The Bliesbruck baths, discovered in the commune of the same name in the French department of Moselle, in the Grand Est region, are a Roman thermal complex that was in operation from the late 1st century to the mid-3rd century.
The complex underwent renovations after about a century to enlarge the spaces and adapt them to new uses. Further modifications occurred in the 3rd century, seriously damaging the vicus. During late antiquity, the building was stripped of its most valuable materials. However, it was partially used towards the end of the Middle Ages or the beginning of the Renaissance when a fortified house was installed on its site. The ruins gradually deteriorated in the following centuries.
Archaeological excavations at the Bliesbruck site began in the 1970s, and the Moselle department acquired part of the site in 1982 to conduct extensive excavations. The bath elements were uncovered between 1987 and 1993 and are now part of the European Archaeological Park of Bliesbruck-Reinheim, housed in a museum pavilion designed to preserve the remains.
Location
The thermal complex is in Bliesbruck, a locality named after the nearby river, the Blies. The area is located on both sides of a Roman road that defines the architectural layout. The baths are located close to the river.
Currently, the site is 10 km from Sarreguemines, 75 km east of Metz, and 15 km from Saarbrücken and it is dominated by the Homerich hill.
History
History of the vicus
The Bliesbruck-Reinheim was occupied as early as the protohistoric period and gained significance in the 5th century BC with a princely Celtic character.
The vicus reached its peak in the 3rd century, situated near a large villa with an axial plan. Two artisanal quarters have been identified: the western quarter had an artisanal focus. In the eastern quarter, archaeologists have discovered several food cooking installations and a 750 m2 structure possibly used for the "meeting of a professional or religious association."
The urban settlement lost its urban character after the devastations of the crisis of the Third Century, leading to the abandonment of most buildings. This decline continued until the middle of the 5th century. The site was later occupied during the Middle Ages, with a Merovingian necropolis and a fortified house established in the baths in the 15th and 16th centuries. The Roman ruins eventually disappeared in the 17th and 18th centuries.
History of the thermal complex
Antiquity Archaeologists have been able to determine the various phases of the building's history. Despite the changes, the thermal complex has maintained its "original plan."
Phase 1: End of the 1st century
The construction of the original complex dates back to the late 1st century or early 2nd century, representing a significant milestone in the urban development of this secondary settlement. It replaced an area that was previously occupied by earth and wood structures. Situated alongside a public square, the complex runs parallel to the main street.
Excavators have discovered lime pits dating back to the construction period, as well as areas where stones were cut for the construction. The pit found in the courtyard had wooden walls and a bottom.
The complex, measuring 11 m by 22 m, consists of three rooms arranged on an east-west axis: frigidarium, tepidarium, and caldarium. The last two rooms are equipped with an underfloor heating system. Preceding these rooms to the east is a small reception area. The frigidarium, ending in an apse, features a brick basin filled with cold water. The caldarium, also with an apse, contains a basin filled with hot water. The rectangular tepidarium follows a design typical in Campania, particularly in Pompeii, with the bathtub positioned on the north wall next to the hearth, and a sprinkling basin on the same wall.
Each wing measures approximately 4.9 m by 30 m. Along the east and south sides, there is a row of seven shops located next to the palestra, which is supported by a portico with wooden pillars. Cooking hearths have been found on the premises.
A 6 m by 9.20 m basin is situated in the center of a courtyard to the north, with three recognized access points. The courtyard, measuring 20 m on each side, is not suitable for sports activities but serves as a "relaxation area" adjacent to the basin. The basin is constructed of small stones covered with red plaster.
In the 2nd century, minor modifications were made, including the addition of latrines to the south of the central complex, supplied during the emptying of the frigidarium and by another drainage channel. These latrines, accessible from the street, can accommodate approximately 12 people. An 8.50 m long, 0.60 m wide, and 0.70 m deep canal is topped by a wooden bench for seating. Additionally, there is a channel for rinsing sponges and a washbasin for users.
Phase 2: Late 2nd century
In the last third or last quarter of the 2nd century, the complex underwent significant transformations and reached its peak.
The small entrance building was replaced by a larger structure, the caldarium was reconstructed, and the palaestra pool was filled in. The north wing was altered, connecting the building at the northernmost part to the complex, and the southeast wing was completely rebuilt. The north wing premises were adjusted, integrating the workshop-boutique building into the thermal complex, and the portico was also modified. The southern wing was demolished and rebuilt with columns and thicker masonry, indicating the possibility of an upper floor. The portico now has a width of approximately 3.50 meters.
The pool was filled in by the end of the 2nd century, possibly due to the high operating costs of a facility that was underused due to local temperatures. The palaestra, now abandoned and repurposed, contains a heated room in its southeast corner, measuring 8.30 meters by 5.30 meters, accessible from the central complex. Geophysical surveys conducted on the palaestra have uncovered either a nymphaeum or a temple. Nearby, a ronde-bosse sculpture of a child, viewed from behind while holding an object, was discovered. The area remains open to the public.
Phase 3: Mid-3rd century
In around 275 AD, the thermal complex underwent its final phase of expansion. The building's dimensions were then either 92 meters by 35 meters or 90 meters by 40 meters.
The addition of two large heated rooms on each side of the central door to the east of the reception room brought a significant change to the building's appearance. These rooms are believed to be changing rooms and were constructed in the early 3rd century. The expansion in surfaces and the addition of heated rooms suggest "a gradual transformation in the establishment's nature."
The north wing underwent additional modifications, with the portico being replaced by a closed gallery. In the southern wing, the first two shops adjacent to the central complex were replaced by a larger room that extends into the portico. The room to the north of the central complex now features a hypocaust and a heating room that extends further into the courtyard. The small building situated on the former palaestra was demolished, transforming the area into a service space with paved paths and a latrine exclusively designated for personnel.
By the end of the century, the building was affected by the barbarian invasions that plagued the Roman Empire. The destruction caused during this period dealt a fatal blow to the bathing function of the complex.
Late Antiquity
After the damages of the late 3rd century, a portion of the building was restored but no longer used for bathing; the rooms were gradually left unheated. Lightweight structures were erected along the road in the first half of the 4th century.
In the 4th century, a bronze workshop was established in the southeastern part of the complex, and the shops located to the south were repurposed. The frigidarium was also repurposed.
Post-Antiquity
During the Middle Ages, a section of the frigidarium floor was repurposed and transformed into the main room. The walls from that era still measure 40 cm in thickness. A 1.8-meter passage was created to connect to the adjacent room, while the access route to the tepidarium was sealed off. To the south, the previous heated room was also repurposed. Materials, particularly lead, were salvaged, with individuals even dismantling walls to retrieve the pipes, leaving behind traces in the frigidarium's mortar.
In the 13th century, the village belonged to the Luxembourgish family of Raville after Dietrich de Varsberg married Lore de Brücken. The family then settled in the castle known as Altes Schloss. The final phase of occupation of the frigidarium was reconstructed based on walls that were 1 meter in height.
The thermal complex, particularly the frigidarium, measuring 8 meters by 4.5 meters, underwent renovations during the 15th and 16th centuries when the Raville family still owned the village. The Gallo-Roman walls were restored, and according to 16th-century sources, a small fortified house was constructed on the ruins of the baths.
Sources, archaeological excavations, and site enhancement
Sources A report dated 1500 mentions the baths.
Archaeological excavations The secondary Roman settlement was excavated starting in 1979. Further excavations were conducted between 1987 and 1990, revealing a substantial thermal complex at the site.
The material uncovered during the excavations was meticulously documented. The site revealed artifacts from the medieval period found in the frigidarium, including pottery sherds, fragments of horseshoes, iron objects, and a few silver coins.
Coins from the late 3rd century BC have been unearthed during the excavations. Additionally, a variety of decorative elements, including rings, beads, hairpins, and fibulae, were discovered, most of which belonged to women. The different types of fibulae found make it challenging to attribute them to a specific group of people. Remnants of kitchen utensils and bones associated with food processing were found in the shops. Various items related to textile craftsmanship were also uncovered in the baths, although it is difficult to make precise conclusions about on-site activities. Elements related to trade, such as styluses, were also revealed during the excavations.
The excavations uncovered fragmentary sculptures, described as "fragments of divine effigies in stone." Among them was a stele portraying a Genius, which was unfortunately incomplete. The Genius was believed to be depicted holding a cornucopia in one hand and a patella in the other. These fragments were discovered and reused in masonry structures dating back to the 16th century. Additionally, fragments of Genii or Fortuna were found in the infill of the palaestra, along with fragments of terracotta statuettes.
Evocation and heritage enhancement
Significant educational work has been conducted, enabling the reconstruction of the building's state at various points in its history.
The protection of the remains was planned from the beginning of the excavation, using temporary cover systems. Since 1993, the remains of the Bliesbruck baths have been safeguarded by a museum pavilion. The museum space for the baths has been intentionally minimized to "maintain the emotional impact of the authentic excavated ruins." The remains have been stabilized, and the pavilion features an "umbrella architecture" with walkways that enable visitors to explore the site.
Description and operation of the complex The monumental thermal complex is a testament to the significance of this primarily artisanal settlement. It is constructed on a north-south axis and spans 75 meters in length by 35 meters in width. The construction is part of a "global urban development plan for the settlement," with a 3.50-meter-wide paved street running along its southern part.