Therefore, although the town only came into being relatively late on Yutz on the other side of the Moselle has existed since Prehistoric times it developed considerably in the reign of Charlemagne. The Emperor of the Franks set up one of his Palatiums in the city. Although he tragically lost his favourite wife Hildegarde here, who died in labour, he did write some major texts here. One of the most important is his political testament in which he settled the division of the Empire between his sons and guaranteed its inalienability.
However, his idea was not respected since only the first son succeeded his father after winning many disagreements, but that is another story. From this exceptional past, a sculpted stone has succeeded in withstanding human intervention and the weather.
It is a lintel, probably a door lintel, with acanthus leaf motifs, installed at the heart of the Tour aux Puces.
Here, some vestiges still bear witness to this influence. Located on the banks of the Moselle, along the ramparts, the castle had a keep, the Tour aux Puces.
When the French arrived in the 17th century, they mistakenly translated it as Tour au Puces. A translation error which inevitably gave rise to many legends justifying its name. With 14 sides, its tetradecagonal shape fascinates and lends it power.
