The Gehaansbierg in Dudelange, a historic and religious site linked to St John the Baptist, continues to serve as a cultural and spiritual landmark, featuring castle ruins, a chapel, and a viewing tower, all maintained by the Luxembourgish state under a long-term lease.
24 June marks St John’s Day – a Christian feast in honour of Saint John the Baptist. In Dudelange, this occasion is particularly associated with the Gehaansbierg, a hill rising over 400 metres that borders the Budersberg district on one side and the municipality of Kayl on the other.
At the top of the hill lie the remains of a castle, the construction of which began around 1402. Archaeological excavations were carried out at the site during the early 1970s until the late 1990s, and again between 2000 and 2014.
Alex Bodry, former minister of the Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party (LSAP) and current president of the Dudelange Historical Society, explained that in the early 19th century, the de Bertier family from Manom in France acquired a significant amount of land in the area, including the summit of the Gehaansbierg. He added that the family retained ownership of the chapel that still stands there today.
Rebuilt in 1888, its reconstruction was financed by the de Bertiers, he noted. According to Bodry, the state later leased the site from the de Bertier family around 1970 under a long-term agreement, which now makes it the government's duty to look after the site and its surroundings.
The chapel itself once played an important role in the region. Built at the start of the 13th century, it became a pilgrimage site for thousands of worshippers over many years, at a time when it was the only chapel in the vicinity. The name 'Gehaansbierg' is derived from this chapel.
There was also a small monastery on the site, home to around seven residents. Historically, Dudelange also held a procession in honour of St John.
In conversation with RTL, Bodry pointed out that records from the mid-17th century document the existence of a pilgrimage procession – likely a ritual dance procession similar to that still held in Echternach today. These processions were often linked to illnesses, with participants hoping to be healed through their devotion, Bodry explained.
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Between 1985 and 1986, a viewing tower was constructed beside the ruins of the former castle. At the foot of the Gehaansbierg, a forest cemetery has been established in recent years.
The tower is open to the public from May to September, while access to other parts of the site is possible by request.
Aside from the Gehaansbierg, other hills such as the Zolwerknapp and the fortress near Hesperange played an important defensive role in the country's past. According to Bodry, these sites served as protective fortifications for the city of Luxembourg, acting as outer defences capable of repelling initial attacks from invaders.
