Lontzen - chapels and castles

The district of Lontzen lies in the West of the northern DG, bordering Wallonia. The village itself is situated close to the E40 (Aachen-Brussels) as well as several important national roads. This fortunate topography has led to a healthy development of transport and logistics companies in the area.

Small place, "Big House"

Between the 11^th and 18^th centuries, while the rest of the area North of the High Fen belonged to the Duchy of Limburg, Lontzen remained independent. The guarantor of this status, Lontzen Castle, known as the "Big House", was severely fire damaged in 1970 but has since been rebuilt. It is one of the oldest fortified structures in the DG.

Village "Banking" business

During the time of the Limburgers, the village of Walhorn was the seat of one of the "Banks". These had nothing to do with money, but were administrative and judicial units of the Duchy's authority. The aegis of the Walhorn Bank extended, with the exception of Eupen (Bank Baelen), Kelmis (Bank Montzen) and Lontzen, over all the villages of the northern DG. The Walhorn Counsellors Court took care of Bank business as the arbiter of good and evil, and many were the miscreants who ended their days on the gallows of the Johberg.

Keeping "court" in Walhorn

Königshof, Krümmelhof, Krützhof – these are some of the names of the ancient courtyard farmhouses that one can still admire today in Walhorn. Visitors should also take the time to see some of the many old chapels and churches of the area. St. Hubertus church in Lontzen is a listed building dating from 1770, while the church tower of St. Stephanus in Walhorn is more than 800 years old.

Situation: the DG's most westerly local authority north of the Fen
Population: 5,058
Area: 28.7 km² ha (P W-G)
Localities: Astenet, Herbesthal, Lontzen, Walhorn