The European Archaeological Park of Bliesbruck-Reinheim , territory of the Celtic and Gallo-Roman civilization, is located on the Franco-German border, in Moselle. Indeed, in antiquity, the Roman Empire extended, at its peak, over a large part of Europe, including present-day East Germany. Today, the Park is made up of the remains of a Celtic tomb, a small town and a Gallo-Roman villa.
History of the park
The first excavations were made in 1906, on the German side, in Reinheim, where the Gallo-Roman villa was partially discovered, then reburied. But the great discoveries of the precious objects of the Celtic tomb in 1954, then of the Gallo-Roman village in 1971, were made by chance, by the exploitation of the earth in sand pit in the valley of Blies. Urgent rescue excavations are made, and a whole craft district is discovered, then thermal baths, as well as a rich tomb of a Celtic princess, while the excavations of the villa resume in Germany.
Today the Archaeological Park is managed by both the Saarland for the Celtic tomb and the villa, and by the General Council of Moselle for the village and the thermal baths. The two managers have created a museum space on each side of the border to explain the Franco-German site to visitors.
The European Archaeological Park of Bliesbruck-Reinheim
On the German side, the oldest known trace of occupation in the area dates back to the 4th century BC, with the presence of a tomb of a woman Celtic belonging to the high society of the time. Today you can see a reconstructed necropolis made up of 3 tumuli, and visit one of them, where the funerary chamber has been reconstructed, with a copy of all the jewels found as well as the objects necessary for life in the water beyond (dishes , drinking horn, jug). All these richly worked and decorated objects show the work of Celtic craftsmen and the advanced knowledge of this civilization often considered as barbaric.
The excavations also revealed a 3rd century villa, probably belonging to a wealthy patrician, in view of the 52 rooms of the house (on the ground, you have to imagine a floor above ), private baths, an ornamental pool, rooms heated by hypocaust, murals and the vast enclosed grounds, the entire residence spanning 5 Ha. The courtyard, delimited by a surrounding wall, is punctuated by 12 buildings attached to the surrounding wall on each side, probably buildings used for the management of the agricultural domain (barn, cowshed...). An attested Roman road bypasses this building and allows you to meet some reconstituted Celtic houses, in wood and cob, where certain events take place during the year.
A German-only museum space has also been built to explain the history of these discoveries to visitors.
On the French side, part of a vicus, a Gallo-Roman village from the 2nd century to the 3rd century was found, with the remains of the baths put in value by a scenography respectful of the different spaces, the forum, and the dwellings.
These dwellings, partly excavated on either side of a Roman road that passed under the current departmental road, are relatively small, but probably consist of one floor. They each have a garden at the back, with latrines (pits that serve as both dumping grounds and toilets). On the west side of the road, excavations have revealed the artisanal and commercial nature of the vicus (as evidenced by the numerous ovens found in certain dwellings), with houses bordered by a portico which allowed them to have a storefront.
Some buildings also have a cellar, with cellar windows and niches, which allowed the inhabitants to worship Roman deities. On the east side, dwellings that probably served as inns have recently been revealed.
A space with a pottery workshop and two potters' ovens, as well as a bakery have been reconstructed and allow the activities of the Gallo-Romans to be put into practice. A museum space has also been built and each year hosts a temporary exhibition on the Roman roads, the gods or even the history of the excavations. Each year, historical reconstruction events take place with the aim of highlighting the remains, but also of experimenting with craft practices.
European Park Management
This Franco-German position of the remains that once formed part of a single empire leads to complicated management. Even if each entity manages its part, employs its guides, and organizes events, the overall management is jointly carried out. This management is particularly interesting for the treatment that is made of the remains. Indeed, in France, the remains found are restored and protected by an overlay of construction, to protect what is original, with a visible demarcation to identify the ancient part.
In Germany, on the other hand, the buildings are rebuilt on the old ones, with the same materials and respecting the size buildings, in order to better understand what a Gallo-Roman villa was like as a whole.
Access to the European Archaeological Park of Bliesbruck-Reinheim
French side:
1 rue Robert Schuman
57,200 Bliesbruck
Telephone:03 87 35 02 20
Open from March 15 to October 31 - daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Find out more:
www.archeo57.com