Eischen

Eischen (Luxembourgish: Äischen) is the largest town in the commune of Hobscheid in south-western Luxembourg, and its administrative centre. As of 2005, the town has a population of 1,532.

Eischen takes its name from the river Eisch, which flows through the town. Its etymology goes back to the Celtic word isc or ysche, meaning water. Since the 13th century, the town is mentioned in various chartas, with different spellings (e.g. Eysch, Eske, Yxen).

Eischen is situated in the west/south-western part of Luxembourg. Surrounded by forests on all sides, it borders to the east on the small town of Hobscheid, with which it forms an administrative unity, to the south-east, a road leads to the town of Steinfort, to the south and west, it borders on the Belgian Province de Luxembourg and to the north lies the small hamlet of Gaichel. The river Eisch runs through the centre of town from west to east, approximately following the road to Hobscheid.

The area around Eischen has been populated at least since Gallo-Roman times. In the first centuries AD, the Romans established a fortified settlement a few kilometres west of Eischen, across the border to Belgium in the area which is now known as Clairefontaine. Excavations in and around Eischen have brought to light Gallo-Roman graves from the 2nd century AD.

During the early Middle Ages, the Roman settlement evolved into the fortified Karlsbierg. This fortress politically and economically dominated the area around Eischen.

In 1216, the countess Ermesinde founded the Abbey of Clairefontaine, which soon invigorated the religious and economical life in the area. The countess released the inhabitants of Eischen from serfdom. The town is first mentioned in 1247, in Ermesinde's testament. During the following centuries, property rights concerning the extended forests between Eischen and Clairefontaine were a source of constant quarrel between the town inhabitants and the monastery.

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