip: Discovering the western side

In a four part series, Euromaxx explores the regions of Germany. This time, it's off to western Germany.
LifestyleNovember 1, 202304:22 min
Apartment buildings in Forbach, Lorraine, eastern France

France releases German accused of holding wife captive

Prosecutors said there was "no evidence" of kidnapping or torture, and the man was released without charges.
CrimeAugust 8, 2023
04.2016 Check-in (Sendungslogo)

Three tips for a trip to Germany

From the Baltic Sea to the Uckermark and Saarland, Lukas Stege shares tips for a trip to Germany.
CultureApril 15, 202326:06 min
A German police car's blue flashing light

Germany: Man dead after shootout with police in Saarland

Two German police officers were wounded in a suburb of the city of Saarbrucken after a suspect shot at them.
CrimeJune 3, 2022
Freilichtmuseum Römische Villa Borg in Perl-Borg EINSCHRÄNKUNG

Roman Pastoral - The Villa Borg

A beautiful example of how the Ancient Romans once lived in Saarland.
TravelMay 28, 202202:06 min
Election posters in Germany

Germany: SPD maintains winning streak in Saarland vote

The Social Democrats have won the regional election for the first time in over 20 years, gaining 45% of the vote.
PoliticsMarch 27, 2022
ballpoint pens with party logos

Germany's major election year 2022

The high-flying SPD wants to consolidate their power, the conservative CDU needs to win back lost voters.
PoliticsJanuary 4, 2022
09.2015 Best of Bundesländer Teaser Saarland

Germany's 16 states: Saarland

Michelin-starred cuisine and the world's first industrial UNESCO World Heritage site are the pride of this small state.
TravelNovember 24, 2021
Samuel Yeboah

1991 arson death in Germany branded far-right crime

Thirty years after a fatal attack on a hostel for asylum-seekers, prosecutors said new clues point to a far-right crime.
CrimeJanuary 28, 2021
A woman holding her hand to her ear to hear better

Like dogs and cats: Humans also point their ears

German researchers have discovered that humans, like some animals, can also direct their ears toward interesting sounds.
ScienceJuly 14, 2020
04.2016 Check-in (Sendungslogo)

Germany's hidden travel gem: Saarland

Lukas Stege visits Saarland — one of Germany's best-kept travel secrets.
CultureJune 27, 202026:06 min
Deutschland Aussichtspunkt Cloef auf die Saarschleife in Orscholz

Saarland: region of beautiful landscapes

Sustainable travel in one of Germany's smallest states
CultureJune 27, 202003:33 min
Weltkulturerbe Völklinger Hütte Reportage 16

A visit to the Völklingen Ironworks

This former industrial plant is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
CultureJune 27, 202002:11 min
Daily Drone Völklinger Hütte

Völklinger Hütte

The Völklinger Hütte in Saarland is an outstanding testimony to the industrial revolution.
TravelJune 26, 202001:00 min
Grenzübergangsstelle Goldene Bremm Autobahn zwischen Frankreich und Deutschland

Germany / France: Coronavirus raises tensions along the border

Tensions are rising in the Saarland region along the French-German border because of coronavirus.
SocietyJune 11, 202004:46 min
Klaus Bouillon

German police investigate 'murder attempt' on top politician

Klaus Bouillon narrowly escaped an attack after unknown people loosened the wheel bolts on his car.
PoliticsMay 8, 2020
Marienplatz in Munich empty

German states move closer to full lockdowns

Bavaria has introduced drastic measures of its own, but other states have edged closer to curfews.
HealthMarch 20, 2020
Check-in vom 12.10.2019 Lukas Stege

Saarland: An insider's travel tip

Check-in presenter Lukas Stege explores the rich natural beauty of this former industrial region.
CultureOctober 11, 201909:00 min
Völklingen Ironworks

Völklingen ironworks - Industrial heritage

Iron, steel and techno. The former ironworks is a UN Cultural Heritage Site that hosts festivals.
TravelMay 7, 201903:04 min
Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer delivers a speech at the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party congress in Hamburg

Who is Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer?

DW traces the unlikely rise of a conservative with a very long name from one of the most provincial parts of Germany.
PoliticsDecember 7, 2018
Koch des Jahres - Christian Bau

Gault-Millau's chef of the year

Christian Bau has his own cooking style in the "Victor´s Fine Dining" restaurant in the Saarland.
LifestyleMay 11, 201803:42 min
Saarland: Voelklinger Huette

Saarland Quiz

What is a "Schwenker"? Which huge ironworks has become a tourist attraction? Test your knowledge of the Saarland.
TravelMay 9, 2018
A prisoner staring out of a prison window

Germany looks to reintegrate criminal migrants

German states are putting more resources into reintegrating them into society after prison.
Law and JusticeApril 18, 2018
15 Saarland specific emojis

Germany's Saarland gets its very own emojis

Now there is a way for Saarlanders to show off their local pride with tailor-made emojis.
CultureMarch 15, 2018
Nach Landtagswahl im Saarland - CDU Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer Angela Merkel

Post-Merkel aspirant injured

Chancellor Merkel's ally Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer from Saarland sustains minor injuries in a car crash near Potsdam.
PoliticsJanuary 11, 2018
A cyclist in northern Germany turns into a road lined with green, orange and blue campaign posters

A timeline of Germany's 2017 elections

DW takes a look at the key election dates coming up for Germany in 2017.
PoliticsMay 14, 201716 images
Frauke Petry Jörg Meuthen Bundespressekonferenz BPK Berlin

Germany's AfD in crisis after Saarland slump

Germany's nationalist AfD had a poor election result in Saarland - but leader Frauke Petry had another reason to cry.
PoliticsMarch 27, 2017
Nach der Landtagswahl im Saarland - CDU Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer Angela Merkel

Explainer: Merkel's surprise win in Saarland

DW correspondent Jefferson Chase analyzes the election result.
PoliticsMarch 27, 201701:54 min
Nach Landtagswahl im Saarland - CDU Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer Angela Merkel

Saarland: Much ado about Schulz?

Voters in Saarland chose the conservatives, but was this a vote for Merkel or against the left-wing alternative?
PoliticsMarch 27, 2017
Martin Schulz and Angela Merkel

Opinion: Schulz has not beaten Merkel yet

The state election in the Saarland has brought the Social Democrats back down to earth, says DW's Sabine Kinkartz.
PoliticsMarch 27, 2017
Landtagswahl Saarland - CDU Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer

Merkel's CDU wins state election in Saarland

Preliminary results from state elections in Saarland show Chancellor Angela Merkel's CDU ahead with a clear lead.
PoliticsMarch 26, 2017
Wahlkampf Saarland 2017

Merkel gets early election test with Saarland state poll

All eyes have turned to Germany's smallest state as local elections begin.
PoliticsMarch 26, 2017
Deutschland Landtag des Saarlandes

Saarland bans foreign officials from campaigning

Saarland's conservative Premier Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer said that Turkey's referendum campaigns were a risk.
PoliticsMarch 14, 2017
A police operation in Berlin

Germany arrests Syrian over police car bomb plot

The suspect had contacted the "Islamic State" militant group, but said he attempted to defraud them, prosecutors said.
TerrorismJanuary 2, 2017
Deutschland Mitglied der Partei AfD in Mainz

AfD threatened by Saarland Nazi ties

Germany's AfD is facing a civil war after its court of arbitration ruled that its Saarland chapter won't be disbanded.
PoliticsNovember 1, 2016
Rolf Müller

AfD candidate investigated for selling Nazi-era items

A member of Alternative for Germany is being probed for allegedly selling Nazi items in his antique store.
September 23, 2016
Saarland Innenminister Klaus Bouillon Landesaufnahmestelle Lebach

This is 'going to be a tough call'

Saarland's home secretary talks about moving into a refugee hostel at the height of the refugee crisis.
August 26, 2016
Evangelischer Kirchenkreis Saar-West Kirchenkreis Ostkongo © evks/Paulus

Congolese donate to refugees in Germany

In conflict-ridden DR Congo, church members have raised money, not for their members, but for refugee women in Germany.
May 10, 2016
Klaus Bouillon saarländischer Innenminister

Saarland minister wants IQ tests for refugees

Saarland's interior minister has said he wants the intelligence tests to speed up integration.
April 16, 2016
AfD Politiker - Josef Dörr

AfD disbands state charter over far-right ties

Leaders of Germany's AfD party have dissolved its committee in Saarland for "serious violations" of party order.
March 24, 2016
Emdadullah Mohamand aus Afghanistan in Deutschland Flüchtling

Emdad wants to stay

DEspite living in Germany for four years, Emdad still has not been granted asylum.
March 10, 2016
Ludwigskirche Saarbrücken (Copyright: Fotolia/wolfgangstaudt)

10 reasons to love the Saarland region

It may be small but it's delightful - let us show you the Saarland region
October 5, 2015
Sascha Stroschke in Saarbrücken

Saarbrücken: Three travel tips

DJ Sascha Stroschke offers tips for visitors to Saarbrücken.
CultureSeptember 26, 201504:09 min
Saarland - Schwenkgrill, Copyright: SWV Gmbh

Why everyone in Saarland masters the art of barbecue

In the southwestern German state of Saarland, people take barbecuing very seriously - and they've all got that swing.
September 24, 2015
Beech trees, Copyright: "picture-alliance/dpa

National parks

Germany has added a new national park to its roster, which now totals 16.
January 29, 2015