The municipality lies in the Vulkaneifel, a part of the Eifel known for its volcanic history, geographical and geological features, and even ongoing activity today, including gases that sometimes well up from the earth.

During drainage works in 1991 north-northwest of Saxler, a Roman settlement was unearthed, as were many potsherds from the 2nd to 4th century.

In 1286, Saxler had its first documentary mention when Johann von Daun was enfeoffed by the Archbishopric of Cologne with Castle Sachsler along with its fishponds and its mill.

[1] The German blazon reads: In blauem Schild ein schrägrechter silberner Balken, belegt mit einer roten, langstieligen Schaufel; oben begleitet von einem silbernen Mühlrad, unten von einem silbernen schrägrechts nach unten gewendeten Fisch.

The two charges each side of the bend sinister (that is, diagonal stripe running crosswise to the usual direction for this ordinary) refer to the mill and the fishponds with which Johann von Daun was enfeoffed in the village's first documentary mention.