Rodemack – A Beautiful Village in France

Rodemack is a small medieval village situated on the French North-Eastern border with Germany and Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. The area is called the “Land of the Three Frontiers” and is located in the Lorraine region. In the past Rodemack has been occupied, fought over and exchanged by these three countries various times but in 1769 it officially became French. Throughout its history, the village has also been destroyed and rebuilt many times and this is the reason why most of the buildings in Rodemack date from the 14th to the 19th century.

This charming village is classified as one of the most beautiful villages in France and is a great place to spend an afternoon, if you are in the region already. The closest big French city is Thionville (about 16 km), the German border is about 20 km away and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is only 6 km away. The place is very small, so you won’t need more than couple of hours to see everything that it has to offer.

Things to see in Rodemack

You enter Rodemack via the 14th-century fortified gate of Sierck. The gate was reconstructed in 1989 because the original one was torn down by the American troops when they liberated the village in November 1944 (They had to destroy it in order to allow the tanks to pass through). The village is surrounded by a 700 m long wall, also dating from the 14^th century that was build by its inhabitants to protect themselves. Because it is build like a fortress, Rodemack is often called "Carcasonne of the North", referring to the big fortified city of Carcassonne. You can walk inside the village walls for free (no admission fees required) and there are also free parking lots (hooray!) near the Gate of Sierck.

You can spend maybe an hour (maximum) wandering up and down the charming narrow streets that thread their way through ancient houses. The streets are a good spot for photographers looking for picturesque buildings with pastel-colored window shutters and flowers on their window sills. It is also a nice place to visit if you like architecture, history and "hidden gems" or "off the beaten track" places. When you wander through the quite streets you will discover monuments such as the Neo-Baroque church of St. Nicolas, the House of Baillis, the old public laundry (which was in service until 1960) and the old post office. You will also have the impression that time is standing still.

Just outside the fortification wall, there is a small and quite medieval garden. It is enclosed between the wall and a stream that runs past it. The garden is divided in four parts: One part contains medicinal plants such as thyme (used against cough and respiratory diseases) and vervain (among the most important remedies for wounds). Another part grows herbs for cooking, such as parsley, sage, dill etc. A third part of the garden is dedicated to vegetables and the last one is planted with flowers. The admission to the garden is also free.

The House of Baillis, also called the "Small Château", was built in 1560 and it was used as a residence by the representatives of Lords called Baillis. Today the “small castle” is transformed into a 16^th-century-decorated restaurant that is serving traditional dishes. This is also one of the three restaurants in the village. It is opened only on Friday, Saturday and Sunday for lunch and dinner.

What is actually left from the old feudal castle, built by the first lord of Rodemack (Arnoux I), are couple of small buildings and the House of the Officers or the so called castle. This house was restored in the beginning of the 20th century and in 1981 was certified as a historic building. The building is privately owned and tourists are not allowed inside but the citadel’s park is opened to the public during the weekends and the entry is free (Aug 2010)

At the other end of the village you will find the small chapel of Notre Dame. The chapel was built in 1658 by the people that once lived there to thank the Virgin Mary for the end of the Thirty Years' War. There is not much to see inside but from there you will have a nice view to the castle and the main street.

Every year in April, Rodemack organizes a wine market that joins wine makers, mainly form the villages classified as the “Most Beautiful Villages in France”. The market usually takes place in the citadel's park and the vaulted cellars of the House of the Officers. To add to the festive mood, all participants are dressed in traditional costumes. Besides the wine-makers, there are also local producers that offer great home-made products such as honey, bread, oil, foie gras and traditional sweets. The admission is €5 (at least it was in 2010) and you also get a small wine glass for tasting.

Rodemack also organizes flower market in May, Medieval Fair in June and medieval Christmas market in December. During the Medieval Fair the streets of Rodemack are filled with knights, troubadours, fire-eaters and acrobats that keep the people entertained. This event usually attracts a lot of visitors from the area.

Late spring, summer and early fall is the best time to visit Rodemack if you want to enjoy its colorful streets, the medieval garden and the beautiful nature in the region. The winter is usually rainy and some of the attractions, like the citadel’s park, are closed during that time (from September to May).