Monuments to visit Mersch

Located in the center of the small town, the castle of Mersch has long since lost its ramparts and its moat. Of simple appearance, made of stone and slate roof, preceded by a rural outbuilding with a typical red-pink color, it has been the object of numerous restorations over the centuries. Today it is the first stop in the Valley of the Seven Castles. Its construction dates back to the Middle Ages, in 1232, when Theodoric I became the founder of the lordship of Mersch. However, the fortress was stormed by Burgundian troops and burned down. It was then rebuilt for the first time. In 1304, the first noble family of Mersch died out for lack of male lineage. Through successive marriages, the lordship passed into the hands of numerous families: Milberg, Kerpen-Manders-cheid, Brandenburg, Feltz, Autel, Mohr von Waldt, Reinach, Sonnenberg. The last noble owners, the Von Sonnenberg-Reinach, sold the castle in 1898 to a wholesale trader Charles Schwartz-Hallinger. In 1927 it became the property of a bailiff, Pierre Uhres-Fabritius.

Then, in 1957, the municipality acquired the castle, before selling it to the State just three years later. But thanks to an exchange contract signed in 1988, the commune regained ownership of the castle. In 1993, after extensive renovations, the castle became the seat of the municipal administration. Today it houses the administrative offices of the municipality. It is therefore not possible to visit the interior.

The Lords of Reckingen were first mentioned in documents in the 12th century. The castle was owned by the Fock von Hübingen family in the 16th century (Ernst Fock von Hübingen, who died in 1573, is buried in the parish church in a Renaissance vault) and later by Cavalry Captain Peter Blum in 1699. In 1870 the fortress was completely razed to the ground. The medieval keep, with dimensions of 9 x 9 m and 1.5 m thick walls, was preserved over a height of 3 m, before being integrated into a private dwelling.

Erected in 1707, the Saint-Michel tower, named after the famous archangel who struck down evil, is a remnant of the former parish church. It is 40 metres high and has an original architectural form. Recognizable by its unique dome-shaped dome roof with an octagonal, baroque bulb, it is the symbol of the city of Mersch. Since 1997, the monument has had a faithful companion and neighbour, a bronze dragon statue. The St. Michael's Tower houses the Tourist Info, where you can find all the necessary information about the region.

Owned by the State since 1947, this former fortress is now in ruins. However, one of the towers and the walls are fairly well preserved. Its enclosure forms a square of 30 metres on each side, which was once surrounded by a moat fed by the Weillerbach stream. Its history dates back to the 10th century: the fortress was then known as Pittigero Mazini. The name Pettingen or Pittange was not given to it until the 13th century.