Saarlouis is a small city in Saarland, southwestern Germany, with around 37,600 people. It was founded in 1680 by King Louis XIV of France as a fortified border town and was named after him, originally as Sarre-Louis. The famous military engineer Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban designed the fortress system, and parts of the old defences, casemates and Vauban Island still survive around the centre. After the Napoleonic Wars, Saarlouis became part of Prussia in 1815, leaving the city with a mixture of French and German historical influences that remain visible in its architecture and street plan. The Große Markt, originally the fortress parade ground, forms the heart of the compact centre, surrounded by shops, cafés and restaurants, while the preserved fortifications and riverside paths provide easy walking around the old town. Saarlouis lies close to both the French and Luxembourg borders and developed into an important industrial centre during the 20th century, particularly after the opening of the Ford plant in 1968.

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