Merzig
Merzig (German: [ˈmɛʁt͡sɪç] ⓘ, 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.
Merzig | |
|---|---|
Town hall in Merzig | |
Location of Merzig within Merzig-Wadern district | |
| Coordinates: 49°27′N 6°37′E | |
| Country | Germany |
| State | Saarland |
| District | Merzig-Wadern |
| Subdivisions | 17 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor (2019–29) | Marcus Hoffeld[1] (CDU) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 108.79 km2 (42.00 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 172 m (564 ft) |
| Population (2022-12-31)[2] | |
| • Total | 30,051 |
| • Density | 280/km2 (720/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| Postal codes | 66651–66663 |
| Dialling codes | 06861, 06869 |
| Vehicle registration | MZG |
| Website | www |
Roman Empire 369–5th century
Franks 5th century
Francia->Carolingian Empire 481–888
Bishopric->Prince-Bishopric->Electorate of Trier 888–1333
Duchy of Lorraine/
Kingdom of France/
French Republic->French Empire 1794–1815
Kingdom of Prussia 1815–1871
German Empire 1871–1918
Territory of the Saar Basin 1920–1935
Nazi Germany 1935–1945
Saar Protectorate 1947–1956
West Germany 1957–1990
Evolution of the name
| 369 | Martiaticum |
| 870 | Martia |
| 1338 | Mertzige |
| 1478 | Mertzych |
| 1497 | Mertzig |
| 1499 | Mertzigh, Mertzych |
In addition to the above, the city was known under French rule as Mercy.
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):
| 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 |
Museums
- Expeditionary Museum Werner Freund
- Fine mechanical museum in the Fellenbergmühle
- Museum of Local History in Fellenberg Castle
- B-Werk Besseringen
- Saarland Psychiatric Museum[3]
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
- Luckau, Germany
Saint-Médard-en-Jalles, France
- 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)
- Gewählte Ober-/Bürgermeister*innen, Landrät*innen und Regionalverbandsdirektor*in im Saarland, Statistisches Amt des Saarlandes, 27 March 2022.
- "Fläche und Bevölkerung - Stand: 31.12.2022 (Basis Zensus 2011)" (PDF) (in German). Statistisches Amt des Saarlandes. June 2023.
- Eckart., Roloff. Besuchen Sie Ihren Arzt oder Apotheker Eine Tour durch Deutschlands Museen für Medizin und Pharmazie. Henke-Wendt, Karin., S. Hirzel Verlag GmbH & Co. (1. Aufl ed.). Stuttgart. ISBN 9783777625096. OCLC 932022285.
- "Städtepartnerschaften". merzig.de (in German). Merzig. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
