A protected mosaic of Saar river slopes, dry forests, and stream valleys on the Saarland side of the German-Luxembourg border region.
Steilhänge der Saar
Steilhänge der Saar is a nature reserve (Naturschutzgebiet) in the Saarland state of southwestern Germany, designated since June 2017 to protect the steep slopes and forested valleys along the Saar river. The reserve covers roughly 10.86 square kilometres across the municipalities of Mettlach, Perl, and the town of Merzig in the Landkreis Merzig-Wadern, close to the border with Rhineland-Palatinate and near the famous Saarschleife.
The protected area is largely coextensive with an EU Bird Directive (SPA) site and a Habitats Directive (FFH) site of the same name, giving it recognition under both national German nature conservation law and the European Natura 2000 network. It consolidates and replaces several older, smaller reserves in the area, including the former Saar-Steilhänge/Lutwinuswald, Steinbachtal westlich Saarschleife, and Hundscheiderbachtal designations.
Its character is defined by the abrupt wooded hillsides that rise above the Saar and its tributary valleys, with notable stretches of old, dry, and rocky deciduous forest. These Saar slopes provide habitats for cliff, slope, and valley forest species, and sit alongside one of the most scenic river bends in Germany, the Saarschleife, making the area significant both ecologically and for the broader landscape identity of the region.
