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Luxembourg Heritage News
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April 2009
| Luxembourgish Poet Receives Award |
A noted Luxembourgish poet, Anise Koltz, has been awarded the Jean Arp Prize at the 4th European Literature Convention in Strasbourg, France.
The 80 year-old poet has compiled over 20 books of her poetry published in ten languages, as well as works of prose.
Luxembourg's Prime Minister, Jean-Claude Juncker, wrote to her stating that the honour "fills me with pride". The LACS congratulates Anise on winning this award. |
Countdown to Tasting Luxembourg's 2008 Wine Vintage
The 2008 Luxembourg grape harvest from the vineyards along the Moselle river yielded around 130,000 hectalitres, down from the 10-year average of 141,000 hectalitres.
Although the volume was down, the quality is expected to be up, including the aromatic qualities of the wines produced which are expetced to me more fruity than average. The high pressure weather arrived at the right time in September, following rains earlier in the month, according to the Institut Viti-Vinicole (IVV) in Remich, as reported in the Wort. The cooler summer weather last year means that the grapes were less susceptible to unwanted microbiological activity before fermentation. The higher acidity is needed for grape varieties such as Elbling, Riesling and Pinot Blanc.
The countdown has started to the annual wine market in Grevenmacher on 17 April where friends of Luxembourg wines can taste the 2008 vintage for themselves.
Vineyards of Grevenmacher, Luxembourg |
Names of 6000+ Luxembourgers from 1860 U.S. Census Now
Available Online
LACS
Member and noted researcher/genealogist, Rene Daubenfeld
of Luxembourg recently published a list of 6000+
Luxembourgers found in the 1860 U.S. Census on his website
- www.haffren.lu.
Rene's friend, Marcel Wintquin of Boulaide, Luxembourg
undertook the enormous task of creating the list by
transcribing the names from the 1860 census. The names
currently reflect spellings as in the transcription but
Rene and Marcel plan to correct misspellings of names and
also add the Luxembourg place of origin. This project
will unfold in the months ahead.
To
view the list of 6000+ names and to perhaps find your own
relatives on this list, visit Rene's website at
www.haffren.lu. Also
view information on Rene's website regarding his "Building
Bridges" Luxembourg heritage tour of the U.S. which
Rene leads each year.
Luxembourgish "Language Leave" Details Announced
Luxembourg's Minister for Labor, Mr Francois Biltgen, yesterday formally announced details of the Luxembourgish "Language Leave", following its recent adoption by Luxembourg's Parliament.
Anyone employed in the Grand Duchy for at least six months can apply for up to 200 hours of paid leave in order to study Luxembourgish at a language centre of their choice. The 200 hours must be taken in two stages, the first of 80 hours and the second of 120 hours.
Approval is first needed from employers and a request is sent to the Ministry of Labor which will refund the employer at a rate up to four times the minimum wage plus social security costs. The Grand Duchy has offered this Language Leave in an effort to preserve and strengthen the Luxembourgish language due to Luxembourg's diverse ethnic population and work force.
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Minister Biltgen at Press Conference
March 2009
Luxembourgers Celebrate in Florida
The Luxembourg American Cultural Society celebrated its second annual Florida Luxembourg Day on March 14 in Naples, Florida. About 50 Luxembourgers and Luxembourg Americans gathered to celebrate their heritage, to renew old friendships and to meet new friends. The event was hosted by LACS Board Member Jean Calmes and his wife Trixie at their home on the Gulf shores of Naples. A number of LACS Board members were present as the Board held it quarterly meeting in Naples earlier that morning. Visitors to this year's Florida Luxembourg Day hail from Luxembourg, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Washington, California, and from throughout Florida. The LACS extends its gratitude to Jean and Trixie Calmes for their gracious hospitality.
L-R: Egide Thein, Trixie Calmes, Jean Calmes
Fausto Gardini, Nicole Maclean, and Marcia Gardini Enjoying Some Luxembourg Wine
The Thein Family of Minnesota and Luxembourg Enjoying the Day Together
L-R: Bill Soll, Astrid Soll, Jean Calmes
Village of Koerich, Luxembourg to Receive Facelift
Secretary of State for Culture, Octavie Modert, and the Mayor of Koerich, Luxembourg, Léon Eschette, yesterday announced that the village of Koerich (population: 2,000) is to receive a unique face-lift.
The old castle in Koerich is to be refurbished and the ruined castle towers are to be restored, along with the original moat and inner patios and walkways. Architect Tatiana Fabeck presented details of the 4.3 million euros project which is being funded by the local authority (commune), the Ministry of Culture and the Service des Sites et Monuments Nationaux.
Mayor Marie-Josée Gressnich-Weiler from neighbouring Simmern was also in attendance, fuelling speculation of a merger between the two small communes.
Secretary of State Modert stated that this project should be the first of many involving the revitalization and modernization of rural villages throughout the Grand Duchy.
Wisconsin Luxembourgers Celebrate Before
Lent
The
Luxembourg Society of Wisconsin held its annual "Fuesecht"
pre-Lenten celebration on Sunday, February 22 at Curley's
Restaurant in Belgium, Wisconsin. Winners of the Fuesecht
costume contest included (seated from left) Joan Bley, Bea
Krier, Amy Bley, (standing) Cheryl Koch, Gary Koch, Mary
Flierl, Vern Gantner, Elaine Nulph and Leroy Bley. The
celebration of the pre-Lenten Fuesecht is an annual
Luxembourg tradition enjoyed in the Grand Duchy.
Photo by Sam Arendt, Ozaukee Press,
Port Washington,
Wisconsin
11 Restaurants in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg get "Stars"
from Prestigious Michelin Guide 2009!
In its 2009th edition, the
Michelin guide crowns 11 of Luxembourg's gourmet restaurants
with a total of 13 stars.
In addition to the 'Mosconi'
restaurant (Ilario Mosconi) at the heart of the UNESCO
'World Heritage Site' districts of Luxembourg's capital, a
second restaurant owns a second Michelin star, namely 'La
Table de Guilloux' (run by Pierrick Guillou) situated some
17 km to the west of the capital of Luxembourg in
Schouweiler.
The other restaurants recognized
with a Michelin star in the 2008 edition are: the "Toit pour
toi" in Schouweiler, the "Manoir Kasselslay" in Clervaux (Roder),
the 'Lea Linster' restaurant ('Bocuse d'Or' award 1989) in
Frisange, 'Clairefontaine' (Arnaud Magnier) and 'Le Bouquet
Garni' (Thierry Duhr) in Luxembourg, "Le Patin d'Or" in
Kockelscheuer, "La Gaichel" in Gaichel 'Les Roses' (Peter
Körner) at the Casino 2000 in Mondorf-les-Bains, as well as
the 'Favaro' (Renato) restaurant in Esch-sur-Alzette,
Luxembourg's second city located at a mere 20 minutes drive
from the capital.
And once more let us
highlight the restaurants 'De Pefferkär' in Huncherange, the
"Parc Le'h" in Dudelange, the "Lëtzebuerger Kaschthaus" in
Hellange, the "Kamakura" in Luxembourg-City and the "Du
Vieux Château" in Wiltz which are awarded with a 'Bib
gourmand' in 2009 for its good quality/price ratio.
For more information on
these restaurants, visit the website:
http://www.viamichelin.com/.
16 February 2009
Princess Alexandra of Luxembourg Turns 18
Princess Alexandra, the only daughter of Luxembourg's Grand
Duke Henri and his Cuban-born wife Grand Duchess Maria
Teresa, turned 18 on February 16. The Princess was born in
1991 and is the fourth of five children born to the royal
couple. She has four brothers including Crown Prince
Guillaume. Through her father, Princess Alexandra is
related to every currently reigning European monarch. She
holds a host of titles including Princess of Luxembourg,
Princess of Nassau and Princess of Parma.
Princess Alexandra is not the only member of the royal
family celebrating a special occasion. Her parent, Grand
Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, celebrated their
28th wedding anniversary on February 14, bringing back
memories of their royal Valentine's Day union in 1981.
12 February 2009
Temporary Bridge to Service Traffic During
Pont Adolphe Bridge Repairs
Luxembourg City's mayor, Paul Helminger, has confirmed that
the renovation work on the Pont Adolphe Bridge in Luxembourg
City's centre will necessitate a temporary bridge being
erected to service traffic.
The announcement ends months of uncertainty as to how
traffic would get across the Petrusse valley, since the
announcement was made that the bridge requires structural
repairs. It is also to be widened at the same time, to make
way for Luxembourg City's tram system which will use the
Pont Adolphe Bridge after it is renovated.
The new, temporary, bridge will be located beside the
current bridge. It is to be as inconspicuous as possible and
will service cars, buses, bicycles and pedestrians.
The Pont Adolphe Bridge was originally built between 1900 to
1903. It was named on behalf of Grand Duke Adolphe who
reigned in Luxembourg from 1890 - 1905.
11 February 2009
Luxembourg City Population Reaches 90,000
The population of Luxembourg City has reached 90,000
residents.
Yesterday, Mr Martin James Levesque was honored as the
90,000th resident of the city in a ceromony at the Hotel de
Ville.
Luxembourg City's mayor, Paul Helminger, stated "We are
pleased that the quality of life offered by the City of
Luxembourg leads many people to choose the capital as a place
of residence and we are committed to continually make it more
friendly, dynamic and cosmopolitan".
The city's population has risen 15% over the past 10
years. Luxembourg City is the largest city in the Grand Duchy.
January 15, 2009
Ambassador Jean-Paul Senninger Visits
Wheaton College
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