Discover Rodemack through its history of fortifications: about 700 metres of the town walls remain and are visible, as do six flanking towers of the fortifications. The citadel, Église Saint-Nicolas and the Jean-Marie-Pelt Loop offer different points of interest. You can therefore consider architectural history, sacred art and the landscape as distinct highlights for your stay.
Fortifications and local history
The fortified Porte de Sierck was built by the villagers in the 14th century. The citadel was built on the foundations of a medieval castle founded by the lords of Rodemack in the 12th century. The gate and the castle’s founding thus mark different points in time. The medieval village of Rodemack is listed in France’s register of historic monuments.
The surviving town walls are 6 to 9 metres high. A covered way, which runs along parts of the walls, offers visitors views of the garden and the village. Some sections may be subject to maintenance work; check the current situation before your visit. Access to the terrace of the citadel’s officers’ pavilion may also vary seasonally. From there, the view stretches far across the village and the Pays des Trois Frontières.
Church and chapel
Église Saint-Nicolas contains the mausoleum of Hermann Fortuné and his wife, Marie-Sidonie de Daun, as well as sculptures and woodwork from the Greff workshop. A statue on the theme of “The Education of the Virgin” is currently on view in Chapelle Notre-Dame. Outside the chapel is a Calvary cross dating to the 18th century, depicting Saint Roch and Saint Sebastian. The two sites offer different points of interest if you are interested in funerary art, sculpture or religious imagery.
Jean-Marie-Pelt Loop and garden
The Jean-Marie-Pelt Loop leads from the medieval town of Rodemack through the Moselle countryside and across the sandy grasslands of Grund. Along the route, information panels and observation games provide information about trees, nettles and living hedgerows. The content of these activities may be updated. The loop thus links a route from the medieval town into the countryside with specific nature topics.
The Jardin médiéval lies along the town walls and is freely accessible year-round; temporary closures are possible. The covered way and the garden offer different views of the town: from the covered way, visitors can see the garden and the village, while the garden itself is a destination in its own right.
Guided tour, festival and landscape park
A combined guided tour of the citadel and the village lasts 1 hour and 30 minutes, is available year-round by request and starts in front of the Office de Tourisme de Cattenom et Environs. Confirm the duration and meeting point again when making your request. The medieval festival takes place annually over a weekend in June, when a medieval market fills all the village’s streets. The format may change from one edition to another. So check the dates for the relevant edition if you are planning your stay around it.
The landscape park in Rodemack offers a different perspective. Jeanne de Gargan laid it out in 1920 with plants she had brought back from her travels. The park has 41 tree species, including a notable catalpa; a third of the tree species are conifers. The plant collections may change. Together with the loop, the park offers another connection with nature, distinct from the history of the fortifications.
Discover more destinations: Château-Salins, Rombas, Hombourg-Haut, Bitche, Montigny-Lès-Metz, Bérig-Vintrange, Schwerdorff, Epping.
Return to the main travel overview: Moselle.
