In Perfect Harmony: Tradition and Modernity
 You will find the past thriving wherever you go in Saarlouis. In addition to the Bourbon lilies on the municipal coat-of-arms, many a memorial in stone stands silent witness to the founder of the city, Louis XIV, and to his famous architect, Sébastien Vauban. The fortress ramparts in the idyllic Saaraltarm recreation area and the lovingly restored historical Kasematten - not to mention many other wonderful buildings that date from former French and Prussian times – are typical of the great care with which the City of Saarlouis has preserved (and intends to preserve) its heritage. Modern architecture blends seamlessly with the traditional townscape, a highly successful synthesis of the “old” and of the “new” which will remain inimitable in the future, too.
The picture: The juxtaposition of historical and contemporary style elements lends the Postgässchen („Little Postlane“) a very special character.
The Shopping Paradise Par excellence!
 The Saarlouis citizens value all things that brighten up everyday life. Good food, smart clothes and conviviality are as much part of their visitors that the journeys in Saarlouis are short and that, no matter how busy, the centre of town is easy to get around in. The Saarlouis traders, by the way, provide a service that really does deserve the description of “customer friendly”. The chic boutiques, elegant department stores and well assorted specialist shops in Saarlouis Shopping Centre attract people from far beyond the borders of the region. Shopping in the City of the Sun King – “indeed a right royal pleasure”.
The picture: The statue of Marshal Ney on Vauban Island: a memorial to the City of Saarlouis’s most famous son, whom Napoleon once called “le brave des braves” (“the bravest of the brave”).
Charming and hospitable
 Despite the fluctuating history of the city, the inhabitants of Saarlouis have always kept their sense of identity. Not only do they receive their visitors from far and wide with cosmopolitan flair and infectious cordiality ; they also ensure that their guests take part in all the pleasure that Saarlouis has to offer. Friendships are carefully cultivated and extended, an attribute that never fails to impress visitors (and not just those from the twinned towns). The result: anyone who’s ever been to Saarlouis is sure to come back. Added to which, the citizens are open to new contacts as well. Saarlouis: a synonym for hospitality. Because the inhabitants of Saarlouis are only ever satisfied when their guests feel at home.
The picture: Once a military parade ground, the Large Market Square (der Große Markt) has been the centre of attraction ever since the city was founded. The perfect place for festivities, the Saarlouis citizens and their friends and acquaintances need little excuse to gather there.
Culture with Tradition
 Whether your taste lies in opera, jazz, drama or concert music, Saarlouis puts on a sophisticated and multifaceted programme the whole year round. Or let the city museums, galleries and library take you on an excursion into the history of the region, round an exhibition of modern art or on a brief tour through world literature. Not forgetting the independent kids’ theatre with fairy tales and magicians either. Indeed, the harmony between the generations in Saarlouis is a kind of trademark for a town open to culture in every respect. No wonder Saarlouis is ideally equipped to face the challenges of the years to come.
The picture: Louis XIV, the sun king, gave his name to the city and its coat-of-arms. He also donated the tapestries and the baroque chairs in the Gobelinsaal at the City Hall.
Location Advantage – Saarlouis
 Saarlouis is of central significance as a business location, too. Cars from the Ford Automobile Plant, chocolates from the local branch of Ludwig Schokolade Aachen and products from the Saarlouis based Steel Company DSD go out from Saarlouis to the rest of the world. That the Swedish furniture store IKEA and the new Ford Industry Park have recently set up business here in Saarlouis is sure proof of the location’s attractiveness: it also signalises the great readiness on the part of local trade an industry to innovate. Further location advantages include the healthy mix of trade, craft, industry and service companies, the excellent infrastructure and the high quality of the work. Ford Saarlouis, for example, is one of the most efficient Ford plants anywhere in the world.
The picture: Ship´s propeller blades at the intersection of Saint-Nazaireer and Eisenhüttenstädter Allee: They symbolize the friendly attachment of the city of Saarlouis to its twin towns.
The joys of living and savoir-vivre
 You can experience the legendary Saarlouis savoir-vivre at the many famous festivals held here and in the many top-class restaurants, bars and bistros. Just sit outside one of the countless pubs or street cafés in the historical Kasematten and Old Town – a rendezvous for the whole region – and enjoy the warm seasons of the year. A speciality of the Saar region or authentic French cuisine? Well, in hardly any other town of comparable size does the gourmet have a more impressive choice of award-winning restaurants. For all residents of Saarlouis, food and drink is the perfect way to combine tradition with living hospitality. Which is why, even today, you will hear people saying as they did around the time of Saarlouis’s foundation: “One of the loveliest places in the kingdom”.
The picture: From a leisure point of view, there’s something for everybody in Saarlouis. Though there are more than forty different kinds of activities, sport is clearly first and foremost.
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