Lonzenburg

“A toast to Lonzenburg!” boomed a voice, echoing through the valley. Lonzenburg. It sits nestled beside the Ruwer, a quaint village with a history as rich as the vineyards that surround it. Lonzenburg wasn’t always a tranquil village. It began as a bustling estate, owned by the Schenk von Schmidtburg barons. Imagine, in 1298, Ysembard von Godewilre, right here in Lonzenburg, selling his land to the St. Katharina Dominican monastery in Trier. This transaction marked a turning point for Lonzenburg. The monastery, savvy landlords, leased the estate to local farmers. Names like Claß Theiß von Emmel and Matthias Leinenweber, who eventually bought the estate in 1805 during the Napoleonic secularization, became intertwined with Lonzenburg’s story. The name itself, Lonzenburg, has morphed through time. In 1305, it was Luntzenburg, then Lanzinberg in 1323, Lützenburg in 1546, and finally settled as Lontzenburg in 1668. Lonzenburg’s spiritual life also shifted. From 1584 to 1630, it belonged to the Osburg parish. Then, it became part of Morscheid, then Gusterath, and finally Pluwig in 1804. This small village, tucked away in the valley, has seen centuries of change, from powerful barons to hardworking farmers, from shifting names to changing parishes. Today, as you stand here, you can almost hear the echoes of those who walked these lands before, a testament to Lonzenburg’s enduring spirit. And if you look closely, you might just catch a glimpse of the Banneux pilgrimage chapel, built in 1957, a modern addition to this ancient village.