Located 7 km west of Metz, the archeological site of the village of Châtel-Saint-Germain, a 313-meter promontory, dominates the Montvaux valley. Hissé on a limestone spur, it alone brings together a wide variety of vestiges of many different eras.
The site consists of three parts. The first part houses the remnants of an area of Gaul from 2nd century.
The Merovingian necropolis is the second wave of occupation. The originality of this incredible cemetery of nearly 374 graves is its very unusual location, juched 300 meters high! The various search campaigns attest to the richness of funeral furniture (sarcophagi, stone coffers).
In the twelfth century, the Benedictine of the Abbey Saint Vincent of Metz. The monastic life of the monastic life is reflected in the annex buildings (artisanal facilities, bread oven). Only the tower tower of the Priory Church (with its only window) still exists today. From the top of its 9 m, its Romanesque style gives the place a great medieval charm.
While the historic attraction of the site is undeniable, the beauty of its natural surroundings (between slopes, wood and clearing) also contributes to its tourist success.
Access: parking (first to left after the village church), start of the trail on the right on the route 30 m higher. Take 25 min of climb enough! Think of having good hiking
References:The stone church of Gamla Uppsala, built over the pagan temple, dates from the early 12th century. Due to fire and renovations, the present church is only a remnant of the original cathedral.
Before the arrival of Christianity in Sweden, Gamla Uppsala was the seat of Swedish kings and a ceremonial site known all over northern Europe. The settlement was home to royal palaces, a royal burial ground, and a great pagan temple. The Uppsala temple, which was described in detail by Adam of Bremen in the 1070s, housed wooden statues of the Norse gods Odin, Thor and Freyr. A golden chain hung across its gables and the inside was richly decorated with gold. The temple had priests, who sacrificed to the gods according to the needs of the people.
The first Christian cathedral was probably built in the 11th century, but finished in the 12th century. The stone building may have been preceded by a wooden church and probably by the large pagan temple.