This little 17th-century fortress city in Saarland, Germany sits just 10 km from the French border and 40 km from Luxembourg is just a 40 km drive. It was both built by, and named after, Louis XIV, with plenty of historic features, such as its city walls. Visitors can discover ancient castles, hidden alleyways and river walks, as well as attending operas, ballets and concerts at its grand Theater am Ring. Saarlouis’ proximity to other nations ensures a cosmopolitan vibe (both French and German are widely spoken) and there are some excellent nearby vineyards for tastings.
La Maison Hotel Saarlouis
Foodies should book one of 50 rooms (each with adjustable mood-pad lighting) at La Maison, with its double Michelin-starred restaurant. Chef Sebastian Sandor offers frequently changing menus crafted from organic and rare ingredients at Louis. There’s also Pastis in the winter garden for food, where guests can tuck into bistro fare beneath stylish artworks and copper pan light installations. The seductive French redesign of the period building was carried out by CBAG.studio, with two wings (each with its own personality) added to an original mansion house — the latter housing the hotel’s suites.
