Ansembourg Castle
Encyclopedia
Ansembourg Castle sometimes known as the Old Castle of Ansembourg, in central Luxembourg
is one of the castles belonging to the Valley of the Seven Castles
. Located high above the little village of Ansembourg
, the medieval castle is still inhabited today.
. In the 17th century, repairs were carried out by the Bidart and Marchant d'Ansembourg families who built the New Castle of Ansembourg
.
was found in 1999 by the linguist Guy Berg. The manuscript dating from the end of the 14th or beginning of the 15th century was especially significant as it was written in the Moselle Franconian dialect which is closely related to modern Luxembourgish.
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
is one of the castles belonging to the Valley of the Seven Castles
Valley of the Seven Castles
'Valley of the Seven Castles' is an informal name given to the Eisch valley, in central Luxembourg. The valley stretches from the confluence with the Alzette upstream to Steinfort, on the border with Belgium. The entire route can be traversed in about an hour by car, starting near the town of...
. Located high above the little village of Ansembourg
Ansembourg
Ansembourg is a village in the commune of Tuntange, in western Luxembourg. , the village has a population of 40.Ansembourg is in part of the Eisch valley known as the Valley of the Seven Castles. The village is the site of two of the seven castles...
, the medieval castle is still inhabited today.
History
The property is first mentioned in 1135 when the lord of the castle was Hubert d'Ansembourg. The fortifications were probably built in the middle of the 12th century. At the beginning of the 14th century, the south-western tower gate and the northern keep appear to have been built by Jofroit d'Ansembourg. Since the times of Jakob II de Raville-Ansembourg, the castle does not appear to have been significantly altered. The main entrance bears the date of 1565. In 1683, the castle was probably damaged by the French troups of Marshal de BoufflersLouis François, duc de Boufflers
Louis François, Duc de Boufflers, Comte de Cagny was a Marshal of France....
. In the 17th century, repairs were carried out by the Bidart and Marchant d'Ansembourg families who built the New Castle of Ansembourg
New Castle of Ansembourg
The New Castle of Ansembourg , in central Luxembourg is one of the castles belonging to the Valley of the Seven Castles. Located about one kilometre or just over half a mile below the Old Castle of Ansembourg, it was built by the industrialist Thomas Bidart in 1639.-History:In 1639, Thomas Bidart...
.
Recent developments
Today the castle is owned by Count Gaston-Gaëtan de Marchant et d'Ansembourg who moved into the property after the death of his father. At the end of 2008, the Luxembourg government bought the castle's library and archives for EUR 3 million. Interest had grown in the collection after the Codex Mariendalensis manuscript telling the story of Yolanda of ViandenYolanda of Vianden
Mother Yolanda of Vianden, O.P., was the youngest daughter of Count Henry I of Vianden and Margaret, Marchioness of Namur. She joined the Dominican monastery in Marienthal, Luxembourg, against the wishes of her parents when she was very young...
was found in 1999 by the linguist Guy Berg. The manuscript dating from the end of the 14th or beginning of the 15th century was especially significant as it was written in the Moselle Franconian dialect which is closely related to modern Luxembourgish.