Schengen • Luxembourg

If you cross the bridge over the Moselle from Germany into Luxembourg near Schengen, you might easily miss it, but right at the first house on the right-hand side of the road stands a remarkable piece of heritage. It is an ancient stone wayside cross—locally known as a Wegkreuz mit Sonnenuhr or Croix de chemin avec cadran solaire. The monument dates back to 1612 and originally stood completely freestanding. You can still see this clearly today in the side panels, both of which are adorned with motifs. On one side, you'll find a boarding pike (enterhook), the proud guild symbol of boatmen. The other side features a carpenter's square, the symbol of woodworkers and shipbuilders of that era. Built Into the Architecture The surrounding landscape changed significantly over the centuries. When the road layout was altered in 1870 and a combined farmhouse and winery was built, the cross risked being lost. Fortunately, a creative solution was chosen: the cross was carefully integrated into the new building by creating a specially designed niche for it. Taking a moment to examine the details reveals a wealth of history: The upper section: Here you can see Christ on the cross, flanked by John and Mary. The sundial: On the pillar is a sundial, though its supporting gnomon (polar style) has been lost over time. The sundial itself presents a curious puzzle. The numbers look somewhat strangely engraved: to read the time correctly, you have to imagine yourself at the original mounting point of the gnomon, meaning the number twelve appears upside down. The symmetry of the dial shows that it is a true south-facing dial. A quick check on Google Earth to measure the alignment reveals that the sundial deviates about 9 degrees to the east. But can you really blame the maker from 1612, or the person who relocated it in 1870? After more than four centuries, we can certainly forgive them!