Introduction
For 200 years Saarbrücken was passed back and forth between Germany and France, and the neighbouring country’s influence is clearly present in the city’s restaurants, many of which have been lauded by critics. A German city since 1957, today it’s known for the university and its cultural exploits.Several baroque churches are dotted around the city, and the impressive 54 metre high town hall building, though completed in 1900, is very much in the gothic style. Although there is no monument at the Invisible Memorial Square, this is Saarbrücken’s most poignant sight. Created by Jochen Gerz with the help of local students, over 2,000 flagstones were dug up to have the names of Jewish cemeteries destroyed by the Nazis engraved on them before being buried under ground again with the lettering face down.
Contemporary art is prominent; the Modern Gallery focuses on German expressionist and impressionist art from the 19th century to the present day, and the Max Ophüls Film Festival for burgeoning directors takes place every January.
