AITRE FORTIFIÉ DU VILLAGE D'ARNAVILLE

At the end of the 10th century, Saint-Etienne was still only a chapel situated in the middle of a vineyard, at that time still owned by the abbey of Gorze. The arrival of the first dukes of Lorraine, who confessed to the abbey of Saint-Pierre-aux-Nonnains, slowed down the gorzian impetus downstream of the Rupt de Mad, although the surroundings of the small sanctuary were gradually developed. Before the 10th century, serfs, convers and a few clerics were installed in what became the fortified aître after the year 1000. In the following centuries, three other abbeys acquired new properties in Arnaville: Saint-Pierre-aux-Nonnains, Saint-Vanne de Verdun and Sainte-Marie-aux-Bois, a ducal creation near Prény. The arrival of their staff created the specificity of Arnaville. The facade of the fortified bell tower was then still hidden behind the left wing of the "horseshoe". In 1749, the aître still had its two wings; the one on the right was very wide and ended up merging with the village at its end. On the plans of 1821, the right wing has completely disappeared. Square in shape, the Romanesque tower is 7 metres thick. The entrance, now on the ground floor, used to be higher, as if it were a dungeon. In the area corresponding to what used to be the right wing of the aître, there is nothing left today. The left wing has retained its medieval character: opposite the entrance to the church are two medieval houses.