Koerich facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Koerich
Käerch (Luxembourgish)
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Commune
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Koerich church
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Map of Luxembourg with Koerich highlighted in orange, and the canton in dark red
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| Country |  Luxembourg |
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| Canton | Capellen | |
| Area rank | ? of 100 | |
| Highest elevation | 368 m (1,207 ft) | |
| • Rank | 74th of 100 | |
| Lowest elevation | 262 m (860 ft) | |
| • Rank | 65th of 100 | |
| Population
(1 January 2019)
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| • Total | 2,591 | |
| • Rank | 60th of 100 | |
| • Density rank | 16th of 100 | |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) | |
| LAU 2 | LU0000106 | |
| Website | koerich.lu | |
Koerich (called Luxembourgish: Käerch in Luxembourgish) is a charming village and a 'commune' (like a small district) in western Luxembourg. It's part of the Capellen area.
In As of 2023[update], about 2,706 people lived in Koerich. Other small villages nearby include Goeblange, Goetzingen, and Windhof. Koerich is a pretty place with an old castle ruin and a church with a unique 'onion' shaped tower. Even though it feels rural, it's only about 15 kilometers west of Luxembourg City.
Contents
Where is Koerich Located?
The village of Koerich sits in a valley. A small stream called the Goeblange flows through it, heading towards the River Eisch to the west. Koerich is found where two main roads meet: the CR 109 and the CR 110.
The center of the village is about 295 meters above sea level. Some parts of the village, like the neighborhoods to the north and south, are a bit higher, reaching about 320 meters. This means the streets in Koerich can be quite hilly! The land around the village has a mix of forests and open fields, where farmers grow different crops.
A Glimpse into Koerich's Past
The area around Koerich has a long history, going back about 2,000 years. There's good proof that the Romans lived here between the 1st and 4th centuries.
Roman Life in Koerich
Near Windhof, to the south, the commune touches an old Roman road called the Kiem. This road connected the cities of Trier and Reims. To the north-west, in the Miecher forest near Goeblange, amazing remains of a Roman farming community have been found.
Archaeologists have dug up two large villas (fancy Roman farmhouses), and their foundations have been partly rebuilt. There are also other old buildings and forts at the site that are still being uncovered.
Koerich's First Records and Castles
The first time Koerich was mentioned in official papers was in 979. However, it wasn't until the 12th century that two castles were built here. One was the Fockeschlass, but no traces of it remain today. The other was the Grevenschlass, whose ruins you can still see in the middle of the village.
The Grand Koerich Castle
The Grevenschlass, now known as Koerich Castle, was built by Wirich I, who was the Lord of Koerich, around the late 1100s and early 1200s. It was built in the Romanesque style. The castle was made even bigger in 1304 by Godefroid of Koerich. The watchtower, which is 11 meters tall today, was likely much taller when it was first built. The castle was surrounded by a moat (a ditch filled with water) and had a strong entrance with a portcullis (a heavy gate that could be lowered).
Around 1380, a new owner, Gilles of Autel and Koerich, made the castle more comfortable to live in. He added two 12-meter tall towers at each end of the south wall. The tower on the southwest side, which is still standing, has a chapel on its ground floor.
In 1580, Jacques de Raville became the new owner and made more changes. He took down some parts of the castle and added two new sections in the Renaissance style. The grand fireplace on the first floor and the large rectangular windows show how splendid the castle was back then. The south part of the castle was changed again in 1728, this time with baroque additions.
After the Raville family died out in the late 1700s, the castle began to fall apart because it wasn't looked after. In 1950, Pierre Flammang, the last private owner, did some important repairs. Eventually, the castle became owned by the State. Today, major repairs are still happening to preserve this historic site.
The Village Church
It seems there was a church in Koerich as early as the 12th century, dedicated to Saint Remigius. In 1610, the old church was taken down, and a new one was built in the Renaissance style. Over the next hundred years, more parts were added in Renaissance and baroque styles. These included a tower, chapels near the altar, a grand main altar, and new furniture inside. In 1727, a baroque tower was added. A huge bell was put in place in 1778. Finally, in 1791, the tower got its special onion-shaped spire.
Other than a new organ in 1969, no major changes have been made since. The church was fully restored in the early 1990s, making sure it stays beautiful for many years to come.
Koerich's Population Over Time
Famous People from Koerich
- Arsène Mersch (1913–1980), a professional road bicycle racer from Luxembourg.
Koerich Today
Even though Koerich still feels like a quiet countryside village, it has become a popular place to live over the last 30 years. Many new homes, including detached houses and apartment buildings, have been built in and around the village. New shops and cafes have also opened up.
The closest large supermarket, Cactus, is in Windhof, which is only a couple of kilometers from Koerich. A new Lidl store also opened in 2022. While the village of Koerich itself hasn't attracted many new businesses, Windhof, just 2 kilometers to the south, has become a big new center for business activity.
