Old Abbey of Mettlach
Saarland
The Old Abbey of Mettlach, officially known as Abtei Sankt Peter und Maria, is a Benedictine monastery founded around 676 by the Frankish noble Liutwin (Lutwinus) on a flood-free terrace above the Saar river. It played a significant religious and cultural role in the region, with its leadership historically linked to the Archbishopric of Trier. The original monastery buildings no longer survive, but the Old Tower, built approximately 300 years after the founding as a double chapel, remains and served as the burial site of its founder. The abbey grounds include a garden with an artificial fish pond fed by the Moselbach stream. The abbey was abandoned during the French Revolution and its buildings now serve as the main administration headquarters for the renowned ceramics company Villeroy & Boch. The site is notable for its medieval origins, its connection to early Frankish and Carolingian history, and its architectural remnants that reflect centuries of religious and cultural evolution in Saarland.
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Tip: Visitors are advised to explore the abbey grounds during spring and early autumn for pleasant weather. While the abbey itself is not a typical tourist museum, pre-booking guided tours or contacting Villeroy & Boch's visitor center can enhance the experience. Discounts may be available for groups or educational visits. Check opening times ahead as access might be limited due to its current use as a company headquarters.
Interesting facts
- •The abbey was founded by Liutwin, who later became Bishop of Trier and was connected to the Carolingian dynasty.
- •The Old Tower served as a double chapel and is the burial site of the abbey's founder, Liutwin.
- •The abbey grounds include a garden with an artificial fish pond fed by the Moselbach stream, a rare medieval landscaping feature.
- •The abbey buildings currently house the headquarters of the famous ceramics company Villeroy & Boch.
- •The founding legend tells of an eagle shading Liutwin from the sun, inspiring the abbey's location.
History
The abbey was founded around 676 by Liutwin, a Frankish nobleman who later became Bishop of Trier.
It was originally a Benedictine monastery and was closely linked to the Archbishopric of Trier, which held the abbotship in personal union for several centuries.
The original buildings have not survived, but the Old Tower was constructed about 300 years later as a double chapel and became the burial site of Liutwin.
The abbey was secularized during the French Revolution and its buildings repurposed.
Over the centuries, the abbey's location was chosen for its strategic and agricultural advantages near the Saar river, and it played a role in the religious and political history of the region, including ties to the Carolingian dynasty.
Place Guide
Old Tower (Alte Turm)10th century
A double chapel built approximately three centuries after the abbey's founding, serving as the burial place of Liutwin, the monastery's founder. It is one of the few remaining medieval structures of the original abbey complex.
Abbey Garden and Fish PondMedieval period
The landscaped garden area includes an artificial fish pond fed by the Moselbach stream, reflecting medieval monastic landscaping and aquaculture practices.
