Merzig
title: "Merzig" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["merzig-wadern", "districts-of-the-rhine-province", "duchy-of-lorraine"] topic_path: "general/merzig-wadern" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merzig" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::data[format=table title="Infobox German location"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| type | Stadt |
| image_photo | Merzig Rathaus.jpg |
| image_caption | Town hall in Merzig |
| image_coa | DEU Merzig COA.svg |
| image_flag | flag of Merzig.svg |
| coordinates | |
| image_plan | Merzig in MZG.svg |
| state | Saarland |
| district | Merzig-Wadern |
| elevation | 172 |
| area | 108.98 |
| postal_code | 66651–66663 |
| area_code | 06861, 06869 |
| licence | MZG |
| Gemeindeschlüssel | 10 0 42 113 |
| divisions | 17 |
| website | |
| mayor | Marcus Hoffeld |
| leader_term | 2019–29 |
| party | CDU |
| :: |
|type = Stadt |image_photo = Merzig Rathaus.jpg |image_caption = Town hall in Merzig |image_coa = DEU Merzig COA.svg |image_flag=flag of Merzig.svg |coordinates = |image_plan = Merzig in MZG.svg |state = Saarland |district = Merzig-Wadern |elevation = 172 |area = 108.98 |postal_code = 66651–66663 |area_code = 06861, 06869 |licence = MZG |Gemeindeschlüssel = 10 0 42 113 |divisions = 17 |website = |mayor = Marcus Hoffeld |leader_term = 2019–29 |party = CDU
Merzig (, , 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
::quote
::
|title=Historical affiliations |fontsize=85% |quote=Vexilloid of the Roman Empire.svg Roman Empire 369–5th century Franks 5th century Francia-Carolingian Empire 481–888 Red St George's Cross.svg Bishopric-Prince-Bishopric-Electorate of Trier 888–1333 Flag of Lorraine.svg Duchy of Lorraine/Red St George's Cross.svg Electorate of Trier 1333–1766 (condominium) Pavillon royal de France.svg Kingdom of France/Red St George's Cross.svg Electorate of Trier 1766–1778 (condominium) Red St George's Cross.svg Electorate of Trier 1778–1794 Flag of France (1794-1815).svg French Republic-French Empire 1794–1815 Kingdom of Prussia 1815–1871 German Empire 1871–1918 Flag of Saar 1920-1935.svg Territory of the Saar Basin 1920–1935 Nazi Germany 1935–1945 Flag of Saar (1947–1956).svg Saar Protectorate 1947–1956 West Germany 1957–1990 Germany 1990–present
Evolution of the name
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/30/DBPSL_1957_401_Merzig.jpg" caption="Stamp of the [[Deutsche Bundespost]] commemorating the 1957 centennial of Merzig receiving [[city rights]]."] ::
::data[format=table]
| 1499 | Mertzigh, Mertzych |
|---|---|
| :: |
In addition to the above, the city was known under French rule as Mercy.
Subdivisions
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/50/Merzig_StPeter4.jpg" caption="Romanesque]] St. Peter's Church"] ::
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/34/Merzig_Marienkapelle.jpg" caption="Neoclassical]] St. Mary's Chapel"] ::
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):
::data[format=table]
| District | Population |
|---|---|
| Merzig | 10,934 |
| Ballern | 1,189 |
| Besseringen | 2,979 |
| Bietzen | 968 |
| Brotdorf | 3,733 |
| Büdingen | 310 |
| Fitten | 706 |
| Harlingen | 565 |
| Hilbringen | 2,569 |
| Mechern | 834 |
| Menningen | 635 |
| Merchingen | 939 |
| Mondorf | 768 |
| Schwemlingen | 2,186 |
| Silwingen | 387 |
| Weiler | 350 |
| Wellingen | 291 |
| Total | 30,343 |
| :: |
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).
- 2012: Hairspray
- 2013: Burlesque
- 2014: The Addams Family, German debut
- 2015: La Cage aux Folles
- 2016: The Addams Family (off season production in February)
- 2016: 9 to 5, German debut
Twin towns – sister cities
Merzig is twinned with:
- GER Luckau, Germany
- FRA Saint-Médard-en-Jalles, France
Notable people
- Franz-Josef Röder (1909–1979), politician (CDU)
- Susanne Fontaine (born 1961), musicologist
- Kevin Trapp (born 1990), footballer
- Sahra Wagenknecht (born 1969), politician (Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht)
References
References
- [https://www.saarland.de/stat/DE/_downloads/aktuelleTabellen/Wahlen/Direktwahlen/Gew%C3%A4hlte_B%C3%BCrgermeister_und_Landr%C3%A4te_im_Saarland.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=11 Gewählte Ober-/Bürgermeisterinnen, Landrätinnen und Regionalverbandsdirektor*in im Saarland], Statistisches Amt des Saarlandes, 27 March 2022.
- Eckart., Roloff. "Besuchen Sie Ihren Arzt oder Apotheker Eine Tour durch Deutschlands Museen für Medizin und Pharmazie".
- "Städtepartnerschaften". Merzig.
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