You don’t go to Montenach by chance. 22 km from Thionville and 2 km from Sierck-les-Bains, the village of 479 souls is nevertheless the object of much covetousness.
People go there for its nature reserve, which has been classified nationally for thirty years, but also for its nature center, a community facility that has attracted more than 65,000 visitors in ten years. Suffice to say that lovers of walks do not have to be asked to put on hiking shoes or get in the saddle, several circuits are to be taken. Montenach extends over 900 ha of communal land and has two annexes, namely Kaltweiler and Sulzen. “The reserve represents 107 ha, explains Mayor Jean-Paul Tinnes. We also have 399 ha classified Natura 2000 and areas of ecological interest. »
On foot and by bike
People come here to breathe but also to take advantage of the proximity of Luxembourg and Germany. Unfortunately, real estate there is scarce and excessive. “The sloping construction accentuates the invoice”, admits the elected official, installed since 1986 in the locality for which he had a real crush. “We have few properties available, we have some rental accommodation. We receive calls every day. It is very popular for the living environment and the geographical location. »
However, the village can be hostile due to the presence of two apparently calm streams. “We had storms, especially in 1759, but also in 1995,” recalls Alphonse Gambs, the local historian. Since then, floods have been rarer, luckily. “Piping works have been carried out”, specifies the mayor. Another particularity: the religious monuments. “You can see two chapels there, that of Kaltweiler built at the beginning of the 20th century dedicated to Saint Anthony of Padua and another, at the top of the Klausberg, dedicated to Saint Cyriac. In the past, many pilgrims went there to cure a handicap”, says Alphonse Gambs. As for the church, rebuilt in 1896, it still attracts crowds on the fifth Sunday after Easter, “a mass in memory of the blessing of the old chapel is still celebrated. ” Open your eyes, because Montenach also conceals twelve Calvaries and crosses, dating from 1600 and 1850. ” We even had a synagogue before the war. »
Three tables and a hotel
The town therefore offers a restful enchanted interlude. It has also become an essential place for gourmets and lovers of good food. “We have three restaurants, salivates the mayor. There is the Val Sierckois, which will unfortunately close at the end of September, and the Auberge de la Klauss which used to be a café. And Le K which is in the Domaine de la Klauss. As you will have understood, the hotel-spa erected in 2016 also contributes to the notoriety of the place. “People come from all over the world to stay here. Thanks to the hotel, the restaurants and the nature reserve, there are 30,000 visitors a year. It’s enormous for a small village like ours. These are also 120 jobs. »
A cozy nest
Nicknamed the Ravens, the inhabitants of Montenach are attached to the land, to their roots. “It’s pretty peaceful. We have four associations and have a factory council as well as a recent school. This village, whether you grew up there or stop there, you inevitably fall in love with it,” confides Jean-Paul Tinnes, who found his little corner of paradise there nearly thirty years ago.
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