Grünewald (Luxembourg)

The Grünewald (Luxembourgish: Gréngewald) is a forest in central Luxembourg, most of which is owned by the national government. Grünewald stretches through the communes of Niederanven, Steinsel, and Walferdange; the centre of the forest is situated 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) north-east of central Luxembourg City. As a result of its proximity to Luxembourg's capital city, it is a popular destination for tourism, leisure, and hospitality. Within the Grünewald are the sources of the Black Ernz and the White Ernz.

The Grünewald is held in great affection by the Luxembourgian people, dating as it goes back from the 1900 formation of the country in the 1840s. In 1846, the government proposed selling the 6.69 square kilometres (1650 acres) remaining of the forest to raise money for economic development. The forest was bought by Baron Ziegesar for 530,000 Guilders, and presented to Grand Duke William II. In grand ducal possession, the Grünewald's territory was expanded greatly by a series of acquisitions.

In 1890, however, the end of the personal union between the Netherlands and Luxembourg meant the owner of the Grünewald was no longer the Luxembourgian sovereign, but Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands. The following year, Grand Duke Adolphe. bought the forest, by now 24.43 km² (6,037 acres) in size, from the Dutch crown for 2,788,798 francs. Over the following 35 years, the territory was augmented further by a series of separate purchases; during the same period, some areas of the Grünewald was sold off.

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