Thionville Belfry

This is not just any old 4th century belfry – it served as a prison for the bourgeoisie during the French Revolution.

Today, Thionville might seem like a sleepy little city straddling the Moselle, but its central location has thrust it into countless conflicts throughout the centuries. There’s a reason why ancient walls and ruins surround its perimeter. Not that they worked, but still.

After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, Thionville became part of the Holy Roman Empire. After the Thirty Years’ War, it was annexed by France. After the Franco-Prussian War, it became part of the German Empire. After WWI, Thionville was returned to France. Except for a small blip in the 1940’s called German occupation, Thionville has remained firmly French.

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