Schlindermanderscheid, Um Friedbësch

The "Bunker hiking route" starts in the place called "Friedboesch", about 2.4 km above Schlindermanderscheid. During World War II, there were two bunkers in the nearby area. During the war, several young Luxembourgish conscientious objectors and deserters from the Nazi regime found shelter in one of these bunkers. From the end of May until September 10, 1944, the day of the liberation of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, no fewer than 17 people stayed here. The inhabitants of the neighboring villages supplied the hidden people with food, despite controls and supervision by German soldiers.

The Chapel of St. Michel in the Schlënner Valley is a hidden gem from the former village of Oberschlinder. Amidst the enchanting landscape of the Éislek, in the north of Luxembourg, the valley stretches between Schlindermanderscheid and Hoscheid. The Chapel of St. Michel tells a fascinating story. It was once located in the heart of a thriving village. Today, however, only a few traces of Oberschlinder remain. In addition to the preserved chapel, there was once a school, a tannery and mills. The first mentions of this area date back to 1349. Life in the valley was arduous and people tried to survive by farming and handicrafts: On the steep slopes, only sheep breeding and wood exploitation are possible; in the valley, the land areas are small and not very fertile. In the 1820s, the village consisted of 20 houses with a peak of 69 people in 1827. Before a slow depopulation set in. The valley of the "Schlënner" is known to have experienced a rather late emigration. The industrial revolution from 1870 onwards also marks the beginning of a well-known period of emigration of Luxembourgers towards the American continent (1845-1918). Between 1863 and 1895, the population decreased by a third. The last birth took place in 1918 and in 1922 there were only 13 inhabitants. Forced by the Nazis to stand up for them if they did not want to be deported, and looking for hiding places in the surrounding forest bunkers, the last inhabitants left the village just after the Second World War in 1948. The historical context of this place is also reflected in the architecture of the chapel. Simple yet impressive, the Chapel of St. Michel presents itself with a rectangular exterior, a short Romanesque canopy and a gentle bell tower. Its interior surprises with an octagonal shape - a quiet space with narrow windows that shine in warm light. Simple elegance characterises the interior, which is deliberately devoid of excessive furniture and decoration. The main altar, a work of art in pink sandstone and bronze, tells the story of Sainte Cunégonde. Artist Bettina Scholl-Sabatini designed this altar in the early 1980s, and the sculptures reflect its importance to local history. The Chapel of St Michel is far more than just a building - it is a living monument. In the middle of the Schlënner Valley, it links the historical significance of the region with the natural beauty of the landscape. As one of the last testimonies of the vanished Upper Schlënner, it attracts visitors looking for peace, history and a unique place. Its simple beauty, combined with its turbulent history, make it a place of historical, architectural and aesthetic importance. It is accessible via the Éislek Pad Hoscheid and the Escapardenne Lee Trail, among others.

Located near the village of Hoscheid, the Molberlee ridge is representative of the geology of the Luxembourg Ardennes. The ridge not only offers a breathtaking panoramic view of the Schlinder Valley, but also plays an important role in preserving the region's unique biodiversity. The ridge, which is characterised by its pebbly nature, has a very special charm. It provides an ideal habitat for rare plants that thrive on the exposed and dry rocky surfaces. The name ‘Molberlee’ comes from the Luxembourgish, because ‘Lee’ refers to an isolated rock. It is also a tribute to the surrounding flora, in particular the ‘Molbier’, the blueberry. This unique habitat is a paradise for various insects, such as the rare steppe grasshopper. This thermophilic insect, of which only seven sites are known in Luxembourg, thrives in the plant-poor biotopes of the Molberlee and feeds on grasses, mosses and lichens. While the ridge attracts nature lovers and hikers, they should remain cautious and only walk on the designated paths to protect the fragile ecosystem. Molberlee is only accessible on foot, e.g. via the local hiking trail PH 2, the Éislek Pad Hoscheid and the Escapardenne Lee Trail.