Eischen
Encyclopedia
Eischen is the largest town in the commune
of Hobscheid
in south-western Luxembourg
, and its administrative centre. As of 2005, the town has a population of 1,532.
, to the south and west, it borders on the Belgian Province de Luxembourg and to the north lies the small hamlet of Gaichel. The river Eisch runs through the centre of town from west to east, approximately following the road to Hobscheid.
established a fortified settlement a few kilometers west of Eischen, across the border to Belgium
in the area which is now known as Clairefontaine. Excavations in and around Eischen have brought to light gallo-roman graves from the 2nd century AD.
During the early Middle Ages
, the Roman settlement evolved into the fortified Karlsbierg. This fortress politically and economically dominated the area around Eischen.
In 1216, the countess Ermesinde
founded the monastery
of Clairefontaine, which soon invigorated the religious and economical life in the area. The countess released the inhabitants of Eischen from serfdom
. The town is first mentioned in 1247, in Ermesinde's testament
. During the following centuries, property rights concerning the extended forests between Eischen and Clairefontaine were a source of constant quarrel between the town inhabitants and the monastery.
In 1839, the French-speaking part of Luxembourg came under Belgian rule. This turned Eischen into a border town, separating it from Clairefontaine and the town of Arlon, which now belonged to the new state of Belgium
.
In 1880, the town's train station was inaugurated. The railway line running through Eischen connected Petingen in the south to Ettelbruck
in the north of the country. It was abandoned in 1969. The area of the former train station in still known as Op der Gare (or, in English, At the station).
The vast, high nave of the church's interior is separated from the lower aisles by an arcade. The three-sided main altar presents rococo-style gold ornaments in between which are placed the three figures of Saint Peter, Saint Paul and Jesus. The side altars are built in a similar style, with the Virgin Mary holding baby Jesus in the left side altar, and a statue of Saint Joseph to the right.
The local holiday, or kermesse, is celebrated on the first Sunday in August, on the feast day of the patron saint of the town, Saint Peter.
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...
of Hobscheid
Hobscheid
Hobscheid 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 commune's administrative centre is Eischen....
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...
, and its administrative centre. As of 2005, the town has a population of 1,532.
Name
Eischen takes its name from the river Eisch, which flows through the town. Its etymology goes back to the celtic word isc or ysche, meaning water. Since the 13th century, the town is mentioned in various chartas, with different spellings (e.g. Eysch, Eske, Yxen).Geography
Eischen is situated in the west/south-western part of Luxembourg. Surrounded by forests on all sides, it borders to the east on the small town of Hobscheid, with which it forms an administrative unity, to the south-east, a road leads to the town of SteinfortSteinfort
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....
, to the south and west, it borders on the Belgian Province de Luxembourg and to the north lies the small hamlet of Gaichel. The river Eisch runs through the centre of town from west to east, approximately following the road to Hobscheid.
History
The area around Eischen has been populated at least since gallo-Roman times. In the first centuries AD, the RomansAncient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
established a fortified settlement a few kilometers west of Eischen, across the border to Belgium
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...
in the area which is now known as Clairefontaine. Excavations in and around Eischen have brought to light gallo-roman graves from the 2nd century AD.
During the early Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
, the Roman settlement evolved into the fortified Karlsbierg. This fortress politically and economically dominated the area around Eischen.
Ermesinde
Ermesinde is a Portuguese city located in the municipality of Valongo, 9 km northeast from Porto. It has a population of about 40,000 inhabitants and an area of about 7 km². This means that although being the smallest of the civil parishes in Valongo's municipality, it's the most highly...
founded the monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
of Clairefontaine, which soon invigorated the religious and economical life in the area. The countess released the inhabitants of Eischen from serfdom
Serfdom
Serfdom is the status of peasants under feudalism, specifically relating to Manorialism. It was a condition of bondage or modified slavery which developed primarily during the High Middle Ages in Europe and lasted to the mid-19th century...
. The town is first mentioned in 1247, in Ermesinde's testament
Will (law)
A will or testament is a legal declaration by which a person, the testator, names one or more persons to manage his/her estate and provides for the transfer of his/her property at death...
. During the following centuries, property rights concerning the extended forests between Eischen and Clairefontaine were a source of constant quarrel between the town inhabitants and the monastery.
In 1839, the French-speaking part of Luxembourg came under Belgian rule. This turned Eischen into a border town, separating it from Clairefontaine and the town of Arlon, which now belonged to the new state of Belgium
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...
.
In 1880, the town's train station was inaugurated. The railway line running through Eischen connected Petingen in the south to 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...
in the north of the country. It was abandoned in 1969. The area of the former train station in still known as Op der Gare (or, in English, At the station).
The church
In the 1860s, the new parish church of Eischen was erected by Jean Fournel. The church is now a predominant architectural feature of Eischen. It is situated on a hill overlooking the town. The main tower stands 53 m tall, flanked by two slender round sidetowers. The main entrance portal, reminiscent of the neo-romance architectural style, is crowned by a relief representing Saint Peter as keeper of the keys to Heaven.The vast, high nave of the church's interior is separated from the lower aisles by an arcade. The three-sided main altar presents rococo-style gold ornaments in between which are placed the three figures of Saint Peter, Saint Paul and Jesus. The side altars are built in a similar style, with the Virgin Mary holding baby Jesus in the left side altar, and a statue of Saint Joseph to the right.
The local holiday, or kermesse, is celebrated on the first Sunday in August, on the feast day of the patron saint of the town, Saint Peter.
Trivia
- To the north of the town lies the hamlet of Gaichel. It is renowned for its golfGolfGolf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
course, which is located partly on Luxembourgish and partly on Belgian territory.
- The chapel of Rentert was built in the 17th century. It belongs to the parishParishA parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
of Eischen, even though it lies on Belgian territory.
- The area around Eischen is ideally suited for hiking. A hiking and bicycle trail leads from Steinfort through the forest to Eischen.
- The popular social network, Facebook, has a group called "I'm an Eischen".