Setting up in Germany for a French company? Many decision-makers would immediately think of Berlin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich or Stuttgart. And yet, far from the prestige of setting up in one of these major German metropolises, there is one city that particularly attracts the French: Saarbrücken. With a population of 185,000, the city has nowhere near the demographic potential of Frankfurt or Stuttgart. But it does offer some very attractive conditions for French companies.
The figures speak for themselves. The SaarlandIt is one of the smallest in the Federal Republic, with just under a million inhabitants, now attracts 17% from all French subsidiaries in Germany. This puts the Land in third place in Germany, behind the 21% market share of the powerful Land of Baden-Württemberg. Or the 18% of Germany's other economic heavyweight, the Land of North Rhine-Westphalia.
Saarland: the third most popular destination in Germany for French companies
" Nearly 200 of the 2,700 companies with 100 % French capital in Germany are based in Saarland.. This result is all the more remarkable given that the Land accounts for only 1.1% of Germany's total GDP." explains Régis Wallet, Business Advisory and Support, CCI France Allemagne (CCFA e.V.).
In fact, it is both its history and its geographical proximity that have promoted the Saar and Saarbrücken as a bridgehead for the French in the Federal Republic. The southern suburbs of Saarbrücken are thus located in France - the city's central cemetery, for example, has a gate leading directly to the Brème d'Or district in Stiring-Wendel. A tramway also links the town of Sarreguemines in Moselle to the centre of Saarbrücken every 30 minutes.
Over the course of its history, the town has been tossed back and forth between Germany and France. The most recent chapter was the Saarland under French occupation after the Second World War. An economic, customs and monetary union was then created between France and Saarland. Including with creation of a Saar franc ! This union came to an end following a referendum on attachment to the Federal Republic of Germany in 1957 - eight years after the creation of the new German state.
This shared past between France and Germany can be seen in the streets of Saarbrücken, where there is a very French 'je-ne-sais-quoi'. You can see it in the architecture of the city, where French classicism has left its mark on the churches and especially on Ludwigsplatz. But you can also hear a lot of French spoken in Saarbrücken's hypercentre. According to the CCFA, nearly 17,000 cross-border commuters work in Saarland - more than 6,000 of them in Saarbrücken alone. This is a significant figure, even if it has been falling since the Covid pandemic.
Every Saturday, Saarbrücken becomes even more Francophile. A large part of the Moselle department comes to shop in the Saarland capital, where prices are often lower than in neighbouring France.
" This creates a favourable environment for the French. The political will of the Saarland government to become a bilingual region is already there.. French is learnt at school, and bilingual experts, consultants and lawyers are easy to find. There is also a real a strategy to promote the entire region in partnership with the Moselle département and Luxembourg. All these factors are in Saarbrücken's and the Saarland's favour." says Régis Wallet.
The city's proximity to Paris (only 1 hour 50 minutes by TGV from Saarbrücken) and Metz (45 minutes away by car and train) also make it an attractive location for a business in Germany. Michelin, Villeroy & Boch and other automotive suppliers are all based in Saarland.
Saarbrücken, cosmopolitan and forward-looking
Unlike in neighbouring Lorraine, the steel industry also remains a sector for the future. It still employs 12,000 people. Worth a total of €3.5 billion, Saarland's steel industry aims to become Europe's leading producer of green steel with low CO2 emissions. From 2027, Saarland is expected to produce up to 3.5 million tonnes of low-CO2 steel a year, saving 4.9 million tonnes of CO2. However, the investment is dependent on public subsidies from the Federal State, the Land and the EU.
The French language is not our only asset. Saarbrücken offers an excellent economic mix. As the capital of the Saarland, the city has a well-developed service sector, with all the Land authorities, financial and economic institutions located here. Over the past thirty years, it has also become a major centre for research and education.
" Research is working hard on new technologies. Saarbrücken specialises in Artificial Intelligence.. These include prestigious institutions such as the Frauenhofer Institut and the Helmholz Institut, which specialises in cyber security" adds the CCI advisor. Not to mention Franco-German institutions such as the Franco-German University, the Franco-German Legal Centre and the Franco-German Higher Institute for Technology, Economics and Science (DFHI/ISFATES).
" Saarbrücken is actually quite an ideal choice for the French business community in Germany. Its highly European, multinational character and its proximity to the continent's major business centres make it an ideal location, its very Francophile spirit and also a very reasonable cost of living compared with some very large metropolises are a strong argument in its favour" says Régis Wallet. Is Saarbrücken the best place for the French to learn about German business? An experience worth trying...
SARREBRUCK GUIDE
- How to get there From France, Saarbrücken is easily accessible by road or rail. SNCF TGV or Deutsche Bahn ICE trains link Paris to Saarbrücken up to four times a day in a maximum of 1 hour 50 minutes. TER trains also link Metz and Strasbourg directly to the Saarland capital. For passengers who prefer to fly, the nearest international airport is Luxembourg (95 km). Saarbrücken has its own airport, but with a limited number of routes, more geared towards leisure destinations.
- Stay : The hotels in Saarbrücken are mainly modern or contemporary establishments, with many four-star hotels located between the central station, the congress centre and the town hall. IntercityHotel Saarbrücken offers a very contemporary design. 170 beds, bar, restaurant and meeting rooms (https://hrewards.com/de/intercityhotel-saarbruecken). Opposite the congress centre on the banks of the Sarre, the Mercure Saarbrücken City has 215 beds. In summer, there is a restaurant with a terrace (https://all.accor.com/hotel/1307/index.de.shtml). Asian design for the boutique hotel's rooms Leidinger Estate in Saarbrücken's bohemian district, the Nauwieser Viertel (https://www.leidinger-saarbruecken.de). The two-star B&B Hotel Saarbrücken Hbf is located next to the main railway station. 185 beds and a restaurant area (https://www.hotel-bb.com/de/hotel/saarbruecken-hbf)
- Eat Saarbrücken: With its French influence, Saarbrücken has a reputation in Germany as a city of gastronomy. The city boasts two Michelin-starred restaurants, a rare feat for such a small town (GästeHaus Klaus Erfort and Esplanade). Many traditional German restaurants can be found around the Sankt Johann Market in the historic city. For a quick lunch, the very popular Kalinski has the reputation of having the best sausages in Saarbrücken. People come from far and wide to try them!
Three must-sees in Saarbrücken :
- Baroque/rococo inspired by French architecture: Ludwigplatz with the Ludwigkirche, the Baroque fountain and the Basilica of St John of the Cross. St Johann market with its historic houses and the Place du Château and its gardens.
- La Galerie Moderne de SarreThe museum, which was extended in 2017, offers an excellent overview of German Expressionist painting, as well as a fine collection of modern French works, particularly Impressionist. Visit Saarland Historical Museum (Historisches Museum Saarland) near the château tells the story of the French presence, particularly in post-war Saarland.
- Le Nauwiesener Viertel. This district, the heart of Saarbrücken's bobo and artistic scene around Mainzer Strasse, still boasts some fine 1900s architecture, with numerous cafés, restaurants and independent boutiques.
Find out more
Visit Saarbrücken has a very comprehensive website, which can also be used to book hotels. The office has an information centre in the town hall in the St Johann district.
Consulate General of France Am Ludwigsplatz 10, 66117 Saarbrücken- Tel: +49 (0) 681 - 927 99 86 -0 -E-mail: info@consulfrance-sarrebruck.org.
Franco-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry Lebacher Straße 4
66113 Saarbrücken, Tel: +49 (0) 681 99 63 132-
