Alter Turm, Octagonal church tower in Mettlach, Germany.
The Alter Turm is an octagonal building in Mettlach featuring two main stories with six semicircular niches inside that define its distinctive character. The structure displays the building style of the Ottonian period, marked by clear geometric forms and sturdy proportions.
The tower was built around 989 as part of a Benedictine monastery and served as a burial church for Saint Liutwin, who founded the monastery in the late 7th century. The building preserves memories of the earliest phases of Christian architecture in this region.
The tower served as a two-story place of worship, with the lower level dedicated to Saint Liutwin and the upper story holding a chapel for Mary. This arrangement shows how people of that time honored different sacred spaces within a single structure.
The tower is located in Mettlach's city center and is easy to spot from the outside; visitors should expect regular maintenance work that may affect access. It is best to check current conditions before your visit to avoid unexpected disappointments.
During medieval times, people brought mentally ill individuals to the tower hoping that the saints' intercession would heal them. This belief in the therapeutic power of holy places shows how medieval society understood healing and faith.
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