Bexbach between mining history and hiking trails

Bexbach combines mining history with a variety of hiking and cultural attractions. Its mining heritage takes different forms in the museum, on Monte Barbara and along the mining trails; the Kulturbahnhof and flower garden add further highlights. When planning your trip, you can choose between a museum visit, a hike and the history of the railway station.

Mining history at the museum and on Monte Barbara

The Saarland Mining Museum Bexbach was founded in 1934 and is housed in the Hindenburg Tower. Visitors can see original exhibits on five floors of the museum tower. There is also an extensive underground show mine, where visitors can experience mining history up close and see techniques from different periods. The museum has been in existence since 1934; the underground facility was extensively expanded in 1957 and 1986. The founding date and expansion phases therefore refer to different parts of the museum’s history.

The landscape also bears traces of the mining era: Monte Barbara is a greened spoil tip from this period. It is crowned by an eight-metre-high statue of Saint Barbara, the patron saint of miners. The Monte Barbara Trail adds an app-based audio tour, with several stops focusing on the lives and work of former miners. The digital offering may change; check whether the audio tour is available before setting out.

Hiking trails in Bexbach and the Saarpfalz District

The Höcherberg mining trails comprise four day hikes and the Haldenschleife loop. The loop passes through meadows and forests to mining relics in Bexbach. The mining trails share a marking system with route logos and signposts. The Haldenschleife can be distinguished from the four day hikes by its described route to the relics. Check the current conditions for your chosen route before setting out.

The Bliessteig, a certified long-distance hiking trail in the Saarpfalz District, also leads to Bexbach. It starts in Sarreguemines, France, passes through the municipality of Mandelbachtal on its first two daily stages, and then continues through the Saarpfalz District to Bexbach. This gives you a regional long-distance trail with several daily stages to choose from alongside the mining trails. If you plan to hike it, check the latest trail updates beforehand.

Railway station history, the flower garden and practical information

Bexbach Kulturbahnhof was inaugurated on 25 August 1849 as a border and transfer station to Prussia. The entire station complex is listed in the Saarpfalz District’s register of historic monuments. The inauguration date and the register entry offer two distinct points of interest: the station’s historical role and the protected status of the complex as a whole.

Bexbach Flower Garden has a playground for families with children. This is a specific feature of the garden for those planning a visit with children; the station complex offers a different focus, with its transport history. The two places therefore offer different things to visitors.

Bexbach has a motorhome site with level pitches, toilets, and service and waste-disposal facilities. Marked hiking and cycling routes are nearby. The town centre is a ten-minute walk from the site.

Discover more destinations: Mandelbachtal, Gersheim, Sankt Ingbert, Homburg, Wolfersheim, Herbitzheim, Kirkel, Blieskastel

For the main travel overview: Saarpfalz District.