Bascharage (; lb, Nidderkäerjeng ; german: Niederkerschen) is a town and a former

commune A commune is an alternative term for an intentional community. Commune or comună or comune or other derivations may also refer to: Administrative-territorial entities * Commune (administrative division), a municipality or township ** Communes of ...

in south-western

Luxembourg Luxembourg ( ; lb, Lëtzebuerg ; french: link=no, Luxembourg; german: link=no, Luxemburg), officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, ; french: link=no, Grand-Duché de Luxembourg ; german: link=no, Großherzogtum Luxemburg is a small land ...

. Since 2012, it is part of the commune of

Käerjeng Käerjeng () is a commune in southwestern Luxembourg, in the canton of Capellen. It lies on the border with Belgium. It has an area of 33.67 km2. The commune of Käerjeng was formed on 1 January 2012 from the former communes of Bascharage and ...

History

Bascharage with the other towns like Linger, Hautcharage, and Pétange were owned by the "Hoheit Kerschen". The first known reference to them was on April 4, 1281 for obtaining their freedom under the law of Beamont "Freiheitsbrief nach Böhmerrecht". The freedom of Clemency probably happened in 1260. After the occupation of France (1794 – 1815), the "Hoheit Kerschen" changed in "municipalité cantonale Bascharage" with the townships of Bascharage, Clemency, Mamer, Garnich, and Dippach. This township came out in 1799 as the "Mairie de Bascharage" with the towns of Bascharage, Hautchaurage, and Linger. Their first mayor was Pierre Clemont in 1800. The first mayor of Clemency was Pierre Decker (until 1830). Geologically, Bascharage does not belong to the Minette ore region. However, the area has a historical and sometimes tense relationship with the iron industry. The steel crisis of the 1970s was responsible for the loss of many jobs. Even so, the town has known regular development with the arrival of enterprises like General Motors and Luxguard. In Bascharage is also the headquarters of the nation's largest brewery,

Brasserie Nationale Brasserie Nationale is the largest brewery in Luxembourg, based in Bascharage. They also export to Belgium, France, China, and since 2014 in the United States. They brew beer under the brand name ''Bofferding'' and since taking over in 2004 '' Bat ...

, brewers of Bofferding beer.

The old township Bascharage

Until 2012, Bascharage was in a separate commune similarly named Bascharage. But on 1 January 2012, the Commune of Bascharage was merged with the Commune of Clemency with the combined township being named the Commune of

. The law creating Käerjeng was passed on 24 May 2011.

Former commune

The former commune consisted of the villages: * Bascharage *

Hautcharage Hautcharage (; , ) is a small town in the commune of Käerjeng, in south-western Luxembourg. Geography Neighbouring towns include Clemency, Fingig, Hivange, Schouweiler, Bascharage and Linger. The small river Mierbaach, which rises at the Bo ...

* Linger

Amorial Bearings

The arms were conferred on the town by Grand Ducal decree of 21 July 1969.

Mayors since 1858

*Jean Nicolas Schumacher *Pierre Schütz *Jules Hemmer *Jean Peschong *Théophile Aubart *Nicolas Meyers *Robert Steichen *Marcel Gillen *André Siebenbour *Joseph Thill *Jean Christophe *Jeannot Halsdorf *

Michel Wolter Michel Wolter (born 13 September 1962 in Luxembourg City) is a Luxembourgian politician. He was the youngest-ever member of the Chamber of Deputies when elected in 1984, and served as Minister for the Interior from 1995 to 2004. He is also a b ...

Geography

Bascharage is crossed by the Chiers, which is fed by the Mierbech.

Gemeng Käerjeng (commune of Käerjeng)

Bascharage is now part of the commune of

(in Luxembourgish Gemeng Käerjeng), one of the 106 communes in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and situated in the south-west of the country in the canton of Capellen. Before 2012, Bascharage was part of the similarly named Commune of Bacharage. But on 1 January 2012, the Commune of Bacharage was merged with Commune of the Commune of

Clemency A pardon is a government decision to allow a person to be relieved of some or all of the legal consequences resulting from a criminal conviction. A pardon may be granted before or after conviction for the crime, depending on the laws of the j ...

with the two former communes now forming the merged new commune of

. The law creating Käerjeng as a commune was passed on 24 May 2011.

Economy

Bascharage is home to

and its predecessor, Brasserie Bofferding, brewers of Bofferding blond beer. An industrial zone was also born around 30 years ago which, today, regroups local and regional companies from big subsidiaries such as General Motors, Luxguard, and Delphi Corporation.

Sports

* UN Käerjéng 97 (football) * HBC Bascharage (handball) * Bascharage Hedgehogs (basketball)

Notable residents

Claus Cito Nicolas Joseph 'Claus' Cito (26 May 1882 – 10 October 1965) was a Luxembourgian sculptor educated at the Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts in Brussels. He is most notable for having created the original Gëlle Fra war memorial, though his work ...

(1882–1965), sculptor of the ''

Gëlle Fra The Monument of Remembrance (french: Monument du souvenir), usually known by the nickname of the ''Gëlle Fra'' (Luxembourgish for 'Golden Lady'), is a war memorial in Luxembourg City. It is dedicated to the thousands of Luxembourgers who vol ...

'' war memorial, born in Bascharage

References

{{Reflist Former communes of Luxembourg Towns in Luxembourg