Merzig

Merzig (German: [ˈmɛʁt͡sɪç] (listen), French: Mercy, Moselle Franconian: Meerzisch/Miërzësch) is the capital of the district Merzig-Wadern, in Saarland, Germany 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
Flag
Coat of arms
Location of Merzig within Merzig-Wadern district
Perl
Merzig
Merzig
Coordinates: 49°27′N 6°37′E
CountryGermany
StateSaarland
DistrictMerzig-Wadern
Subdivisions17
Government
 • MayorMarcus Hoffeld (CDU)
Area
 • Total108.79 km2 (42.00 sq mi)
Elevation
172 m (564 ft)
Population
 (2019-12-31)[1]
 • Total29,795
 • Density270/km2 (710/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal codes
66651–66663
Dialling codes06861, 06869
Vehicle registrationMZG
Websitewww.merzig.de

History
Historical affiliations

Roman Empire 369–5th century
Franks 5th century
Francia->Carolingian Empire 481–888
Bishopric->Prince-Bishopric->Electorate of Trier 888–1333
Duchy of Lorraine/ Electorate of Trier 1333–1766 (condominium)
Kingdom of France/ Electorate of Trier 1766–1778 (condominium)
Electorate of Trier 1778–1794
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
 Germany 1990–present


Evolution of the name
Stamp of the Deutsche Bundespost commemorating the 1957 centennial of Merzig receiving city rights.
  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.

Municipalities
Romanesque St. Peter's Church
Neoclassical St. Mary's Chapel

Merzig was created in 1974 as part of the territorial reform in Saarland. The present-day city consists of the previous town of Merzig and 16 surrounding municipalities. The population of the present city, including all outlying districts (as of June 30, 2011):

MunicipalityPopulation
Merzig10,934
Ballern1,189
Besseringen2,979
Bietzen968
Brotdorf3,733
Büdingen310
Fitten706
Harlingen565
Hilbringen2,569
Mechern834
Menningen635
Merchingen939
Mondorf768
Schwemlingen2,186
Silwingen387
Weiler350
Wellingen291
Total30,343

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[2]

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
  • city 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).

Notable people
  • Media related to Merzig at Wikimedia Commons
  • Merzig travel guide from Wikivoyage

References
  1. "Saarland.de – Amtliche Einwohnerzahlen Stand 31. Dezember 2019" (PDF). Statistisches Amt des Saarlandes (in German). July 2020.
  2. 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.
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