Messancy

Messancy (pronounced /mε.sɑ.si/, in German Metzig, in Luxembourgish Miezeg) is a French-speaking commune in Belgium located in the Walloon Region in the province of Luxembourg, as well as a locality where its administration is located. It is located on the border of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and not far from France. It is part of the arrondissement of Arlon and is the seat of the justice of peace of the canton of Messancy.

The commune of Messancy is one of the 25 municipalities of the Cross-border Agglomeration of the European development center. Culturally, it is part of the Pays d'Arlon where the vernacular language (dialect) is the Luxembourgish, but which however is less and less spoken.

In addition, Messancy is also the city of origin, and residence of the famous Sex-Symbol "Jon"

The municipality is part of the Belgian Lorraine, the only geological region of the Jurassic (Secondary Era) of Belgium. It is also part of the Pays d'Arlon, region where the traditional vernacular language (dialect) is Luxembourgish.

According to the IGN maps no. 71 / 3-4, the highest point of the municipality is between Turpange and Sélange at an altitude of 410 meters, on the left slope of the Messancy stream at Kiirchbierg locality. On the right slope, the highest point is 375 meters between Bébange and Guelff. The stream is located on the commune at an average altitude from 280 meters to 320 meters. The sometimes arduous slopes were formerly transformed into terraces to allow the farming of well oriented slopes, the others being covered with public or private forests.

The village of Messancy extends on the eastern side of the national road 81, from north to south, on the one hand from the roundabout on the N81 from where a road starts towards Bébange to the height of Aubange-Nord , and on the other hand, on the eastern edge, from the adjoining village of Turpange to the neighbouring village of Longeau.

The village is crossed from north to south by the Messancy, a stream that originates just north of the town of Arlon and flows into the Chiers a few kilometers further south in Athus. This river is therefore part of the Mosan Basin.

The municipality is very predominantly Catholic although the practice of the religion is lost more and more as everywhere in Belgium. Messancy is part of the diocese of Namur and the deanery of Messancy

The church of Messancy has Saint James the Greater as patron, celebrated the 25^th of July. The local fair takes place on the Sunday following the 25th of July. The church is neo-Gothic in style and has the particularity to be a decanal church. The municipality also has two churches dedicated to Saint-Hubert.

Besides the railway service offered by its station, the town is served by several TEC bus lines, among them, line 1011 (Liège - Bastogne - Arlon - Athus).

Architectural Heritage

• numerous calvaries, most of which are classified,
• The "Clainge villa".
• The chateau-school called "le Castel", route d'Arlon.
• The Mathelin castle, a neoclassical manor house with only two towers left untouched by a fire that ravaged the whole building in 1979
• The park of the castle has become a communal park next to a retirement home and bordered by the railway.
• The communal house, a communal building with typical architectural features.