Woven Celtic Pattern from the La Tène Period

These are reconstruction of the original woven border patterns form textile found in Hochdorf grave in Germany. Unlike other Celtic patterns with knotwork or spirals, this particular clan chose diamond and Swastika shapes, making it unique for Celtic clothing.

These are authentic reconstructions from garments made 5,000 years ago. It was only in the early 20th century did the Swastika gain a sinister meaning. Up until then, the Swastika was a popular symbol in many cultures through out the world, and generally were considered a good luck charm.

With Days of Yore Travel, you can learn from Celtic experts how to weave original celtic border or woven belt and bring home a truely original souvenir.

   
 

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Know Your Celts - Mediomatrici

Lands of the ancient Mediomatrici Celts in modern-day Lorraine in France

Clan Name: Mediomatrici, given to them by the Romans, which means “the people between the Matrona (Marne) and the Matra (rivers)”

Belong to: The Gallia Belgica of the Belgae Nation

Geographic Location: Area known today as Lorraine in the region known as Alsace Lorraine located in modern-day France.

Capital City: Divodurum - better known today as Metz in modern-day France.

Language believed to have been spoken: Gallic Celtic, known as Belgae

Closest surviving language: Cornish

Language spoken in the region today: French and German 

Divodurum or Metz in the 2nd Century CE

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Roman Museum Schwarzenacker

Temple gardens in the Roman Museum in Schwarzenacker

Each year more new and sensational archaeological finds are being made in Central Europe, and they’re waiting for you to re-discover them. Last year a brand new Roman museum opened its doors to the public in the town of Schwarzenacker, a town in Germany. This brand new museum houses not only a collection of unique artifacts depicting the every day lives of Iron Age Romans and Celts, but it’s also an archaeological dig-site in progress. 

Schwarzenacker (which means “Black Acre” in English) used to be a thriving Roman-Gallic town in Gaul. Of course, that’s not the original name of the town. Unfortunately it’s been lost to history. Based on the extensive ruins uncovered, archaeologists are certain Schwarzenacker was an important trading center located on the crossroads between four major Roman-Gallic cities: Metz (Divodurum) and Strasbourg (Argentoratum) in modern-day France; Mainz (Mogontiacum) and Trier (Treverorum) in modern-day Germany.

The archaeological record shows much evidence that the town was a thriving Roman/Celtic community. Most of the better artifacts are religious cult objects, found side-by-side in temples dedicated to Mercury, the Roman God of commerce and Epona, the Celtic horse Goddess. Historically Epona was worshiped by Celtic horse breeders and wagoners. The fact that both these particular deities were worshiped side-by-side points to the fact that Schwarzenacker was an important Roman-Gallic trade center.

The Celtic clan who lived in Schwarzenacker were the Mediomatrici; a clan who belonged to the Belgae Nation. The Mediomatrici are one of the best examples that not all Celtic clans were enemies of Rome. They had very good reasons for cooperating with the Romans. For centuries they’d fought against a Germanic clan known as the Alemanni, who belonged to the Suebi Nation. It’s the age-old fight over dominance of the lush and fertile Upper Rhine River Valley and the Saar Region. Both lay claim to the entire Valley as rightfully theirs. Fights between the Germans and Gauls for dominance over this area have lasted all the way into the middle of the 20th century.

When the Mediomatrici Celts formed an alliance with the Romans they not only succeeded in driving the Germans out of the Rhine River Valley, but became rich through “government contracts” for providing the Roman Army with horses, wagons, food, clothing, personnel and weaponry. But Pax Romana didn’t last forever. It only lasted as long as Rome had enough money and resources to govern Gaul, and so, in the year of 276 CE, the Germanic Alemanni returned to sack and loot Schwarzenacker and drive the Celts back to to the other side of the Saar River.

Today you can see the restored temple gardens dedicated to the Godf Mercury, along with a few Roman-Gallic settlement buildings. The museum houses a myriad of unique Roman and Celtic artifacts. The museum also offers an interactive program for experiencing first-hand what Roman-Gallic life was like in 1st Century CE.

If you would like more information about the true Roman-Celtic experience in Iron Age Europe, contact us here at Days of Yore Travel.

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Magical Danube River

View of the white cliffs on the Danube River from the Weltenburg Monastery

There are still some places you can go in the world that are truly magical. You know you’re living in the 21st century, but for just a moment you feel like you’ve been transported through a time portal, and you’re looking at the world they way it looked 5,000 years ago.

There is place like this on the Danube River, called the “Donaudurchbruch”. You round a bend and see these magnificent white cliffs, the quiet, sparkling blue waters of that eternal European river, and can you feel the spark of magic leap across. A place that will send shivers down your spine when you hear the eerie echoes of from the cliffs.

This section of the Danube River has a lot to offer for the Days of Yore experiential traveler. Whether you’d like to experience it on the comfort of a modern cruise ship, or paddling boats down the Danube like they did 5,000 years ago, or taking a guided hiking tour with Druid teaching you the ancient lore of magical herbs, this place has lots to offer and is a must-see for the experiential time traveler. If you’d like to find out more about this magical place, please write us here at Days of Yore Travel.

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Discover Ancient Celtic Gold

Solid gold bead of a 14-year-old Celtic princess

Discover the ancient golden treasure of a fourteen-year-old Celtic princess. Her life was not long, but she left behind some of the most precious finds in Celtic craftsmanship gold ever unearthed. Here in Heuneburg - Heredotus' legendary lost city of Pyrene - you can discover how ancient Celts were anything but "barbarians" as the Romans called them. Here in the oldest kingdom in Europe.

If you're looking to discover the ancient gold of the Celtics, Days of Yore Travel can take you there. 

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The Magic of the Celtic World of Glauberg

Glauberg is a magical place - the site of an ancient Celtic burial ground. Come feel the magic of Glauberg and re-discovered its ancient secrets.



How would you like to experience the magic of ancient Celtic lore? Not just see it, but live it?
Write to us if you want to travel back in time to the Days of Yore.

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