The ‘Edible City’ where every street is a feast

In the picturesque Baroque town of Blieskastel, nestled in Germany’s Saarland region near the French border, our walk-through cobbled streets became a journey of discovery - where fragrant herbs, colourful flowers and edible plants revealed nature’s hidden flavours.
The summer sun was unforgiving, the stones beneath our feet radiated heat, and the climb through winding paths was beginning to test our endurance. Yet every few steps brought a new surprise - a fragrant herb, a colourful flower, or a plant with a story waiting to be uncovered.
This was not an ordinary city walk. It was an exploration of Germany’s ‘Edible City’ concept, where public spaces are transformed into living gardens filled with plants that visitors can touch, smell and, in many cases, taste.

As we walked through the charming streets of Blieskastel, flower boxes, raised beds and small gardens revealed an unexpected menu created by nature. Basil, thyme, rosemary, lemon balm, chives, strawberries, salads and colourful edible flowers grew along pedestrian paths, inviting residents and visitors to reconnect with the food around them.
Leading our walk was Christian Engel, a nature and landscape guide, photographer and sustainability advocate from Saarland. Carrying detailed notes and plant information, Christian turned every corner of Blieskastel into a botanical classroom.
With the help of the Flora Incognita app, which uses artificial intelligence to identify plants through a smartphone, Christian encouraged visitors to become more curious about the natural world around them.

The walk became a sensory discovery of flavours, textures and forgotten plant knowledge. We tasted fragrant herbs from raised beds, examined flowers closely and learned about plants that have been part of traditional diets for generations.
Among the plants we encountered were Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower), admired for its vibrant blooms and importance to pollinators; wild garlic (Bärlauch), one of Germany’s best-known wild herbs used in pesto, soups and spreads; along with dandelion, daisy, plantain and nettle, whose young leaves are traditionally used in cooked dishes.
Christian also offered an important reminder about responsible harvesting.

“Plants growing beside roads and kerbs should generally not be collected for eating, as they may be affected by vehicle emissions, pesticides or animal activity,” he said. “Foraging is safer in clean meadows, forests and areas where local guidance is available.”
For Christian, Blieskastel’s edible city concept is not simply about growing food.
“It is about the common good, neighbourhood connections and creating educational opportunities for schools and citizens’ initiatives,” he said. “It helps beautify the city, improve food awareness, conserve resources and strengthen regional cycles.”
The experience was also appreciated by GNTB representatives Maja Lunic and Gabor Kohler accompanying the group. Maja said the highlight for her was the simple pleasure of harvesting fresh herbs directly from the street planters.

“Picking fragrant fresh herbs from around the world straight from the raised planters lining the streets was a wonderful experience,” she said. “It perfectly captures the spirit of this unique place in the heart of Saarland.”
Beyond edible plants, Christian introduced us to the importance of pollinators through the town’s butterfly garden. Bees, butterflies and other insects play a vital role in maintaining biodiversity and supporting food production.
He also spoke about the rare Marsh Fritillary butterfly, which still survives in parts of the Bliesgau landscape. The species, uncommon in many parts of Germany, finds suitable conditions in the region’s traditional meadows. The butterfly garden in the Biosphere Citizen Garden is scheduled to be officially inaugurated on September 15.

Our walk continued for more than an hour, taking us beyond the historic streets to gravel paths, green slopes and a small vineyard near the monastery. By then, the heat had intensified, and the climb had left us tired, but the experience of touching, smelling and tasting nature along the way made the effort worthwhile.
The carefully maintained gardens reflected a simple idea - that cities can become greener, healthier and more connected when people are encouraged to interact with nature.
By afternoon, our journey ended at the Bliesgau Ölmühle, where local producers Jörg Hector and Patric Bies have been creating rare, flavourful edible oils since 2007.

The mill is renowned for producing premium cold-pressed edible oils, including the region's signature camelina oil alongside flaxseed and walnut oils. Made without additives, the oils preserve their natural flavour and nutritional value while showcasing the rich agricultural heritage of the Bliesgau Unesco Biosphere Reserve.
Here, a city walk is more than sightseeing. It is a quiet reminder that some of nature’s greatest treasures are not found far away, but right beside the paths we walk every day.
Pictures by Christian Engel