L’Amour on Tour – forest lakes, herons and a stone arch in the greenery

L'Amour on Tour winds through quiet forest lakes, wet meadows and pine forests – with more nature than expected.

Some trails have a name that sparks curiosity – and then the route actually delivers on what the name promises. The L’Amour on Tour is one of those routes. No great summit, no dramatic panorama, but a sequence of quiet moments that leave their mark: a grey heron standing motionless on the bank. Pine treetops against a blue sky. A stone arch in the middle of the forest, as if someone had forgotten it there.

What to expect on the route

The trail starts in greenery and stays that way. Early on, the forest opens onto a paved path that winds through a cool, shady tunnel of trees – the canopy filters the light, the roadside grass glows deep green. Those who set off early have a good chance of catching mist over the water.

One of the first stops worth making: a quiet wetland where mallards sit on moss-covered branches and are reflected in a carpet of duckweed. Nothing spectacular, but exactly the kind of moment you actually go hiking for. A few metres further, a grey heron lurks on the bank – patient, motionless, completely unfazed by the hiker. No need to bother getting the binoculars out.

Highlight: stone arch, lake view and a poem

In the middle of a forest section it appears: a historic stone arch gate made of natural stone, moss-covered, slightly crooked, perfect for a backlit photo. I stood briefly in the centre underneath it and just looked into the forest – one of those places where you spontaneously stop in your tracks.

Shortly after: the information board about the Hasseler Kuckucksgeiss near St. Ingbert. A humorous poem about a local legend – worth reading, even if you initially wonder why it’s here of all places. It somehow fits the overall mood of the tour: never too serious, always with a wink.

You reach the lake at roughly the halfway point. The water mirrors clouds and willows, a weeping willow droops into the frame – almost too picturesque for an ordinary Tuesday morning. Anyone with a tripod can get beautiful long exposures here under an overcast sky. Carrion crows sit on acacia branches, watching everything, undisturbed by it all.

Refreshments: Restaurant Halbinsel in Blieskastel

Right on the water sits the Restaurant Halbinsel in Blieskastel (Gut Junkerwald 2, 66440 Blieskastel) – with a beer garden and lake view. Ideal for a break at the midpoint of the tour. The sign on the path is bilingual in German and Arabic, which is surprising at first, but somehow fits the open character of this route. The location is great.

Practical information

• Starting point: The exact location is not stored – best to download the Komoot route in advance and use it offline.
• Best time: Early summer (from around June) – the greenery is lush, the wetlands still active, and the morning light on the lakes is unbeatable.
• Getting there / Parking: Since no fixed starting point is known, use Komoot navigation. In the Saarland there are usually small car parks at forest edges or on the outskirts of villages.
• Equipment: Sturdy footwear for any wet patches, binoculars for herons and crows, a tripod if you want to photograph water.
• Refreshments: Restaurant Halbinsel in Blieskastel – beer garden with lake view, easily reached at the halfway point.
• Note: The planned start date of June 2026 is a good fit – not April, as the paths may still be wet.

Conclusion

The L’Amour on Tour is not a trail for people who collect elevation metres. It is for everyone who wants to walk slowly, observe a heron, pause beneath a stone arch and say at the end of the day: that was good. The atmosphere is calm, the greenery intense, and the moments come on their own – you just have to not miss them.