Gravelotte, commune in Moselle, France
Gravelotte is a small commune in Moselle in the Lorraine region, situated about 11 kilometers southwest of Metz. The village spreads across gently rolling terrain crossed by two small streams and retains the structure of a quiet, largely unchanged rural settlement with narrow streets and older buildings.
The area has been inhabited since Neolithic times, as evidenced by coins and arrowheads found there, and a Roman road once connected Reims to Metz through the region. The village was destroyed and rebuilt multiple times, notably after 14th-century conflicts and again during World War II bombing in September 1944.
The name Gravelotte appears in records from 1137 and reflects centuries of human settlement in this area. The community today preserves its past through quiet memorials and monuments that are woven into daily village life.
The commune is easy to explore on foot and sits close to Metz with good road connections. The nearest train station is Ars-sur-Moselle, about 4 kilometers away, and several bus lines link the village to surrounding towns.
The Battle of Gravelotte took place here on August 18, 1870, a turning point in the Franco-Prussian War that cost thousands of lives. The phrase 'it falls like at Gravelotte' is still used today to describe heavy rain or significant losses, keeping memory of that day alive.
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