The town of Dillingen stands in the westerly German district of Saarland, just two miles from the border with France. The city of Saarbrücken is just 15 miles southeast, with its historic centre, bridge and castle. The 17th-century Vauban fortress at Saarlouis is three miles south. If you hire a car in Dillingen you can even reach further afield. Cities like Metz in France and Luxembourg City are easily accessible for a day trip. Closer by, Mettlach offers a collection of outlet shops and the picturesque loop in the Saar river, while the huge Völklingen ironworks is now a visitor-friendly World Heritage Site.
The River Saar, a major tributary of the Moselle, flows through the town and it's an important communications hub too. The A8 and E29 motorways meet at Dillingen and it is on the rail network between Saarbrücken and Trier. The town is known for its long-standing landmark steelworks, the Dillinger Hütte factory complex, which was founded more than 300 years ago and is still one of the world's top steel plants. Part of the World War Two German underground defensive fortifications, known as The Westwall or Siegfried Line, has been opened as a museum called Bunker 20. If you hire a car in Dillingen you can easily tour the town and its attractions. Other highlights include the Stadtpark gardens, the pedestrianised town centre, and grand town hall.