The Tumuli Path

A tumulus is an artificial mound of earth covering a burial place enclosing ceramic vases, different objects such as vases and jugs in copper, bronze and iron as well as finely-worked jewellery, all evoking everyday life in Celtic culture.  The diameter of a burial mound varies between a few metres and several dozen metres (on average 20 metres with a height of between 1 and 5 metres) and might have been used several times during quite a long period: the initial burial chamber is at the centre and increased perhaps up to ten.  In the Bronze Age, 1700 BC, the burial chambers were for the cremated (a funeral pyre having previously taken place as the ashes are in an urn).  Cremation was replaced by burial rites during the Iron Age, 500 BC (the body was laid as it was).

There are 6 remarkable tumuli dating from the Iron Age, clearly visible from The Seltz Path, which enclose urns and burial chambers.  The discovery of a chariot tomb in Hatten testifies to the existence of chiefs.  There are descriptive, information panels in French and German along the path.  
The Tumuli Path is in the Forest of Hesselbusch outside Seltz on the road towards Hatten, just after the roundabout leading to the motorway.

There is a car-park for buses and cars. The visit takes between 30 and 45 minutes and is free.