The UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Bliesgau is a unique cultural landscape in the southeast of the Saarland.

Extensive agriculture and conscious acting form the foundation of an effective nature preservation. Numerous biotopes and the diversity of the landscape provide habitats for many rare animal and plant species.

The exceptional conjunction of nature protection on the one hand and economical usage on the other hand was one of the reasons for the UNESCO to honor the Bliesgau as a biosphere reserve in 2009.

The Saar-Palatine tourism supports the biosphere reserve and provide an enormous amount of information about events, excursion destinations and a lot more. In the context of this support, the Saar-Palatine tourism and the Biosphere Reserve invited colleagues from the catering industry to an information day.

It started with an information event about the biosphere reserve with its particular features, goals and ambitions for the future. During the following city tour through the baroque town of Blieskastel, one could choose between a historical guided tour and a tour with headphones. Nature and landscape guide Heike Welker and the chambermaid Henrietta told stories and interesting facts about Blieskastel.

Die Entwicklung Blieskastels, oft als „barockes Kleinod“ des Saarlandes bezeichnet, ist eng mit dem Geschlecht Derer von der Leyen verknüpft. Die uralte, von der Mosel stammende Familie erhielt erstmals 1456 durch die Heirat des Georg I. von der Leyen mit der Eva Mauchenheimer aus Zweibrücken Rechte und Güter in und um Blieskastel. Dies und vieles weitere erfährt man bei der Stadtführung durch Blieskastel.

“Edible Biosphere City”. Anyone can sow, everyone can harvest - Blieskastel is on its way to become a city of sustainability, a city of tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. Several raised beds with delicious, healthy plants have been put up at the Paradeplatz and the Haus des Bürgers. In front of the Bliesgau-Festhalle, there is a bed with fruit and vegetable plants. Salads, herbs, strawberries… - harvesting is strictly allowed, anyone can treat themselves to what has grown. Dr. Helmut Wolf, Nature and landscape guide as well as education partner of the Biosphere Bliesgau has told us everything there is to know about this project. 

Our next stop was the core zone Kirkel. Here, our ranger Henning Schwarz, explained the most important things about this area. The UNESCO sees part of its requirements of the biosphere reserves the establishment of core zones. Core zones are components of a modern culture landscape, in which nature can develop untouched by man. “Let nature be nature” is the motto, after which our primeval forests of tomorrow are supposed to form in the biosphere reserve of Bliesgau on about 3 percent of their area, about 1,000 hectares. The core zone Taubental close to Kirkel alone includes about 426 hectares. Core zone forests are important habitats for endangered animal and plant species, especially for habitants of deadwood (biotope wood). For example, it is assumed that one copper beech in the course of its life hosts about 800 different animal and plant species. Thereof, 400 species are dependent on old, dying beeches. This is a living space that is very scarce in a silvicultural environment.

What should not be missed on an excursion? A tour around the castle of Kirkel as well as the castle museum. Tour guide Christel Bernard, as well as Nature and Landscape guide Peter Steffen provided interesting facts about these highlights. The castle of Kirkel was built in 1075 as “Gaugrafenburg” and served for kingdom festivals in the 12th century. In 1689, the castle was destroyed by arson. A visit of the medieval castle ruins is worth it during all seasons. Of course it is the most interesting during the summer months, when the “Kirkeler Burgsommer” entice visitors with a craftsmen village and many events like e.g. the medieval market. At the foot of the castle lies the “Heimat- und Burgmuseum” (Home and castle museum) - a stroll through the history of the town and the castle.

Have we arisen your curiosity? We will gladly advise you about excursion destinations in the Biosphere Reserve Bliesgau.