Spotlight on Villages in Luxembourg: Ansembourg

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 Ansembourg, a small village in the municipality of Helperknapp in the centre-west of Luxembourg (Canton Mersch) with a population of about 50. Ansembourg (Aansebuerg in Luxembourgish) is located in the picturesque Eisch valley, widely known as the Valley of the Seven Castles - the village is home to two of these seven castles.  

The main attraction is the Grand-Château d'Ansembourg (or the New Castle of Ansembourg) and its terraced gardens, which are open to the public throughout the year, except when the venue is closed for private events. The castle itself is not open to the public. Industrialist Thomas Bidart from Dinant (Belgium) and his brother Nicolas installed a forge in Ansembourg as well as a nearby furnace, in what became known as Simmerschmelz, in 1624. Thomas Bidart began building the central part of the "new" castle in Ansembourg in 1639; at that time, it served as a “Maison des Forges” (house of forges/ironworks). The ore was melted at Simmerschmelz and put into metal bars before being transported to the forge at the castle. 

After the death of Thomas Bidart in 1670, his daughter Marie-Anne Bidart inherited the forge. Eight years later, she erected the Chapelle au Mont-Marie on a nearby hill; the chapel was linked to a charitable foundation (École du Mont Marie) aimed at educating poor children in the region and the school was operational between 1688 and 1844. In 1731, a presbytery was built at the foot of the hill.

Future generations (having received the titles of barons and then counts) expanded the castle, adding two wings on each side of the original building and an archway featuring four statues representing the known continents at that time (Europe, Asia, Africa and America). Each statue has his hands bound behind his back, hinting at the idea of humans being slaves to their passions and values (as Chronicle.lu learned at the recent "Fête du Château"). It was Count Lambert-Joseph de Marchant et d'Ansembourg who created the Baroque-style castle gardens between 1730 and 1750. The gardens reflect his passion for botany and feature various plant species, fruit trees and leafy tunnels, a grotto, water fountains, ponds, staircases and walkways, including the mythological path (with five pairs of statues representing the likes of Roman god of wine Bacchus, the heroic Hercules and Venus, Roman goddess of love).

In 1987, the Japanese religious organisation Sukyo Mahikari purchased the Grand-Château d'Ansembourg and undertook renovation works, with the support of the National Sites and Monuments Service. 

The castle hosts various events throughout the year, including the "Fête du Château”; the 33rd edition of this festival took place on Sunday 6 August 2023. This event offers visitors an opportunity to visit the gardens and learn more about the castle through guided tours, as well as browse and shop for crafts and enjoy food and drinks from various stands. There is also an awareness-raising aspect to the festival: the recent edition raised awareness about and funds for the local non-profit organisation Fondation Coeur Vert and its restoration projects in Africa.

Overlooking the little village of Ansembourg is a second, older castle: the so-called Vieux Château d'Ansembourg (Old Castle of Ansembourg). This medieval castle is the private residence of the current Count of Ansembourg. The first mention of the property dates to the 12th century, at a time when Hubert d'Ansembourg was lord of the castle. In the 17th century, French troops attacked and damaged several castles in Luxembourg (in efforts to conquer the then Duchy), including the Old Castle of Ansembourg (in 1683). The aforementioned Bidart and de Marchant et d'Ansembourg families subsequently carried out repairs on the castle. In recent years, the private estate also served as a luxury boutique hotel (Temps d'Or Hotel) but, at the time of writing, is no longer accepting reservations.

In addition to the private chapel on Mont Marie, Ansembourg is home to another church: the Chapelle Notre Dame Consolatrice des Affligés, located a short distance away from the Grand-Château d'Ansembourg and right next to the CR105/Rue de la Vallée.