The mystery of the 12th century tower

The mystery of the 12th century tower

Standing on the French-German border for over 800 years, the Tour aux Puces has its share of devastation stories. But its origins tell an even older tale: it is a medieval tower that served as the donjon for a castle fort erected in the 11th or 12th century.

The Tour aux Puces, originally known as the Tour de Mirabel or Tour de Meilburg in 1295, is a fortified structure from the 12th century. Its official name, Tour aux Puces, is believed to be a poor translation of 'puits' (well) from the local language. Meilburg is a name that appears particularly in Messin documents. The tower served as the seat of the prevôté from 1292 to mid 16th century. It also houses the Thionville city museum. The Tour aux Puces, the oldest official monument in Thionville, underwent renovation and restoration many times over the centuries, particularly during the German annexation, the 18th century, and after World War II.

A legend says there is a secret room that has never been found. Another legend tells the story of a princess, whose name is unknown, who was supposedly locked in a dungeon and eaten by thousands of fleas. Only her hair and teeth were said to have remained intact and were preserved by the museum.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons

Written by Nicolo Ciampini

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