The historic Luxembourg village where European unity was born TEXT: EDDI FIEGEL | PHOTOS: SCHENGEN
There’s something special about border towns and none less so than Schengen in south-eastern Luxembourg. Situated at the bottom of the triangle where the Benelux countries border Germany and France, Schengen caught the attention of the world in June 1985 when it hosted the historic signing of the ‘Schengen Treaty’, formalising the agreement between the original EU countries to abolish border controls between them. 35 years on, Schengen attracts some 50,000 people every year from as far as China and Australia and it has become the flagship for a Europe ‘sans frontières’ (‘without borders’). However, Schengen is also known for much more. People come to visit not only Schengen’s museums, in particular the European Museum which commemorates the signing of the treaty, but also the region’s green, 16 | Issue 75 | March 2020
undulating countryside with its lakes, wine-making villages, nature reserves and gardens, and not to mention its superb food and wine. There is also exceptional countryside for walking, with magnificent views across the Moselle valley, sloping vineyards and some very special flora and fauna. “We are in a unique location,” says Michel Gloden, mayor of Schengen, “where three countries meet. People come here to learn about the history of the European Union, and also explore the beauty of our landscape, and the different countries on our doorstep.”
Museums Opened in 2010, the European Museum is dedicated to the history and significance of the Schengen agreement. A permanent exhibition with interactive displays covering some 200 square metres
retraces the evolution of Europe from a series of different countries with borders to a union sharing a common citizenship. Other fascinating museums in Schengen’s ‘three border’ area include the ‘A Possen’ Wine, Toy and Folklore Museum – the recreated home of a typical local winemaking family during the 18th and 19th centuries, which also has a permanent exhibition of toys from past times. The Valentiny Foundation, meanwhile, celebrates the work of Francois Valentiny, the internationally renowned Luxembourgish contemporary architect and Schengen native.
Nature reserves, lakes and beaches At the base of the wine slopes between the villages of Schengen and Remich, the Haff Réimech Nature Reserve is known for its huge range of bird species, flora