The Saarschleife in Mettlach

on its way up north, right after having passed the town of Merzig, the Saar river meanders around the western spur of the Hunsrück mountain range. The Saar has carved itself into the rock and created a beautiful, impressive natural scenery: the Saarschleife (literally Saar Bend) is probably the Saarland most widely recognised landmark. Atop the densely wooded ridge, set amidst the horseshoe-shaped river loop, towers Montclair Castle (also featured in the Location Guide), whose ruins are nestled between oak and hornbeam trees. For the most part, the forested slopes alongside the Saar are a nature reserve and under landscape conservation. The most spectacular view of the v-shaped valley can be enjoyed from the Cloef observation deck, located on the undercut slope of the Saar Bend in the health resort of Orscholz. A short walk (just under 10 minutes) will take visitors from the Cloef observation deck to the Cloef-Atrium. The building, whose exceptional architecture combines elements of wood and glass, is being used as a conference and tourist centre