Sarrebourg is Moselle town in East Grand region, 50 km north-west of Strasbourg.
Its territory historically owned by the German-speaking Lorraine, on the edge of Alsace. Covering an area of 16 km², it is crossed by the course of the Saarland which gave its name to the city and the river Bièvre forms the boundary with the neighboring municipality of Réding in the east. The town is bordered to the northwest by the forest in Oberwald and peak formed hills south announces the Vosges.
Occupied since ancient times Sarrebourg acquires fortifications in the Middle Ages and up from the twelfth to the fifteenth century to the bishops of Metz. commercial city, its citizens lend allegiance in 1464 to the dukes of Lorraine.
Affected by the Thirty Years War, Sarrebourg is integrated into the kingdom of France in 1661. The city then resumed its rise, and if it suffers from the German from 1870 to 1918 Annexation and again during the Second War, it is equipped a modern urbanization and became a renowned industrial center.
Garrison town until the late twentieth century, now counting more than 12 000 inhabitants, Sarrebourg is rich of attractions for visitors: a heritage of interest, cultural and sports leisure offer expanded, and a green environment.
In terms of heritage, many classified sites can stake a discovery of the city. This is the case of the remains of the thirteenth century fortifications: towers and ramparts adjoining elements near the garden of Liberty (which then amounted to the stately home of the bishops of Metz) and at the level of the avenue Poincarré.
Also protected as historical monuments Weiherstein villa, built in the nineteenth century in a traditional style (timber) by the owners of the former brewery Sarrebourg located on the site of a former convent (the park is open to the public) the synagogue (XIX), the choir of the old chapel of the Cordeliers (thirteenth) now integrated into the Chagall course, the hotel Saintignon (XVIII), the gate was renovated in 1986 by a grid of sculptor Sándor Kiss and houses the city library and finally the necropolis dedicated to prisoners of French mainland and overseas in the First World war.
Other sites are also to see. This is for example the hotel Custine (XVII, became court and town hall), the post office, the former casino or hall surmounted by a hall dating from the German annexation (end nineteenth and early twentieth), or of the old wash house and spillway of Saarland that was next to a power plant demolished in 1974.
On the religious level, Saint Bartholomew's Episcopal Church, erected in place of the former collegiate thirteenth century, Baroque (XVIII, second tower and porch of the nineteenth century) deserves a visit, as is the church village Hoff (attached to the city) but rebuilt in 1914 with a Romanesque bell tower which houses an altar of the eighteenth century and statues of the fifteenth. Without even mention the Protestant church in neo-Gothic style (late nineteenth century) and the chapel Notre-Dame-de-la-Pitié, St. Roch and the former convent of St. Ulrich now home auditorium and seminar space.
Also on the cultural level, one step at Sarrebourg must include its course dedicated to Marc Chagall.
It includes the Franciscan chapel of the twelfth century (of which only the choir was preserved), which has been restored and is home to outstanding works: a masterful stained glass 12 meters high entitled "Peace", which is part of the totality of arc of the nave and opens toward the light, as well as several side windows designed by Marc Chagall.
In the choir even four cubes used to present the life and work of the artist, the genesis of the work designed to Sarrebourg at the request of the mayor at the time (1970, Pierre Messmer), and the art of stained glass as developed by Chagall.
The garden adjoining the chapel is also dedicated to the artist and the neighbor set the Museum of Country Sarrebourg contemporary architecture. The ground floor is devoted to archeology and upstairs are presented including earthenware and aspects of the recent history of the city.
Chagall Museum and Chapel of the course are open every day except Tuesdays and 1 January, 1 May, Easter Sunday, December 25 and 26. Price: 4 and 6 euros. Information at +33 3 87 08 08 68.
City decidedly open history to contemporary art, Sarrebourg also presents a course of modern sculpture marking out the streets and squares. Guided tours available: inquire +33 3 87 03 11 82.
In terms of sports "nature", the aquatic center features a lap pool and play areas. Price: 4 and 5.40 euros. Information at +33 3 87 23 82 61.
On the "west" heights of the city, the golf course has 18 holes and a "compact" with 9 holes. Players experienced golfers or beginners are welcome, benefiting from the greens magnificent views of the Vosges. Contact the +33 3 87 23 01 02.
Sarrebourg finally has a large area dedicated to leisure sports nearby Leveque pond along the Saar and is easily accessible from the city center.
Several sports fields (basketball, football), a field dedicated beach volleyball near the beach of the pond (swimming supervised in summer), a mountain bike course, mini golf, tennis courts, an arboretum accessible visitors and tourists. This green is also revealed an ideal starting point for hikers (via paths giving access to routes along the Saar, for example). All information +33 3 87 03 11 82.
Finally, fishermen can practice their favorite hobby at the pond or from the banks of the Saar. Information at +33 3 87 23 03 79.
In mid-July, about four days International Festival Sarrebourg music (classical concerts).
In mid-August, festival of pie outbreak.
The third weekend in September, feast day.
The third week of October, the theater festival "Sarrebourg stage."
Finally, two markets, on Tuesdays and Fridays, allow to understand the rich soil of the region, which is also the case in the halls, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
