Mompach, Luxembourg

The municipality Mompach with a current population of 990 lies in the region Müllerthal and borders – separated by the river Sauer – on the RhineLand Palatinate local authority association Trier-Land The central resources of the municipality lie in the manifold areas of unspoiled nature: The villages Born and Moersdorf are next to a river, the districts Boursdorf, Givenich, Mompach and Herbron on a plateau. The mainly farming and forestry characteristic is flanked by the traditional quarry and in the meantime by the first tentative signs of tourism.

The holistic municipality development planning is distinguished by a consequentially sustainable direction that is manifested in numerous projects with high exemplary character. Amongst these in particular an environmentally aware forestry, wood chip recycling in a communal building complex with district heating possibilities for a planned housing estate, support of private initiatives to gain alternative energy, the low energy construction method of the primary school in Born and the renaturation of the “Klengelbach” in the district Mompach.

The municipality focuses in its central theme of environmentally friendly lifestyle on its own role model along with a creation of awareness. In the everyday teaching at school climate protection is multidisciplinary present, can be seen in the building and read on the digital board. School children become „little experts“ and are then the basis for an attitude adjustment in the future. In the project “Humans and Stones” the regional resource stone becomes “graspable”, collective planting activities and tree planting for newborns create a relationship and responsibility, and a natural forest demonstrates to people how nature left to itself develops.

The instrument of farmland rearrangement was taken as a chance to fulfil contemporary farming requirements in regard to area size and exploitation. Besides farmers and forestry the environment also profited: eight new biotopes were created, numerous landscape sectioning thickets were planted.

The municipality lays great emphasis on the preservation and new creation of meadows with fruit trees typical for cultivated landscapes and the sale of scattered fruit products achieves an economic effect.

The cross-border cooperation projects with the local authority association Trier Land in Germany are exemplary: a pedestrian bridge over the border river Sauer, a intercommunal sewage treatment plant as European pilot project for environment protection and a collective fire brigade equipment station. In the meantime cooperation in training and service have become a matter of course.

The rich building culture heritage of different eras is treated with great care. The ideal inventory of buildings worthy of protection was exemplary for a national initiative of the Luxemburg monuments administration, private building renovation and the village image of Herborn as an ensemble was awarded the “ Sonnenradplakette“ (Sun Wheel insignia) of the historical monuments office. Along with the identity endowment effect this value is increasingly used as a tourist marketing element. The design of public open areas is taking place according to plan but the process of the implementation measures is not yet completed.

The municipality can exhibit a special feature in the district Givenich: The open penal institution that was established at the beginning of the 20th century is embedded in the neighbourhood of the civil population. The re-integration activities of the club „Delfi-job“ and the collective events of the citizens with the inmates are proof of a great openness and tolerance. The distinctive club life, especially in the area of music joins all generations, creates a cohesion with numerous festivities and strengthens the sense of home. The municipality acknowledges this value by creating together with the citizens contemporary multi-functional facilities. It is self explanatory in Mompach that the conservation and conversion of historically valuable buildings goes hand in hand with the use efficient energy.

Mompach convinces with sustainable, environmentally friendly farming and forestry, model nature protection projects, careful handling of the construction cultural heritage, exemplary energy concepts, citizen participation, contemporary social infrastructure for all age and interests groups and border-crossing cooperation projects that conserve resources and bring people together.

Evaluated: 2008