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22-473: As of 2023, the commune of Koerich has a population of 2,706. The other small communities in the commune are Goeblange , Goetzingen and Windhof . With its onion-towered church standing above the ruins of the medieval castle, Koerich has a particularly attractive rural setting although it is only 15 km west of Luxembourg City . The village lies in the valley of the Goeblange stream which flows down to

44-405: A moat , the castle originally had a fortified entrance with a portcullis . From 1380, Gilles of Autel and Koerich converted the stronghold into a more comfortable residence by building two 12-m towers at either end of the south wall. The south-western tower which still stands, houses a chapel on the ground floor. In 1580, the new owner Jacques de Raville made further changes, demolishing part of

66-570: A distinctly rural atmosphere, it has over the past 30 years become increasingly popular as a residential area. Many new properties, both detached houses and apartment buildings, have been constructed in and around the village. New shops and cafés have also opened.The nearest supermarket is Cactus in Windhof, less than a couple of kilometres from the heart of Koerich.There is also a new Lidl being inaugurated in 2022. The village of Koerich has not attracted new businesses. By contrast, Windhof , 2 km to

88-617: A height of 334 m, is the highest point in the vicinity. The history of Windhof dates back to Roman times owing to its location on the Kiem or Roman road from Trier to Reims . Some years ago, a Roman milestone was found on the Kiem between Capellen and Windhof. The road was probably constructed in the 1st century BC but it became particularly important in the 3rd and 4th centuries when Trier developed as an imperial residence. A map from 1778 refers to today's Windhof as Koericher Heyde The main road from Luxembourg to Arlon, now N6 or

110-519: A history extending back some 2,000 years. There is strong evidence that the Romans inhabited the area between the 1st and 4th centuries. To the south at Windhof the commune borders on the Kiem or Roman road from Trier to Reims and to the north-west, in the Miecher forest near Goeblange , impressive remains of a Roman farming community have been found. Two large villas have been excavated and

132-575: Is little recent residential development apart from a few houses on the western side. There are two restaurants in the centre of the village, a pizzeria and a Portuguese establishment. Windhof is connected to Luxembourg by regular bus service. In 2010 a number of local companies founded Ecoparc Windhof, with the purpose to promote the zone. In addition the Ecoparc Windhof has joined an ambitious European research program interreg with Luxembourgish and international partners in order to implement

154-514: Is now expanding rapidly as a business development area. Windhof is located 15 km west of Luxembourg City at a strategic position for transport and communications on the N6 road from Luxembourg City to Arlon close to the busy European route E25 linking Luxembourg to Arlon and Brussels . It stands on the crossroads where the N6 intersects N13 to Koerich (north) and Dalhem (south). Windhof, at

176-552: The A6 motorway or European route E25 it links Luxembourg to Brussels and beyond creating excellent facilities for Windhof. Windhof has now become a rapidly developing, increasingly prosperous centre of business activity. Over 100 small to medium-sized companies employing over 500 people have now been established there in a range of service sectors including information technology and telecommunications , construction , management consulting , warehousing and waste management . There

198-482: The Grevenschlass whose ruins still dominate the centre of the village. The Grevenschlass , now known as Koerich Castle , was built by Wirich I, Lord of Koerich and Seneschal of Luxembourg at the end of the 12th and beginning of the 13th century in late Romanesque style . It was expanded in 1304 by Godefroid of Koerich. The watchtower, now 11 m tall, was certainly much higher when it was built. Surrounded by

220-656: The National Museum of History and Art excavated Celtic tombs dating back to 50 BC to 30 BC which had been discovered in 1966 about 500 m NE of the Roman ruins in an area known as Scheierheck . The tombs were no doubt the resting place of aristocrats - four men and one woman - judging from the artifacts which were found there. These included: 1 amphoric wine flagon, 4 bottles, 7 plates, 5 pots, 7 bowls, 5 cups, 1 flat plate, 1 goblet, 1 drinking horn, 1 iron knife, 2 lance blades, 2 spurs, 3 bronze broches, 1 pair of scissors and

242-541: The River Eisch to the west. It is at the junction of the CR 109 to Goeblange and Capellen and the CR 110 to Windhof and Dippach . The centre of the village is 295 m above sea level while the residential developments to the north and south rise to a height of 320 m. The streets in the village are therefore very hilly. The surrounding countryside is a mixture of forests and open fields with mixed farming. The commune has

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264-624: The Route d'Arlon was built in 1790, slightly to the north of the Roman road. It was here that the first houses appeared in Windhof. American troops, liberating Luxembourg in September 1944, proceeded through Windhof towards Arlon along this road which became known as the Voie de la Liberté . In the 1970s, the Autoroute d'Arlon with an exit just 1 km to the south of Windhof was built. Designated

286-477: The 1st century but was considerably modified during the 2nd and 3rd centuries. The room in the north-west corner was converted into a caldarium for heated baths . The other rooms were probably used to house the servants. The building was abandoned in the 4th century and fell to ruin. The Roman road from Trier to Arlon and Reims passes through nearby Capellen . Produce from the Miecher settlement could therefore have been transported along this road. In 1993,

308-422: The crossroads with the road from Septfontaines to Windhof . Once a farming community, it is now increasingly becoming a residential area adjacent to Koerich. In the Miecher forest, about 1 km north-east of the village, extensive remains of a Roman farming community have been found. Two large villas have been excavated and the foundations partially rebuilt. There are other buildings and fortifications on

330-462: The foundations partially rebuilt. There are other buildings and fortifications on the site which are now being uncovered. According to the commune's website, the first documentary reference to Koerich was in 979 but it was not until the 12th century that its two castles were built: the Fockeschlass of which all traces have disappeared though it is shown on the first cadastral map in 1771; and

352-399: The land to the south. The cellar built in the 1st century was later converted into a cistern for water supply. There is also evidence of water purification systems. By the 4th century, the south facade with its large porch, its two lateral towers and its central door must have made the villa an impressive sight. The second building, in the north-west corner of the settlement was constructed in

374-715: The last private owner, carried out some essential structural repairs before the castle finally came into the hands of the State. Today major repairs are in progress. There appears to have been a church in Koerich as long ago as the 12th century when there were references to Saint Remigius , its patron saint. In 1610, the existing church was pulled down and in its place, a new structure was built in Renaissance style . Various additions in Renaissance and baroque were made over

396-419: The next hundred years; a tower, various lateral chapels in the choir, an impressive high altar, furnishings in the nave and, in 1727 a baroque tower. A huge bell was added in 1778. Finally, the tower was crowned with its distinctive onion-shaped spire in 1791. Apart from a new organ in 1969, there have been no further major additions. The church was fully restored in the early 1990s. Although Koerich still has

418-476: The property and adding two Renaissance wings. The stately fireplace on the first floor and large rectangular windows testify to the castle's palatial splendor at the time. The south wing was again altered in 1728, this time with baroque additions. After the death of the Ravilles in the second half of the 18th century, the castle started to fall into ruin owing to lack of maintenance. In 1950, Pierre Flammang,

440-508: The remains of cremation, including those of a wild boar. 49°40′N 5°58′E  /  49.667°N 5.967°E  / 49.667; 5.967 Windhof Windhof ( Luxembourgish : Wandhaff ) is a village in the south of the commune of Koerich in south-western Luxembourg . It lies on the N6 road from Luxembourg City to Arlon in Belgium . Although it was just a small collection of houses until about 20 years ago, it

462-418: The site which are now being unearthed. Information boards at the site explain that the villas probably date back to the 1st century but were extensively developed in the 4th century. Roman civilization was then thriving in the area owing to the prosperity of the imperial city of Trier . The Villa Miecher, a villa rustica covering some 700 m2 and designated Building I, stands on elevated ground overlooking

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484-399: The south has become a major new centre of business activity. Goeblange Goeblange ( Luxembourgish : Giewel , German : Göblingen ) is a village in the commune of Koerich , in southern Luxembourg about 13 km west of Luxembourg City . As of 2023 , the village had a population of 722. Goeblange lies 321 m above sea level on the CR 109 from Koerich to Capellen at

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