Spotlight on Villages in Luxembourg: Betzdorf

Throughout August, Chronicle.lu will be shining a spotlight on various villages across the Grand Duchy; the focus is mainly on some of the (perhaps) lesser-known villages with particular points of interest or an interesting history (e.g. cultural and/or industrial heritage).

The next article in this series is dedicated to Betzdorf, a village in the municipality of the same name in eastern Luxembourg (Canton Grevenmacher) with a population of about 290. Betzdorf (Betzder in Luxembourgish) oozes rural charm and is surrounded by verdant nature; the small river Syre passes through the village. According to the website of the municipality of Betzdorf, the name of Betzdorf, originally Bettinsdorf (1321) comes either from a person named “Betto” or from a locality near Betzdorf named "Be'it".

The old castle of Betzdorf, currently located within the grounds of the Institut Saint Joseph, was inhabited in particular by the families of Bertrange, Lellig, Berbourg, Eltz, Berg and Mohr de Waldt. Some of the artfully sculpted tombs of these feudal lords can still be admired today in the baroque church of Betzdorf.

On 19 April 1707, Bernard de Berg sold Château de Betzdorf to Lothar Ferdinand Mohr de Waldt and his wife Marie-Louise de Warsberg. When Philippine Mohr de Waldt died in Betzdorf on 28 June 1870, the castle was bequeathed to her niece, the Comtesse de Fénelon de Salignac, who sold it to Lord Frédéric Lech. It was finally ceded to the Sisters of St Elisabeth who founded the Institut St Joseph there, housing over 100 people with disabilities.

Nowadays, the institute is part of the Elisabeth network, a major social player in Luxembourg. The centre welcomes people with intellectual disabilities and aims to help them find the security they need. Residents live in heterogeneous accommodation groups of several people, who organise their daily lives together, with support and assistance from the Elisabeth network. On the premises of the Institut St Joseph are the following Yolande Coop professional inclusion workshops: the soap workshop "de SeefenAtelier", the recycling workshop "RecyclingAtelier" and the laundry room "de Wäschbuer". A boutique is also available on the premises.

In 1912, the new Château de Betzdorf was built (located on the outskirts of the village, near the forests). During the Second World War, the castle fell into enemy hands. In 1953, it became the property of the Luxembourg state based on an agreement on German property, interests and rights signed in Paris on 21 December 1945.

The state domain “Château de Betzdorf” is registered in the cadastre of the municipality of Betzdorf and consists of buildings, rural and forest property with a total area of 35 hectares and 80 ares.

When Grand Duke Jean became engaged to Princess Joséphine-Charlotte of Belgium on 9 April 1953, the young couple moved to Château de Betzdorf. All princely children were born at the castle, namely Princess Marie-Astrid (17 February 1954), Grand Duke Henri (16 April 1955), Prince Jean and Princess Margaretha (15 May 1957) and Prince Guillaume (1 May 1963).

The Grand Ducal family left Betzdorf on 18 November 1964, to settle in the castle of Colmar-Berg. Between 1964 and 1982, Château de Betzdorf served as a nursing home. From 21 to 30 July 1982, the castle estate hosted 3,000 Luxembourg and foreign guides and scouts on the occasion of the international camp in honour of the 75th anniversary of the JUBICA scout movement (JUBIläumsCAmp). In 1986, the Betzdorf castle estate became the headquarters of the “Société Européenne des Satellites”, today SES, the largest satellite operator in the world outside the US. SES has use of the old castle, but as it was not large enough, larger and more modern buildings were built for use as offices. Other data centres are located in the same area.

There is a panoramic tour (a 40.5 km circuit) bypassing Betzdorf and leading to the ranges of hills on the banks of the Syre valley, offering visitors a breathtaking view of the valley and the different localities. Given its length, the tour is divided into six stages.

Moreover, the non-profit organisation De Leederwon, founded in 2008, is based in Betzdorf. It provides various activities such as horseback riding, covered wagon riding or "wagon-bed riding", enabling people unable to sit to "ride" lying down. The carriage is made up of a metal frame with three wheels with two horses standing in the frame with a cloth stretched over them. An individual can be positioned on an adjustable cloth, thereby lying on the horses' back during a leisurely walk on level ground. The contact with animals, their warmth and movement but also their smell and the novel activity itself can have a calming and relaxing effect. Wagon-bed riding allows people with complex disabilities to participate in a recreational activity. The rhythm of movement also stimulates numerous bodily functions, such as bowel activity (often impaired in people with complex disabilities due to lack of exercise), circulation and blood flow, among other benefits. This experience is available in Betzdorf, for people with or without disabilities, and can be combined with other activities.