The

basilica In Ancient Roman architecture, a basilica is a large public building with multiple functions, typically built alongside the town's forum. The basilica was in the Latin West equivalent to a stoa in the Greek East. The building gave its nam ...

of Saint-Pierre-aux-Nonnains in

Metz, France Metz ( , , lat, Divodurum Mediomatricorum, then ) is a city in northeast France located at the confluence of the Moselle and the Seille rivers. Metz is the prefecture of the Moselle department and the seat of the parliament of the Grand E ...

is one of the oldest churches in Europe. The building began life in the 4th century when Metz was an important Gallo-Roman city.

History

The building belonged to one of several

thermae In ancient Rome, (from Greek , "hot") and (from Greek ) were facilities for bathing. usually refers to the large imperial bath complexes, while were smaller-scale facilities, public or private, that existed in great numbers throughout ...

(public baths complexes) which existed in Metz in Roman times. Some sources describe it as having been a gymnasium. In the 7th century, the structure was converted into a church, becoming the chapel of a

Benedictine , image = Medalla San Benito.PNG , caption = Design on the obverse side of the Saint Benedict Medal , abbreviation = OSB , formation = , motto = (English: 'Pray and Work') , foun ...

nunnery. A new

nave The nave () is the central part of a church, stretching from the (normally western) main entrance or rear wall, to the transepts, or in a church without transepts, to the chancel. When a church contains side aisles, as in a basilica-typ ...

was constructed in the 11th century with further interior renovations. In the 16th century Metz was besieged by the troops of Charles V and later was converted into an important

garrison A garrison (from the French ''garnison'', itself from the verb ''garnir'', "to equip") is any body of troops stationed in a particular location, originally to guard it. The term now often applies to certain facilities that constitute a mili ...

town by the French. The building became a warehouse, and remained so after being declared a historical monument in 1909. In the 1970s it was restored and opened for concerts and exhibitions.Xavier DeLeon (1988). ''Saint-Pierre-Aux-Nonnains: De l'époque romaine à l'époque gothique''. Éditions Imprimerie Nationale (collection "Guides archéologiques de la France"). Paris. .

Burials

* Drogo of Champagne

References

{{Coord, 49, 06, 54, N, 6, 10, 10, E, type:landmark_source:kolossus-frwiki, display=title Buildings and structures in Metz Monuments historiques of Grand Est Roman Catholic churches in Metz Ancient Roman baths in France Ancient Roman buildings and structures in France Tourist attractions in Metz Burial sites of the Pippinids

History

Burials

See also

References