Mersch

Mersch (French pronunciation: [mɛʁʃ], German pronunciation: [mɛʁʃ]; Luxembourgish: Miersch [ˈmiːɐ̯ʃ] ) is a commune and town in central Luxembourg, situated in the canton of the same name. It is situated at the confluence of the rivers Alzette, Mamer and Eisch. As of 2023, the town of Mersch, which lies in the centre of the commune, has a population of 5,093. Other towns within the commune include Beringen, Berschbach, Moesdorf, Pettingen, Reckange, Rollingen, and Schoenfels. Mersch is the home of the National Literature Centre, Luxembourg's national literary archive. The town is the site of one of the six regional headquarters of the Grand Ducal Police. Mersch Castle is one of the castles belonging to the Valley of the Seven Castles. Located in the centre of the town, its history goes back to the 13th century. Today the castle houses the administrative offices of the local commune. Some 3 kilometres (2 mi) north of Mersch, Pettingen Castle in the village of Pettingen is one of the best preserved fortified castles in the country.