Church of Saint-Martin in Vieux-Virton
It was built on the ruins of a Roman settlement deserted at the end of the 3rd century. At the end of the Merovingian era, a small necropolis was erected on this site and a little church built, the south wall of which used the same foundations as the Gallo-Roman building. This building was replaced in the 9th and 10th centuries. The north wall of the first rib in the current nave is a vestige of this church. It is made up of materials taken from the previous settlement and reused. To the south, you can see two Gallo-Roman stone blocks that show overlapping scales and a boat laden with bundles being steered by three sailors. This church burnt down and was rebuilt between the 11th and 13th centuries. A porch was added to the western side, a choir apse to the right and a square framework on the eastern side. The porch was later replaced by an imposing 10.5 metre high tower, with 1.8 metre thick walls. The function of this tower was to be a refuge. Major alterations were made in the 18th century: the walls were raised and the roof replaced. Brother Abraham from Orval, the painter monk, decorated two of the groined vaults with frescoes representing St Martin and the holy Trinity. The sacristy and two side chapels were added in the 18th century. The church was restored towards the end of the 20th century. The picturesque cemetery has headstones and stone memorials from the 18th and 19th centuries.
(Source text: Gaume Tourist Information Office)
rue Saint-Martin
6762
Vieux-Virton
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Ranking : 23-05-1972
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