Forbach / Saint-Avold: tourism, education and companies
TERRITORY OF FORBACH / SAINT-AVOLD
An area with rich industrial and cultural heritage, on the border with Saarland and Rhineland-Palatinate. While traces of its mining past can be seen to this day, Forbach/Saint-Avold also has plenty of surprises in store for visitors, thanks to its Medieval ruins and charming villages. It is also a site of memorial tourism.
In figures*:
- Area: 1,122 km2, or 18% of the total area of Moselle
- Population: 225,223 inhabitants, or 21% of the total population of Moselle
- Population density: 200,7 inhabitants/km2
- 12,161 companies operating
- 62,246 jobs
*Source: Insee, Observatoire Territorial de la Moselle
Forbach / St-Avold : How to get there?
- Main road networks: A4 motorway (Freyming-Merlebach - 50km from Metz and 120km from Strasbourg) / A320 connecting Freyming-Merlebach and Saarbrucken
- Rail connections: TGV Station in Forbach, on the Paris – Saarbrucken – Frankfurt line / regional express connections to Metz and Nancy
- Air connections: Forbach is 50km from Lorraine Airport and 23km from Saarbrucken-Ensheim Airport
FORBACH
Forbach is a border town rich in culture, with plenty of space for nature.
At the heart of the Lorraine coal basin, the 4th largest settlement in the Moselle department preserves traces of its long history of mines and the men who worked in them, the famous Gueules Noires (black faces). The town is dominated by the magnificent Schlossberg Castle, an iconic heritage building.
Saint-Avold
It is a town with history around every corner.
Among Saint-Avold’s main attractions is the unmissable Saint-Nabor Abbey. It is also a place of memory, home to the largest American World War Two cemetery in Europe.
Other major towns: Faulquemont, Creutzwald, Hombourg-Haut, Freyming-Merlebach, Behren-lès-Forbach, Stiring-Wendel, Boulay-Moselle ...
A gateway to Germany :
- The area is part of the Eurodistrict SaarMoselle cross-border region, facilitating cooperation in terms of bilingualism, transport and access to healthcare.
SaarMoselle - For cross-border workers, there is also the MOSA (Maison ouverte des services pour l’Allemagne / German Services Open House), which has branches in several towns and cities in the area.
MOSA
Saint-Avold
Arkema: Specialises in coating solutions. It is the chemical group’s largest European manufacturing plant, specialising in acrylic monomers and superabsorbent polymers
Saint-Avold
Total Énergies - Plateforme Chemesis de Carling: Is a company specialising in the production and wholesale of chemicals. It is the leading European site for the hydrocarbon and polymer industry
Saint-Avold
Dodo: Leading European producer of duvets and pillows
Faulquemont
Viessmann Climate Solution: Supplier of heating solutions (condensing boilers, solar panels, etc.)
Folkling
Elysée Cosmétiques: European leader in cosmetic aerosols
Creutzwald
Daimay: Manufacturer of sun protection systems for cars
Boulay-Moselle
Alsapan: Manufacturer of flat pack furniture panels
Farébersviller
And also: The B’Est retail park in Farébersviller is home to 100 shops and restaurants, including a hypermarket. It also offers a host of leisure activities for all the family (B’fun Park). B’Est currently employs 700 people.
Studying in Forbach-Saint-Avold: higher education and Universities
- IFSI in Forbach
ifsi-forbach.fr - IUT Moselle-Est offers 4 BUT (Bachelor of Technology) courses, two of which are based in Saint-Avold and Forbach: The BUT in Chemistry and the BUT in Material Sciences and Engineering. The IUT, which also has a site in Sarreguemines, welcomes almost 500 students every year.
iut-moselle-est.univ-lorraine.fr - Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers in Forbach
cnam-grandest.fr - LUIMM Lorraine Training Centre in Henriville offers an array of courses in the manufacturing sector: boiler making, maintenance, machining and tooling, etc.
formation-industries-lorraine.com - Lycée Régional Jean Moulin in Forbach
cite-moulin-forbach.monbureaunumerique.fr - Lycée Charles Jully in Saint-Avold offers 5 BTS (advanced technical diploma) courses (Electrical engineering, Industrial product design, Design and production of automated systems, Manufacturing process design and EuroPlastic and composites)
lycee-charles-jully.fr - Lycée Blaise Pascal in Forbach offers 5 BTS (advanced technical diploma) courses (SME management, Accountancy and management, Retail operations management, Home and social economics and Health and social care)
blaise-pascal-forbach.com
Tourism in Forbach / Saint-Avold
A land of industrial and cultural heritage, Forbach-Saint-Avold has plenty of surprises in store for tourists.
Petite-Roselle
Explor Wendel Park
At Explor Webdek Park in Petite-Rosselle, visitors can immerse themselves in the daily lives of coal miners. On the agenda: a tour of Wendel Mine and the Wendel Miners Museum. An unforgettable historical experience.
Hombourg-Haut
Vieux Hombourg
Vieux Hombourg is the perfect place to experience life in the Middle Ages. It is filled with gems: the Vieille Porte (Old Gate), Saint Étienne collegiate church and the Chapel of Saint Catherine. Hombourg-Haut is undoubtedly among the most attractive villages in Moselle and has been awarded the “Petites Cités de Caractère” (Small Towns of Character) label.
And also:
The Diebling pond
A Cultural Territory: The Franco-German Perspectives Festival
The Franco-German Perspectives performing arts festival (theatre, circus, music, dance, film etc.) has become an unmissable live event for people on both sides of the border. It is held at Le Carreau theatre, the “national stage” venue for Forbach and East Moselle.
The Local Specialty: Boulay macarons
The recipe for these famous macarons (Qualité MOSL) was perfected in the 19th century. They are one of the region’s most popular delicacies. The secret? Fresh almonds, sugar and egg whites, traditionally hand shaped using a spoon. They are exported worldwide.
Not to forget: The famous cheesecake (Tarte au fromage) from Thierry Hommel, a patissier-chocolatier based in Saint-Avold. Among the best in the world!
