Clemency, Luxembourg
Encyclopedia
Clemency is a commune
and town in south-western Luxembourg
. It is part of the canton of Capellen
, which is part of the district of Luxembourg
.
, the town of Clemency, which lies in the south-west of the commune, has a population of 1,823. The commune also includes the village of Fingig
. Clemency is a rural community close to the Belgian
border.
. At an altitude of 395 m, its highest point is in the village of Fingig. Clemency, situated on the junction of the CR 101 and the CR 110 is 21 km west of Luxembourg. It is 5 km from the E25 motorway
to Luxembourg and Brussels
. The area is partly forested but mostly agricultural with mixed farming. There are fishing ponds between Clemency and Fingig as well as a marshy nature reserve, the Neidriesch, where there is a colony of crested newts
, a protected species.
, a Celtic tribe, inhabited the region around Titelberg
, a large oppidum
near Rodange
. A Celtic funeral chamber measuring 4.30 m by 4.20 m, the largest Gallic tomb ever found, was recently discovered at Clemency. From the offerings in the tomb, it was obviously the burial place of a Celtic nobleman. These included ten wine amphora
e, an Italic bronze basin, an oil lamp from Campania
, an iron grill and some 30 Gallic
pots. There was also a chimney from an iron smelter in the chamber testifying to the deceased's association with iron production.
tourist office explains how one Karl Martell offered Clemency and Pétange to St. Maximin's Abbey, Trier
, in 723. A document dated 1140 reports that Pétange belonged to the parish of Clemency. This apparently continued to be the case for several hundred years.
to Steinfort
via Clemency. After it was extended in 1880 to run as far as Ettelbruck
, a total distance of 52 km, it became known as the Attert Line. The railway, which operated until 1967, mainly for transporting iron ore and coke for the mining operations in the region. Today the old line has been converted into a cycle track.
had fallen into disrepair but in 2009 extensive renovation work was completed. As a result, the castle is now open to the public from time to time.
to Colmar-Berg
.
Communes of Luxembourg
The communes of Luxembourg are the lowest nation-wide administrative division in Luxembourg. They conform to LAU level 2.Within the hierarchy of administrative subdivisions, communes come directly below cantons, which are directly below districts. Communes are often re-arranged, being merged or...
and town in south-western Luxembourg
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...
. It is part of the canton of Capellen
Capellen (canton)
Capellen is a canton in the south-west of Luxembourg, in the Luxembourg District. The capital is Capellen .The canton consists of the following 11 communes:*Bascharage*Clemency*Dippach*Garnich*Hobscheid*Kehlen*Koerich*Kopstal*Mamer...
, which is part of the district of Luxembourg
Luxembourg (district)
The District of Luxembourg, sometimes of Luxemburg, is one of three districts of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. It contains four cantons, divided into 47...
.
, the town of Clemency, which lies in the south-west of the commune, has a population of 1,823. The commune also includes the village of Fingig
Fingig
Fingig is a small town in the commune of Clemency, in western Luxembourg. , the town has a population of 322. Nearby is the source of the Eisch....
. Clemency is a rural community close to the Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
border.
Location
The commun is located on the Belgian border at the source of the River EischEisch
The Eisch is a river flowing through Belgium and Luxembourg, joining the Alzette on its left in Mersch. It flows through the towns of Eischen, Hobscheid, Septfontaines, and Marienthal....
. At an altitude of 395 m, its highest point is in the village of Fingig. Clemency, situated on the junction of the CR 101 and the CR 110 is 21 km west of Luxembourg. It is 5 km from the E25 motorway
European route E25
European route E 25 is a north-south European route from Hoek van Holland in the Netherlands to Palermo in Italy which includes ferry crossings from Genoa to Bastia , from Bonifacio to Porto Torres and from Cagliari to Palermo .It passes through the following cities:Hoek van Holland –...
to Luxembourg and Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
. The area is partly forested but mostly agricultural with mixed farming. There are fishing ponds between Clemency and Fingig as well as a marshy nature reserve, the Neidriesch, where there is a colony of crested newts
Great Crested Newt
The Great Crested Newt, also called Northern Crested Newt or Warty Newt is a newt in the family Salamandridae, found across Europe and parts of Asia.-Distribution:...
, a protected species.
Celtic tomb
The history of Clemency goes back to the 1st century BC when the TreveriTreveri
The Treveri or Treviri were a tribe of Gauls who inhabited the lower valley of the Moselle from around 150 BCE, at the latest, until their eventual absorption into the Franks...
, a Celtic tribe, inhabited the region around Titelberg
Titelberg
Titelberg is the site of a large Celtic settlement or oppidum in the extreme south west of Luxembourg. In the 1st century BC, this thriving community was probably the capital of the Treveri people...
, a large oppidum
Oppidum
Oppidum is a Latin word meaning the main settlement in any administrative area of ancient Rome. The word is derived from the earlier Latin ob-pedum, "enclosed space," possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *pedóm-, "occupied space" or "footprint."Julius Caesar described the larger Celtic Iron Age...
near Rodange
Rodange
Rodange is a town in the commune of Pétange, in south-western Luxembourg. It lies next to the border with Belgium, across which is the town of Athus. The town is to the south-west of the town of Pétange and to the west of the smaller town of Lamadelaine...
. A Celtic funeral chamber measuring 4.30 m by 4.20 m, the largest Gallic tomb ever found, was recently discovered at Clemency. From the offerings in the tomb, it was obviously the burial place of a Celtic nobleman. These included ten wine amphora
Amphora
An amphora is a type of vase-shaped, usually ceramic container with two handles and a long neck narrower than the body...
e, an Italic bronze basin, an oil lamp from Campania
Campania
Campania is a region in southern Italy. The region has a population of around 5.8 million people, making it the second-most-populous region of Italy; its total area of 13,590 km² makes it the most densely populated region in the country...
, an iron grill and some 30 Gallic
Gaul
Gaul was a region of Western Europe during the Iron Age and Roman era, encompassing present day France, Luxembourg and Belgium, most of Switzerland, the western part of Northern Italy, as well as the parts of the Netherlands and Germany on the left bank of the Rhine. The Gauls were the speakers of...
pots. There was also a chimney from an iron smelter in the chamber testifying to the deceased's association with iron production.
An ancient parish
Although today's high-steepled church was built in 1726, records indicate that the community and its parish are far older. Information from the PétangePétange
Pétange is a commune and town in south-western Luxembourg. It is part of the canton of Esch-sur-Alzette, which is part of the district of Luxembourg. Pétange lies on the borders with both Belgium and France....
tourist office explains how one Karl Martell offered Clemency and Pétange to St. Maximin's Abbey, Trier
St. Maximin's Abbey, Trier
St. Maximin's Abbey was a Benedictine monastery in Trier in the Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.-History:The abbey, traditionally considered one of the oldest monasteries in western Europe, was held to have been founded by Saint Maximin of Trier in the 4th century. Maximin St. Maximin's Abbey was a...
, in 723. A document dated 1140 reports that Pétange belonged to the parish of Clemency. This apparently continued to be the case for several hundred years.
The old railway
In 1873, the Prince Henri railway was opened. It took passengers and goods from PétangePétange
Pétange is a commune and town in south-western Luxembourg. It is part of the canton of Esch-sur-Alzette, which is part of the district of Luxembourg. Pétange lies on the borders with both Belgium and France....
to Steinfort
Steinfort
Steinfort is a commune and town in western Luxembourg. It is part of the canton of Capellen, which is part of the district of Luxembourg., the town of Steinfort, which lies in the north of the commune, has a population of 2,184. Other towns within the commune include Hagen and Kleinbettingen....
via Clemency. After it was extended in 1880 to run as far as Ettelbruck
Ettelbruck
Ettelbruck is a commune with city status in central Luxembourg, with a population of approximately 7,500. As of 2005, the town of Ettelbruck itself, which lies in the east of the commune, has a population of 6,191. The town of Warken and Grentzingen are also within the commune...
, a total distance of 52 km, it became known as the Attert Line. The railway, which operated until 1967, mainly for transporting iron ore and coke for the mining operations in the region. Today the old line has been converted into a cycle track.
The castle
Clemency also has a small residential castle located close to the church in the centre of the town. Built in the 1660s, Clemency CastleClemency Castle
Clemency Castle is located in the little town of Clemency which is close to the Belgian border in south-eastern Luxembourg. The small residential castle adjacent to the church was built in the 1660s in the Renaissance style...
had fallen into disrepair but in 2009 extensive renovation work was completed. As a result, the castle is now open to the public from time to time.
Clemency today
Clemency continues to be primarily an agricultural community although it has recently been expanding as a residential area in view of its proximity to the E25 motorway. A few small companies have also been established there. It is also a good centre for walking and cycling, particularly as it is on the P12 cycle track from LamadelaineLamadelaine
Lamadelaine is a town in the commune of Pétange, in south-western Luxembourg. , the town has a population of 2,335....
to Colmar-Berg
Colmar-Berg
Colmar-Berg is a commune and town in central Luxembourg, in the canton of Mersch. It is situated at the confluence of the rivers Attert and Alzette....
.