The Völklinger Hütte World Cultural Heritage Site is the only fully preserved ironworks from the heyday of industrialisation in the world. Close to Saarbrücken, on the banks of the Saar, the Völklinger Hütte World Cultural Heritage Site is situated in one of the most densely forested areas of the Saarland. Together with the industrial monuments of the valley of the river Saar and churches of the city of Völklingen, it forms one of the most closely knit communities of the industrial era in Europe.

Covering an area of more than 600.000 m2, the gigantic foundry is one of UNESCO‘s most unusual World Cultural Heritage Sites, and is a hot tip for anyone seeking the exceptional. Today, the Völklinger Hütte is equal to many other World Cultural Heritage Sites, including the Cheops pyramid in Egypt, the Great Wall of China, the Acropolis in Athen, and Cologne Cathedral. On a tiny space it displays a collection of milestones in high technology starting from the beginning of the 20th century.

It symbolises the New Europe in a way that no other monument does. At peak times, over 17.000 people worked at the Völklinger Hütte every day. Founded in 1873, the pig-iron production in the Völklinger Hütte – formerly the "Röchlingsche Eisen- und Stahlwerke" – was closed in 1986 after having been in operation for over hundred years. In 1994 UNESCO awarded the Völklinger Hütte as the first monument of industrialisation the status of a World Cultural Heritage Site.

The World Cultural Heritage Site Völklinger Hütte – European Centre for Art and Industrial Heritage now enjoys more popularity in visitor terms than any other cultural attraction in the greater SaarLorLux region. A tour of the World Cultural Heritage Site, one of the most exciting places in the world, with more than 6000 meters walkways will generally take between two and three hours.

Unique Exhibitions like “Leonardo da Vinci –MenMachine”“IncaGold”, “Power and Magnificence. The splendour of Europe in the 19th century”, Science Centre Ferrodrom®, the Genius-project “Your brain: think. feel. act” “The Celts Druids. Princes. Warriors” brought over 2,5 million visitors to this amazing place in the past 10 years. The “paradise” is an industry culture garden, a green oasis in the midst of an industrial plant that permits a thrilling and exciting balance, a reconciliation between industry and nature.