Merzig (German: [ˈmɛʁtsɪç] ⓘ, French: Mercy, Moselle Franconian: Meerzisch/Miërzësch) is a town in Saarland, Germany. It is the capital of the district Merzig-Wadern, with about 30,000 inhabitants in 17 municipalities on 108 km². It is situated on the river Saar, approx. 35 km south of Trier, and 35 km northwest of Saarbrücken.
History
Evolution of the name
In addition to the above, the city was known under French rule as Mercy.
Historical affiliations
Subdivisions
Merzig was created in 1974 as part of the territorial reform in Saarland. The present-day town consists of the previous town of Merzig and 16 surrounding former municipalities. The population of the present town, including all outlying districts (as of June 30, 2011):
Culture and sights
Museums
- Expeditionary Museum Werner Freund
- Fine mechanical museum in the Fellenbergmühle
- Museum of Local History in Fellenberg Castle
- B-Werk Besseringen
- Saarland Psychiatric Museum
Buildings
- Church of St. Peter
- Historic townhouse („Altes Rathaus“)
- Diverse baroque buildings such as Halfenhaus, Staadt-Marx's Bürgerhaus, Hilbringer Schlösschen, Abteihof Besseringen ("Zehnt-Haus"), former residence of Christian Kretzschmar in Trierer Straße (all 18th century)
- Various interesting buildings of the 19th and early 20th centuries such as Villa Fuchs, Protestant church, churches in Hilbringen (St. Peter in chains) and Besseringen (Sacred Heart Church), Lothringer Hof, station, main building of the former state hospital, Art Nouveau buildings in Trierer Straße, former jam factory (previous monastery)
- Various chapels worth seeing, such as St. Mary's Chapel, St. Cross Chapel, Kreuzberg Chapel, Josef Chapel, Harlinger Chapel, Old Wellinger Chapel, St. Clement Chapel (Menningen)
- Seffersbach Bridge, 1901, last preserved suspension belt bridge "System Möller" in Saarland
- Catholic parish church of St. Agatha (Merchingen)
- Catholic parish church of St. Mary Magdalene (Brotdorf)
- Catholic parish church of St. Martin (Bietzen)
- Catholic parish church of St. Josef
Parks
- Bürgerpark Besseringen
- Garden of the Senses on the Kreuzberg
- Orchids on the Nackberg at Hilbringen
- Town park
Other attractions
- B-Werk Besseringen (Westwall Bunkeranlage), on the B 51 between Merzig and Besseringen
- Public indoor swimming pool „Das Bad“
- Bietzener healing spring on the B 51 in the direction of Beckingen
- Public natural swimming pool Heilborn
- Sculptor symposium stones at the border
- Monastery St. Gangolf, between Besseringen and Mettlach
- Museum railway (to Losheim)
- Animal enclosure at Blättelbornweiher
- Wolf enclosure in the Kammerforst
- Kreuzbergkapelle with views over almost the entire city and the Merzig basin
- Kletterhafen - Europe's largest free-standing climbing park
Sport
Merzig is the birthplace of footballer Kevin Trapp and tennis player Benjamin Becker.
Musical theatre
Since 2012 Merzig stages musicals for two months each year, starring famous German musical actors like Uwe Kröger. The venue is a huge marquee, called 'Zeltpalast' (marquee palace).
Twin towns – sister cities
Merzig is twinned with:
Notable people