Saarbrucken

Saarbrucken ( German Saarbrucken in , Saarbruecken in German without diacritic) is the capital of the Land of the Saar and the district of Saarbrucken.

Its inhabitants name Sarrebruckois. Its population borders the 180.000 inhabitants. The urban community of Saarbrucken (Stadtverband) account approximately 370.000 inhabitants German side, the transborder agglomeration Saarbrucken-Forbach exceeds the 700.000 inhabitants.

As a city of the Great Area, Saarbrucken takes part in the program of the European year of the Capitale of the Culture 2007.

Geography

Saarbrucken (Sarabrucca) does not owe its name with the German bridges (: Brücke , plural: Brücken ) above the the Saar as one could believe, because the first mentions of the place go back to one time when there was no yet bridge on the Saar (the first bridge, Alte Brücke was built 500 years after the first mention of the name). The name Saarbrucken comes probably finally from the old name of the fortress located on a rock (= Brocken) of Sarabrucca; this rock carries the Castle of Saarbrucken today.

Saarbrucken has a continental climate moderated with an annual level of precipitations of 796 mm with a monthly maximum in August (80 mm). The average annual temperature is of 9°C, with an average of 16,9°C from June to August (the hottest months) and of 0,8°C from December to February (the most cold months).

Located at a few kilometers of the French border , Saarbrucken maintains the very close connections with the department of the the Moselle: there exists thus a " Eurozone" between Forbach and Saarbrucken, FOR THE THIRD TIME (Train Regional express) the Metz - Saarbrucken was cofinanced by the Lorraine and the the Saar, the tram of Saarbrucken also stops with Sarreguemines. Saarbrucken is also connected to Strasbourg by FOR THE THIRD TIME.

Saarbrucken is with 110 min of Paris in ICE and with 2:00 of Frankfurt.

With the geographical and historical crossing of France and Germany, Saarbrucken shelters many Franco-German institutions, in particular the Franco-German Lycée, the Franco-German Université (founded in 1999) as well as the French Chamber of commerce in Germany.

Many French industrialists are also present in Saarbrucken, for example Peugeot and St-Gobain.

Climate

History

With the Moyen-âge Saarbrucken was the capital of a county. Possession of the counts of Nassau-Saarbrucken, it remains in the house of Nassau until the French revolution. Besides the Saint-Arnual church, located in the of the same district name, shelters many tombs of the counts, then princes de Nassau.

At the 18th century, Guillaume-Henri of Nassau-Saarbrucken order to the architect Stengel of many monuments, of which the castle, Ludwigskirche and the basilica St-Johann.

French revolution

Troops of the French revolutionary army occupy Saarbrucken in 1793. Saarbrucken joined the French Republic (then Empire) following the agreements of Campo Formio (1797) and Lunéville (1801). Saarbrucken will remain French until 1815, Sarrebruckois thus profited from the same civic rights as all the French citizens. Saarbrucken then forms part of the French department of the Saar whose capital is Trier.

Prussia

In 1815, following the treaty of Vienna, Saarbrucken becomes Prussian. During the 19th century, the city builds its prosperity on the Industrial revolution and the production of steel. UNESCO classified besides like inheritance of humanity steel-works of Völklingen, located at ten kilometers of the city.

War of 1870

After the declaration of war on June 19th, 1870, the Prussian troops are withdrawn initially from Saarbrucken; the French take the city. The French build stations then strengthen on the heights of Spicheren which overhang Saarbrucken. August 6th, the Prussian troops give the attack (9.000 dead - 3 times more losses German side): the Prussians gain the battle and the city takes again the city. This victory - well that without real influence on the exit of the conflict will be very exploited by propaganda.

Fusion of Saarbrucken, St Jean and Malstatt

December 5th, 1908, the cities up to now independent of Saarbrucken, St Jean (St Johann) and Malstatt-Burbach decide to amalgamate at January 1st, 1909. This act gives rise to the current city. At January 1st, 1909, the lately formed city account 105.000 inhabitants and is the 5th German city in the west of the Rhine. The old town of Saarbrucken takes the name of Alt-Saarbrucken.

Treaty of Versailles

After the Treaty of Versailles (1919), the territory of the Saar was managed by the Société of the Nations under French control. Its capital is Saarbrucken

1935-1945

In 1935, the population decided largely for D-adhesion in Germany, under the influence of propaganda Nazi and without France not doing anything to convince the Of the Saar ones to vote for fastening with the Republic. IIIe Reich makes build the National theater of the Saar into 1937/38 to reward the town of its fastening in Reich. The city was very largely destroyed by the bombardments of the Allies.

Post-war period: French protectorate

Completely destroyed at the time of the Second world war, Saarbrucken for summer has rebuilt. It formed part (like all the the Saar) of the zone of French occupation after the war and is still impregnated French culture (so much so that the others German are sometimes a little scorning towards the Of the Saar ones that they regard as “too much” French, Saarbrucken being sometimes described like " the anteroom of France").

After the Second world war, the Saar was again a territory under control of France which had the right to draw some from the economic profits while exploiting, for example, the coal resources. Following a second referendum 1956, it was joined together with the FRG news in 1957.

FRG

After its rehabilitation in FRG, Saarbrucken becomes capital Land of the Saar, 11th German Länder. In 1974, within the frameworks of the reform of the communes, 11 localities are integrated into Saarbrucken, which will double almost the population of the city.

Places and Monuments

Ludwigskirche (Church St Louis)
Johanneskirche (Church St Jean)
Schloss Saarbrucken (Castle of Saarbrucken)
National theater of the Saar

Museums

Museum of the Saar (Saarland Museum)
Stadtgalerie Saarbrucken: contemporary art gallery
archaeological Museum (Museum für VOR und Frühgeschichte)
German Museum of the written press (Deutsches Zeitungsmuseum)

Urban projects

Eurobahnhof: park TGV/ICE and district of business (completion envisaged at the end of 2008)
Stadtmitte amndt Fluss: setting in underground of the expressway and installation of the banks of the Saar

Administration

Districts

Saarbrucken is divided into 4 districts (Stadtbezirke): Mitte, Dudweiler, West und Halberg laying out each one of a mayor and a municipal council. The important decisions are made on the level of the town hall of Saarbrucken which chapeaute districts. The districts are subdivided in districts, the districts are divided into districts.

The districts and their districts carry the following administrative numbers:

1 Mitte : 11 Alt-Saarbrucken - 12 Malstatt - 13 St Johann - 14 Eschberg - 16 St Arnual
2 West : 21 Gersweiler - 22 Klarenthal - 23 Altenkessel - 24 Burbach
3 Dudweiler : 31 Dudweiler: 32 Jägersfreude - 33 Herrensohr - 34 Scheidt
4 Halberg : 42 Schafbrücke - 43 Bischmisheim - 44 Ensheim - 45 Brebach-Fechingen - 46 Eschringen - 47 Güdingen - 48 Bübingen

The district of Dudweiler has a greater autonomy.

Fastenings

The following communes (formerly independent) were attached to Saarbrucken and make integral part of the city now:

1896: St Arnual
4/1/1909: fusion of the towns of Saarbrucken, St Johann and Malstatt-Burbach
1/1/1960: Eschberg
1/1/1974: Dudweiler, Altenkessel, Bischmisheim, Brebach-Fechingen, Bübingen, Ensheim, Eschringen, Gersweiler, Güdingen, Klarenthal, Schafbrücke and Scheidt

Mayors

List mayors since 1909:

Municipal council

Composition of the municipal council since the last municipal elections (6/13/2004):

- 28 seats
- 24 seats
- 6 seats
- 4 seats
Without label - 1 seat

Education and culture

Universities and universities

University of the Saar (Universität of Saarlandes) founded in 1948 by the French military administration
Hochschule der Bildenden Künste Saar, Art schools founded in 1989. Replace the founded similar institution in 1924, then its replacing founded in 1946
Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft of Saarlandes: School of multi-field engineer founded in 1971 (fusion of several schools)
Deutsch-Französische Hochschule: Founded school Superior Franco-German in 1999 delivering a diploma recognized in the 2 countries.
Hochschule für Musik Saar: School Superior of Music founded in 1947
Fachhochschule für Bergbau, École des Mines founded in 1807 by Napoleon, it changed name into 1816 and was called Prussian Imperial Ecole of the Mines.
Fachhochschule für Verwaltung of Saarlandes (FHSV): School Superior of Administration of the Saar
Katholische Hochschule für Soziale Arbeit, Catholic School Higher Social founded in 1971 by Evêché of Trier.
INM Leibniz-Institute für Neue Materialien, Institute INM Leibniz for new materials founded in 1987.
Max-Planck-Institute für Informatik, Institute Max-Planck (equivalent CNRS) data-processing founded in 1990.
Max-Planck-Institute für Softwaresysteme, Institut Max-Planck seeks software, founded in 2004.
Fraunhofer-Institute für Zerstörungsfreie Prüfverfahren
Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Künstliche Intelligenz, research center German of on the artificial intelligence
Korean Institute off Science and Technology, based in 1996
Arbeitsstelle für Österreichische Literatur und Kultur/Robert-Musil-Forschung, research center on the Austrian literature

Cultural equipment

National theater of the Saar
Saarlandhalle
Palate of the Congresses

Festivities and events

January/February: price max Ophüls: cinema festival
Carnival (Rosenmontag): cavalcade in the district of Burbach and Ensheim
from March to October: large flea market (Franz-Josef-Röder-Str.) all the 2èmes Saturday of the month
May: Castle
May celebrates: Prospects for the Theater
May/June: Movement - Festival of music of the radio of the Saar
May/June: Trofeo Karlsberg
May/June: Maifest (fun fair) with Burbach
June/July: Kino im Fluss/Cinéfleuve
June: " Licht und Blumen"
from June to August: Sundays of the Castle (Sonntags years Schloss): concerts
at the end of July: old city
celebrates at the end of July: Gay Pride
August: Nauwieserfest
July/August: To summon Szene (theater of street)
August: " Saarspektakel" (spectacle on the Saar)
September: Franco-German fair with the wines
September: Celebrates of Ludwigskirche
October: " Intermarionett" (festival of puppet theater)
November: Electricity - festival of music techno
November/December: days of the African cinema
1st Sunday of the Advent: market of Christmas places Castle
of at the end of November at the 24/12: Market of Christmas

Media

; Written press:

Saarbrücker Zeitung
Bild Saarland

; Radio stations:

SR1
SR2
SR3
Unser Ding
Radio operator Salü
Big FM

; Television:

SR
ARD (regional office)

Television

Chaînes of the German TNT in the Saar (ARD, ZDF, SR, 3 Sat, Arte, SWR, WDR, HR, Phoenix, Eins more, Kika/Zdf.doku, Saar TV, Giga TV, Das Vierte, Tele5, Euronews, Eurosport)
Saarbrucken is covered by the French TNT.

Transport and communications

Highway infrastructures

A6: Saarbrucken - Mannheim
A320 then A4: Saarbrucken - Forbach, Metz, Paris
A620: Saarbrucken - Luxembourg
A1: Saarbrucken - Cologne
A623: access to A8
A8: Saarbrucken - Pirmasens

Public transport

Public transport is managed by a privately held company under contract. Saarbrucken has a network of bus covering the surrounding urban community and French cities, as well as one of the first Tram-train, that of Saarbrucken east besides the only transborder tram of the world since its terminus is with Sarreguemines.

Airport

Ensheim, the Aéroport of Saarbrucken proposes scheduled flights towards Berlin-Tegel, Berlin-Tempelhof, Gothenburg, Hamburg, Helsinki, Copenhagen, Luxembourg, Mannheim, Moscow, Munich, Palma de Mallorca, St Petersbourg, Stockholm, Sylt, Usedom, Zurich and the United States (via Düsseldorf) as well as charters towards Spain, Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria, Tunisia and Portugal.

Economy

Unemployment rate in the Saar (November 2007): 7,7%
average Monthly salary in Saarbrucken: 3.122€ (114e place on 410 German cities)
Debt of the city (at the 6/30/06): 169 million €

The large traditional employers are: Peugeot, ZF Getriebe GMBH (5.000 people), Saint-Gobain (Halberg-Guss), Saarstahl AG, Direkt Cosmos, Hansenet, Juris, IDS Scheer.

Demography

Twinnings

Project of twinning with Diriamba (Nicaragua)

Saarbrucken is one of the four cities forming the QuattroPole with Luxembourg, Metz and Trier. This transborder network allows the urban co-operation of these 4 cities.

Personalities related to the city

Elisabeth of Lorraine (1395-1456), duchess of Nassau-Saarbrucken it contributed to the rise of the novel in German prose
Frederic-Joachim Stengel (1694-1787), architect of prince Guillaume-Henri of Nassau-Saarbrucken: it drew many districts: district around Ludwigskirche, St Johanner Markt
Jerome Glass of bier Hieronymus Glass of bier (1498-1554), regarded as one of the German fathers of botany, it worked for the count Philippe II of Saarbrucken in 1550
Carl Ferdinand Freiherr von Stumm-Halberg (1836-1901), industrial sarrebruckois. The factory which bears its name always exists and remains one of the first employers of the city
max Ophüls (1902-1957), French scenario writer of German origin born in Saarbrucken
Willi Graf (1918-1943), member of the Rose Blanche
Frederic Back (born in 1924), Canadian artist born in Saarbrucken
Oskar Lafontaine (born in 1943), former mayor of Saarbrucken, former minister-president of the Land of the Saar, candidate to the chancellery against Helmut Kohl, former minister for the economy
Tzvi Avni (born in 1927), Israeli type-setter born in Saarbrucken
Patricia Kass (born in 1966), French singer who made her beginnings in Saarbrucken
Nicole Hohloch (born in 1964), German singer born in Saarbrucken, it gains Eurovision in 1982

External bonds

Official site of the city
French Version
Saarbrucken - charming quoted frontier

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Simple: Saarbrucken

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