We do not arrive in Guirsch by chance. You have to leave the main road and engage on a small rising track through a dense forest. After the mound, the light fuse and a breathtaking landscape greets us: large expanses of meadows and fields as far as the eye can see. The Haut-Plateau delivers a panoramic view of the start of the Ardennes and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. The old buildings of Guirsch, established along a crest and affecting an annular structure, however occupies mainly the surroundings of the main street, where the constructions are freely aligned, from the municipal school to the castle which closes the perspective. Of the three important neighboring farms, dating from the 18th or the first years of the 19th century, two were established in the counter-high and directed their beautiful facades towards it, behind large fenced gardens. The ensemble, homogeneous, proves to be of high architectural quality.
The Château de Guirsch. The first Château de Guirsch was destroyed in 1413 but the Castral Chapel, dedicated to Saint Willibrord, resisted to become the current village church. The castle which remains today, erected between 1749 and 1763 in plaster and size stone, is on an overhanging overlooking a large wooded park and is preceded by a large courtyard closed by a wrought iron gate. This third seigniorial house of Guirsch was built for André de Marche, whose family owned the good until the end of the 19th century. From the rue du Château, we access the whole by an imposing porch tower covered with a bulb roof, dated 1763. Above the pediment of the entrance is a stone bearing the arms of the Vilan XIIII. The rectangular courtyard is bordered on two sides by the house and the outbuildings. The imposing master-corps dates from 1749 and is characterized by a portal decorated with the coat of arms of the Marche-de-Reiffenberg family. The castle was classified as a monument and as a site in 1975.
The Calvary of the Grubermühle. A ordeal is a cross that stands out for its more elaborate decor than those that are traditionally found along the paths. It is made up of three bunk elements: the base, the barrel (a column) and the body (the sculpted part). Also presenting a particular iconography, that of Christ on the cross accompanied by the Virgin and Saint John, sometimes of Marie-Madeleine, he appeared in the 17th century, period of war and torments, in order to translate the will to mark the landscape. The territory of the former Duchy of Luxembourg (roughly the current Belgian province of Luxembourg and the current Grand Duchy) has a very large number of such testimonies. In the country of Arlon (Arelerland), in the territory of the communes of Arlon, Attert, Aubange and Messancy, the Calvaries are usually built in Lorraine sandstone. The one we are talking about is located at a place called Grubermühle, where there are three Moulins from the 18th and 19th centuries powered by the waters of Mühlenbach. Near the ford stand this ordeal in sandstone dated 1772, of baroque style, and whose base of the body is decorated with floral motifs. He was classified as a monument in 1991.
The Saint-Willibrord church. Established near the location of the primitive castle, in a slight back up of the roadway, and surrounded by a cemetery, this building was erected from a castral chapel of the 16th century. The church is built in frizzy rubble with white -size stone frames. After the sale in 1840, by Baron de Marche, from the small building to the town of Guirsch, a large mononef volume was added to him in 1858. The old chapel is now the choir of the new sanctuary. The square bell tower with square base is surmounted by an octagonal arrow. In the facing of the right flank, a beautiful sculpted relief of the end of the 17th century is the weapons of the de Cobreville de Guirsch stamped from a hemel, with the motto “When God wants”.
The old municipal school. This beautiful eclectic style construction consists of local limestone and plaster, as well as white size stone. The classroom has two groups of three tall windows on salient support. The main access is made by a slightly protruding span, treated in a gable and open on two levels.
The village farms. The village is home to many farms, mainly dating from the 18th and 19th centuries. The quadcritical farm of rue de Beckerich, built in plaster and white stone rubble, sees its house with corner harps. The quadricular farm of the impasse of the forge was built in the same materials. Agricultural outbuildings group two stables around the central barn, mainly open to the courtyard. The multicellular farm of the Heckbous road, dated “18-48” at the entrance to the raised home, was also erected in plaster and painted stones. The sheepfold was probably added later.
The most beautiful villages in Wallonia
The most beautiful villages in Wallonia was created in 1994 to enhance the identity of Walloon rural regions. The diversity of traditional landscapes and buildings in the region constitutes an exceptional natural and architectural heritage that the association, which has a network of thirty-three labeled villages, wants to preserve and invite to discover. With the help of the inhabitants, local associations and public authorities, she promotes activities and projects as diverse as they are innovative. This heritage is available under number of components: the building and the landscape, of course, but also the traditions and local flavors, always alive thanks to the pride and the heart of many villagers and passionaters.
Pentecost Monday
Saint Willibrord is not only the boss of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, but also the holy holder of the small village of Guirsch. A long time ago, its inhabitants had vowed to go to Echternach, every Tuesday of Pentecost, to participate in the procession dedicated to it. In 1692, Pope Innocent XII noted the village of this wish, provided that a procession in honor of Willibrord took place there on Pentecost Monday. Since then, tradition has not been lost.
Organize your visit
The websites of the association The most beautiful villages of Wallonia, the Royal Tourist Office of Arlon and the Maison du Tourisme du Pays d’Arlon are full of information to organize your visit. You can make your choice between different walks of walks and hikes or thematic routes (heritage treasures, natural landscapes and panorama, family, romantic reveries, gastronomy and terroir, creators and know-how, unusual, festivities …). Many accommodation, restaurants and brewery are also offered. Take advantage of this summer to cover our most beautiful Walloon villages. Have a good trip!
INFOS
Most beautiful villages of Wallonia: Beauxvillages.be
Royal Arlon Tourist Office: Visitarlon.be
Tourism House of the Pays d’Arlon: www.paysdarlon.be
