Limes Luxemburgensis
Limes Luxemburgensis (LL) is a border line around the Bambësch forest[1] in the City of Luxembourg. The original intention was to fix the boundaries of the Bambësch[2]. LL is not a closed circle and there is a gap of approximately 1,600 meters between markers 1 and 94, mostly corresponding to the Rollingergrund; perhaps the boundary in this section toward the city was already marked. Markers were placed on average every 84 meters, though it varies from 41 meters to 220 meters. The total LL length is 9098.52 meters (4668.3 toises); about 10700 meters including the unmarked gap, assuming that the boundary of the unmarked gap runs along the Rollingergrund.
The work was carried out by the Chief Engineer of the Fortress of Luxembourg, Nicolas de Jamez,[3] [4] in 1772 during the reign of Maria Theresa of Austria, Duchess of Luxembourg, one of her many titles. Two copies of a map was produced[5].
Today there are 62 boundary markers left, of the 94 originally put in place,[6] and earthworks in a few sections. Missing markers correspond mainly to the beginning (1-16) and end (90-94) sections, which are occupied with houses, miscellaneous building, and landfill.
Each marker has the following inscription: a unique consecutive number, the letters LL and the year 1772; markers 59, 60 and 88 have the additional inscription CC 1997 that seems to suggest that they were placed in 1997. Inscriptions are on the face of the marker toward the Bambësch; marker 33 faces the wrong direction; markers 18 and 19 show the back (the inscription is on the other side) looking from the path, as the path is outside the boundary.
Most markers are placed along paths and they are easily visible, such along the Maarkewee (markers path), though they could be shrouded by vegetation and visibility can change rapidly due to forestry work; markers 58, 59, and 60 near a road can be seen with Google Street View. Most markers further away from paths are accessible walking on the forest, though in some sections thick vegetation makes walking impossible. Earthworks tend to be parallel to paths and merge with them: it seems that earthworks were transformed into paths.
Probably some markers have been replaced at different times, as the stone weathering differs. Markers 34, 35, 37, 53, 54, 59, 60, and 88 look recent.
Classification of markers
The classification is highly speculative, except for found where the marker has been photographed.
- Found: picture shown.
- Missing: very high probability that it is missing. Examples: the exact location of 61 has been visited and it is not there; 15-17 as the location is in a landfill.
- Hidden: might be hidden under a pile of vegetation, branches or tree trunks; though it might be missing.
- Investigated: searched for and not found. Candidate for missing.
- To do: more work is needed.
Column NMT
Number-Meters-Toises
- First number in bold: marker number. Markers starting with an R area not part of the LL.
- Second number: distance in meters (rounded) to the next marker.
- Third number in italic: distance in toises (exact) to the next marker; 1 toise = 1.949 meters.
| Boundary markers of the Limes Luxemburgensis | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| NMT | Boundary marker - Found: 61 | Surroundings | Comments |
| R44
47 24.20 |
Missing | Marker not part of the LL. Location: Rollingergrund. | |
| R45
246 126.00 |
Missing | Marker not part of the LL. Location: Rollingergrund. | |
| 1
141 72.20 |
Missing | Street with houses. Location: Reckenthal. | |
| 2
112 57.30 |
Missing | Street with houses. Location: Reckenthal. | |
| 3
136 70.00 |
Missing | Street with houses. Location: Reckenthal. | |
| 4
139 71.40 |
Missing | Street with houses. Location: Reckenthal. | |
| 5
199 102.20 |
Missing | Street with houses. Location: Reckenthal. | |
| 6
183 94.00 |
Missing | Street with houses. Location: Reckenthal. | |
| 7
209 107.00 |
Investigated | Location: Reckenthal. | |
| 8
141 72.20 |
Investigated | Location: Reckenthal. | |
| 9
191 98.00 |
Investigated | Location: Reckenthal. | |
| 10
220 113.00 |
Investigated | Location: Reckenthal. | |
| 11
178 91.30 |
Investigated | Location: Reckenthal. | |
| 12
135 69.30 |
Investigated | Location: Reckenthal. | |
| 13
197 101.00 |
Investigated | Location: Reckenthal. | |
| 14
175 90.00 |
Missing | Location: Centre regional pour déchets inerte (a landfill) in the Schleidberg. This small part is cut-off from the Bambësch by the A6 motorway 49°37′41″N 6°04′18″E / 49.628007°N 6.071598°E. | |
| 15
51 26.20 |
Missing | Location: Centre regional pour déchets inerte (a landfill) in the Schleidberg. This small part is cut-off from the Bambësch by the A6 motorway 49°37′41″N 6°04′18″E / 49.628007°N 6.071598°E. | |
| 16
80 41.30 |
Missing | Location: Centre regional pour déchets inerte (a landfill) in the Schleidberg. This small part is cut-off from the Bambësch by the A6 motorway 49°37′41″N 6°04′18″E / 49.628007°N 6.071598°E. | |
| 17
143 73.20 |
To do | Location: bordering the A6 motorway. | |
| 18
170 87.00 |
|
Near the path, but hidden by some vegetation. | |
| 19
174 89.20 |
|
|
|
| 20
86 44.20 |
|
|
|
| 21
92 47.20 |
Hidden
|
|
|
| 22
82 42.00 |
|
|
|
| 23
71 36.30 |
|
|
|
| 24
105 54.00 |
|
|
|
| 25
104 53.30 |
|
|
|
| 26
80 41.00 |
|
|
There is a survey marker on top
 |
| 27
72 37.00 |
|
|
Marker 27-30 away from the path. Troublesome access. |
| 28
82 42.00 |
|
|
Marker 27-30 away from the path. |
| 29
68 35.00 |
|
|
Marker 27-30 away from the path. Troublesome access: lots of vegetation. |
| 30
96 49.20 |
|
|
Marker 27-30 away from the path. Troublesome access: lots of vegetation. |
| 31
79 40.30 |
|
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|
| 32
82 42.00 |
|
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|
| 33
84 43.30 |
|
|
The inscription faces the wrong direction.
Hypothesis This marker was moved after 1772; the person that moved this marker was not aware that inscriptions have to face the Bambësch. The error came because: other markers in this section are placed to the west of the path, so inscriptions face the Bambësch to the east and they can be read from the path; this marker is to the east of the path, so to make inscription readable from the path, it has to face west away from the Bambësch. |
| 34
101 52.00 |
|
|
|
| 35
67 34.30 |
|
|
|
| 36
70 36.00 |
|
|
|
| 37
58 30.00 |
|
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|
| 38
62 32.00 |
|
|
|
| 39
77 39.30 |
|
|
Troublesome access: about 40 meters from the path with lots of vegetation. |
| 40
62 32.00 |
|
|
Part of the Dräi Häre Maarken (Three Gentlemen Marks), a set of three boundary markers. Only number 40 is part of the Limes Luxemburgensis. |
| 41
43 22.00 |
|
|
Previously was visible; now covered by forestry work branches.
Markers 41-44 are about 20 to 30 meters parallel to the path. |
| 42
88 45.00 |
|
|
Markers 41-44 are about 20 to 30 meters parallel to the path. |
| 43
94 48.00 |
|
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Markers 41-44 are about 20 to 30 meters parallel to the path. |
| 44
76 39.00 |
|
|
Markers 41-44 are about 20 to 30 meters parallel to the path. |
| 45
76 39.00 |
|
|
Near the path, but covered by vegetation. |
| 46
82 42.30 |
|
|
|
| 47
84 43.00 |
|
|
Near the path, but hidden by a wall of vegetation. |
| 48
88 45.00 |
|
|
Markers 48-51 are on earthwork about 20 meters parallel to the path. |
| 49
90 46.00 |
|
|
Markers 48-51 are on earthwork about 20 meters parallel to the path. |
| 50
84 43.00 |
|
|
Markers 48-51 are on earthwork about 20 meters parallel to the path. |
| 51
86 44.30 |
|
|
Markers 48-51 are on earthwork about 20 meters parallel to the path. |
| 52
82 42.00 |
Hidden | 
|
|
| 53
90 46.20 |
|
|
|
| 54
86 44.30 |
|
|
|
| 55
96 49.00 |
|
|
Previously was visible; now covered by tree trunks. |
| 56
80 41.30 |
Hidden | 
|
|
| 57
109 56.00 |
|
|
No visible inscription. |
| 58
67 34.30 |
|
|
Google Street View |
| 59
74 38.00 |
|
|
Additional inscription: "CC 1997". The marker looks new, so it was probably placed in 1997. Google Street View |
| 60
92 47.00 |
|
|
Additional inscription: "CC 1997". The marker looks new, so it was probably placed in 1997. Google Street View |
| 61
92 47.00 |
Missing | 
|
|
| 62
96 49.00 |
|
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|
| 63
69 35.30 |
|
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|
| 64
63 32.20 |
|
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| 65
53 27.00 |
|
|
|
| 66
97 50.00 |
Missing | 
|
|
| 67
82 42.20 |
|
|
Most of the inscription is gone; the number "7" can be seen. Covered in sawdust from the cutting of a nearby tree. |
| 68
66 34.00 |
Hidden | 
|
|
| 69
66 34.10 |
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| 70
88 45.00 |
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| 71
55 28.00 |
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| 72
41 21.00 |
|
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The inscription is not visible as it is mostly buried. |
| 73
92 47.00 |
|
|
|
| 74
72 36.90 |
|
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| 75
84 43.00 |
|
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| 76
70 36.00 |
|
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| 77
69 35.30 |
|
|
|
| 78
74 38.00 |
|
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|
| 79
133 68.00 |
|
|
|
| 80
62 32.00 |
|
|
No visible inscription. |
| 81
51 26.20 |
Hidden | 
|
Markers 81-84 are about 20 meters parallel to the path. |
| 82
77 39.30 |
|
|
Markers 81-84 are about 20 meters parallel to the path. |
| 83
82 42.00 |
|
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Markers 81-84 are about 20 meters parallel to the path. |
| 84
78 40.20 |
|
|
Markers 81-84 are about 20 meters parallel to the path. |
| 85
63 32.30 |
Investigated | Location: locked yard. | |
| 86
66 34.00 |
Missing | ||
| 87
92 47.40 |
Missing | ||
| 88
86 44.00 |
|
|
Additional inscription: "CC 1997". The marker looks new, so it was probably placed in 1997. |
| 89
99 51.00 |
Missing | ||
| 90
207 106.00 |
Missing | Street with houses. | |
| 91
142 73.00 |
Missing | Street with houses. | |
| 92
142 73.00 |
Missing | Street with houses. | |
| 93
70 36.00 |
Missing | Street with houses. | |
| 94
113 58.10 |
Missing | Street with houses. | |
| R46 | Missing | Location: Rollingergrund. Marker not part of the LL. | |
References
- ^ "Dépliant promenades et parcours de santé au Bambësch (FR, DE)" (PDF). August 2017.
- ^ "La prévôté de Luxembourg (XIIIe – XVIIIe s." (PDF). May 2021.
- ^ "Der Chef-Ingenieur der Festung Luxemburg, Nicolas de Jamez, beendete das Aufstellen der Grenzsteine zur Festlegung der Grenzen des ‚Bambësch'. Die Grenzsteine waren mit den Buchstaben - LL - für ‚Limes Luxemburgensis' beschriftet. Einige dieser Grenzsteine sind noch heute nahe Bridel zu sehen" (PDF). 25 October 1772.
- ^ "Daniel Erpelding über Heraldik, Studentengeschichte und anderes". 1959.
- ^ Carte particuliere des limittes et separation du Bambusch bois appartenant a la ville de luxembourg avec les abornemens qui ont ete faits aux mois de septembre et octobre 1772. 25 October 1772.
- ^ Dépliant promenades et parcours de santé au Bambësch. 2021.