clemency

Clemency, Luxembourg

Clemency (Kënzeg, Küntzig) 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.

As of 2006, 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.

Location

The commun is located on the Belgian border at the source of the River Eisch. 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.

Celtic tomb

The history of Clemency goes back to the 1st century BC when the Treveri, 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 amphorae, 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.

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 Pétange 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.

The old railway

In 1873, the Prince Henri railway was opened. It took passengers and goods from Pétange 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.

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 Lamadelaine to Colmar-Berg.