From 9d242b4df99e7c0ca4c29633d739478cd8015d5d Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Dennis Fink Date: Thu, 23 Jul 2026 00:21:40 +0200 Subject: Publish Hiking Log #1 – Circuit Korspronk --- .../hiking-log-1-circuit-korspronk/contents.lr | 188 +++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 188 insertions(+) create mode 100644 content/blog/hiking-log-1-circuit-korspronk/contents.lr (limited to 'content/blog/hiking-log-1-circuit-korspronk/contents.lr') diff --git a/content/blog/hiking-log-1-circuit-korspronk/contents.lr b/content/blog/hiking-log-1-circuit-korspronk/contents.lr new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7d0a08c --- /dev/null +++ b/content/blog/hiking-log-1-circuit-korspronk/contents.lr @@ -0,0 +1,188 @@ +title: Hiking Log #1 – Circuit Korspronk +--- +publication_date: 2026-07-22 +--- +category: hiking +--- +render_toc: yes +--- +tags: + +hiking-log +luxembourg +differdange +korspronk +gpx +digital-independence +local-history +--- +description: A first local hiking log on Circuit Korspronk near Differdange, combining GPX-based route planning, local history and reflections from the trail. +--- +body: + +#### markdown #### +text: + +I recently started hiking some local trails. It all started with the recent +[heatwave](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_European_heatwaves#Luxembourg). +To cool down a bit, I started going outside in the evening. I had my old [GPS +handheld](https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/156873/) lying around, so I thought +I'd use it again to track my walks. As luck would have it, the rubber on the +power button deteriorated after a few days of use, making the device impossible +to power on or off and thus unusable. I tried to find a replacement, but none +were available. This prompted me to buy a new device: the [Garmin eTrex +Touch](https://www.garmin.com/fr-FR/p/1326077/). + +After exploring my new town by going on some impromptu walks and getting to +know my new device a little better, I thought: what better way to spend the day +than doing some short local hikes? As I knew nothing about them, I asked +myself where I could find some information. + +# Finding a trail without app lock-in + +As I would like to be [more digitally +independent](/blog/2026/06/back-to-blogging/), one of my requirements is the +ability to download a [GPX](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GPS_Exchange_Format) +or similar track. Secondly, I don't want to be bound to an app or service +provider. I therefore wanted to avoid making a particular app or online service +an essential part of finding and following a trail. Apps such as +[Komoot](https://www.komoot.com/) or [Wikiloc](https://www.wikiloc.com/) are +out of the question. + +For geographical data in Luxembourg, my go-to place is [the national geoportal +of the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg](https://www.geoportail.lu/en/), also known as +*"Geoportail"*. Yes, it has details on all [hiking +trails](https://map.geoportail.lu/theme/tourisme?version=3&lang=fr&X=667917&Y=6394482&zoom=9&rotation=0&features&map_id=9b7d8e482adb422ba491ecde4f845e2f&layers=2811-667&opacities=1-1&time=--&bgLayer=topomap). +The only disadvantage is that I cannot filter them by length or difficulty. + +This prompted me to do some more research, which led me to [Wanderweeër +Lëtzebuerg (WWL)](https://wwl.lu/index.php/en/wwl-homepage), an independent +project run by a Luxembourgish hiking enthusiast. +[Here](https://wwl.lu/index.php/en/dynamic-search), we can filter trails by +keyword, category, distance and difficulty. I looked around to find an easy, +short local hike and found the *"Circuit Korspronk"*. +#### trail #### +trail_gpx: circuit-korspronk-trail.gpx +---- +activity_gpx: circuit-korspronk-activity.gpx +#### markdown #### +text: + +# Why I chose *"Circuit Korspronk"* + +The [Visit Luxembourg +website](https://www.visitluxembourg.com/tour/local-hiking-trail-df-1-circuit-korspronk-differdange) +presents *"Circuit Korspronk"* as a journey to the modest beginning of a much +longer river. Starting near the centre of Differdange, the circular trail +climbs through fields and shaded woodlands to the source of the Kor, the local +name for the Chiers, which flows on through Belgium and France. The combination +of nature, local history, and its manageable length made it seem like an ideal +choice for my first local hike. + +Bearing this in mind, I loaded the trail and parking POI onto my GPS handheld, +packed some water and fruit, and set off on a sunny Friday afternoon to +complete my first local hike. + +# Elevation is not everything + +:::figure w33 left +![A wooden signpost stands in a leafy forest, pointing to the right towards "Korspronk", with "Déifferdenger Geschichtsfrënn 2008" written below.](wooden-post-korspronk.jpg) + +The wooden sign pointing towards the source of the *"Kor"* bears the name +"Déifferdenger Geschichtsfrënn" (literally the "Friends of Differdange History") +and the year 2008. +::: + +The trail begins near the [Aalt Stadhaus](https://www.stadhaus.lu/), the former +city hall which is now a cultural centre. It also houses the local library and +music school and functions as a local theatre. Very close by is the +current city hall, which is being demolished [due to construction defects and +structural +problems](https://infos.rtl.lu/news/luxembourg/la-mairie-de-differdange-devait-etre-renovee-elle-va-etre-rasee-1177784037) +and will need to be rebuilt. + +From there, the trail goes up *"Rue Metzkimmert"*, which was quite an ordeal +for an untrained hiker like me — I could really feel it in my heart rate! This +showed me that elevation is not everything; the slope clearly plays a role +too. After this steep ascent, the trail enters the shady woods, where the +air felt noticeably cooler than the air in town. The change was immediately +refreshing. + +I followed the trail to an open area with a picnic table, then passed the +shooting range in Oberkorn before returning to the woods. Continuing, I +arrived at a set of wooden stairs and the main attraction and namesake of this +trail: the source of the river [Chiers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiers), +or in Luxembourgish *"Kor"*. + +
+ +# What the information panels taught me + +:::figure w25 right +![A weathered metal information panel at Korspronk with a painted map showing the rivers Chiers, Meuse, Othain and Crusnes above Luxembourgish text.](metal-plate-haaptquell-vun-der-kor.jpg) + +The information panel next to the spring. +::: + +A nearby metal panel provides information about the *"Kor"*. According to the +information panel, the source lies 352 metres above sea level and the river +is 122 kilometres long. From Differdange, the *"Kor"* flows through the +*"Kordall"* valley before continuing through Belgium and France and eventually +joining the [Meuse](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meuse) in +[Sedan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sedan,_Ardennes), a commune in France. + +I actually learnt something new here! There are four towns that contain the +river's Luxembourgish name: +[*"Uewerkuer"*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oberkorn), +[*"Niederkuer"*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niederkorn), +[*"Nidderkäerjeng"*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bascharage), and +[*"Uewerkäerjeng"*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hautcharage). More +information about the names can be found on a later information board. The +board proposes that the name *"Kor"* derives from *"Kar"*, a pre-Celtic word +associated with water, streams or marshland. It also connects the later French +name *"Chiers"* with *"cher"* and the Latin word +[*"carus"*](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/carus). I have not been able to +verify this proposed etymology independently, but it is an intriguing example +of how local place names can preserve older layers of language. + +Interestingly, the spring is located halfway along the trail. It is surrounded +by concrete, so I could only see where the water flows out. There is also a +bench here. It's a nice place to relax. Unfortunately, I forgot to take a good +photo. + +Continuing along the trail, I left the woods behind me and walked alongside +some fields, crossing a bridge over the train tracks. I then entered the town of +*"Uewerkuer"*, passing under the train station and some allotment gardens, +before reaching the cemetery of Differdange and arriving back at the start of +the trail. + +# A question about hiking gear + +At the moment, I carry a water bottle in my backpack. Taking the backpack off +every time I want a drink is inconvenient, especially when my back is already +warm and sweaty. I am therefore considering either a hydration reservoir, such +as the [CamelBak +Crux](https://www.asadventure.com/en/p/camelbak-hydration-reservoir-crux-1-5l-reservoir-2323C70002.html?colour=2374), +or an [adapter](https://www.hydrolid.com/) that adds a drinking tube to an +ordinary bottle. + +This is where you come in! I'd love to hear your opinions, suggestions or ideas +on this. You can simply write to me on +[Mastodon](https://social.dennisfink.me/@me) or email me—you will find my +email address in the footer of this blog. + +# The beginning of a new habit + +In my opinion, this trail has its ups and downs. The beginning can be quite +exhausting if one is not fit, but as soon as I entered the woods, I felt as though I had +left urban life far behind me. The source of the river is +a very pleasant place and definitely the highlight of the trail. The final section was less memorable; in particular, the walk through the town +of *"Uewerkuer"* and past the cemetery of Differdange was not very interesting. + +This trail really ignited my +[wanderlust](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wanderlust). Since then, I have done +several others, which I will document in the future. I already feel that hiking +helps me to switch off for a few moments by simply taking in the fresh air and +paying attention to the beautiful, intricate, and sometimes mysterious natural world +around me. + -- cgit v1.3.1