Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Celtic camp of the Bure, classified as a historical monument in 1982, is a fortified site of a barred spur type located at 583 meters above sea level, overlooking the Meurthe valley by more than 200 meters. It was occupied intensively in the 2nd and 1st centuries BC (end of the second iron age and independent Gaulish period), and was also used during the Roman period (II-IVth centuries). The excavations (1964-1986) revealed traces of occupation as early as the final Neolithic, as well as medieval artifacts such as green glazed ceramic coats. The site, shared between Saint-Dié-des-Vosges and Hurbache, is home to Gallic and Roman ramparts (murus gallicus), a necropolis, as well as remains of forge workshops, stone cutting and glass work.

The camp's defences illustrate its strategic role: a two-state Gallic rampart (II and I centuries B.C.) combines sandstone blocks and oak shroud, while a Roman rampart (18 metres long) is reinforced by a ditch carved in sandstone. The plateau (3 hectares) was home to various artisanal activities, attested by 460 kg of forging slag, 19 iron corners, and tools (marteaux, claws). Venerable deities include Baco (Gaulian god related to beech) and, in Roman times, Mercury (god of commerce and travelers) and Jupiter-Taranis, as witnessed by steles and horsemen at the Anguipede.

The site's toponymy reflects its complex history: called in turn "Swedish camp", "Roma camp" or "Sarrazin castle", its current name could derive from burrows (mining wells or forging furnaces), in connection with the local exploitation of iron and sandstone. The excavations, initiated by Albert Ronsin (1964) and directed by Georges Tronquart (1966-1986), exhumed 346 Gaulish coins (Leuques, Remes, Sequanes), weapons (threads of lance, arrow tips), and Roman funeral steles. Part of the furniture is displayed at the Pierre-Noël museum in Saint-Dié-des-Vosges, where a model reconstructs the site.

The site was also a place of worship and passage: in the 18th century, a "child" cross was erected to counter wolf attacks, reflecting local superstitious practices. The surrounding ancient roads, such as the Herbaville-Void road or the Celtic bridge of Etival-Clairefontaine, underline its role in the exchanges between the plain of Lorraine and the Vosges pass. Today, walking trails (from the Pass de la Crenée) allow access to the plateau, where a orientation table (1992) offers a 360° panorama on nearby sites (Pierre d'Appel, Haute Pierre, Donon).

Archaeological research has revealed a multifaceted occupation: blacksmiths, bronzemakers, glassmakers, warriors, and pilgrims are crossed. The sandstone quarries, exploited from the Roman era, provided slabs for local constructions, while slags and tools (bigornes, hammers) confirmed intensive metallurgical production. The centre of the plateau, the highest point, was probably reserved for deities, while the terrace was used as a necropolis. Outstanding discoveries include Nauheim fibula (workshop waste), glass bracelets, and stele fragments representing Mercury or Jupiter rider.

The Camp de la Bure is part of a network of high-rise sites in the Vosges massif, such as the Guillaume Cross (Moselle) or the Donon, where shrines dedicated to Mercury have also been identified. Its gradual abandonment after the fourth century coincided with the decline of Gallo-Roman oppida, although traces of medieval activities (glazed ceramic) suggest sporadic attendance. Today, the site, managed by the Vosges Philomatic Society, is the subject of development projects, while its remains (reparts, ditches, quarries) remain visible in the forest, bearing witness to nearly 2,000 years of history.

Future

This site is approximately eight kilometres northwest of downtown Saint-Dié-des-Vosges. Access by road leads visitors to the hamlets of the Pêcherie or Marzelay, then on the forest path up to the pass of the Crenée. From there, it is the departure of several hiking trails, which lead to this archaeological site in about twenty minutes.

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