The ruins of the Kaul sanatorium

Jean Léopold Isidore RICHARD (born May 11, 1832 in Clervaux, died January 30, 1918 in Niederwiltz) was not only a member of the board of directors of the Luxembourg blast furnace company in Esch but also the chairman of the Wiltz committee for the construction of the railway line. Above all, he was a great philanthropist who cared for the poor in Wiltz and Clervaux. He donated large sums of money to the League against Alcoholism and campaigned for the construction of a sanatorium in Wiltz (for tuberculosis patients) and the acquisition of land for the treatment of poor patients.

His wife Marie-Charlotte Servais (born July 1838, died November 6, 1888) also donated substantial amounts to the hospice in Wiltz.

On November 26, 1911, a meeting of the board of directors of the "League against Tuberculosis" took place in Wiltz, chaired by Dr. Feltgen. Dr. Feltgen thanked Leopold Richard for his noble donation. If possible, the sanatorium in Wiltz would be built as Mr. Richard wished. In 1912, the location "Kaul," north of Niederwiltz, was chosen. Analyses of the atmospheric and climatic conditions were crucial for this decision. The first properties were acquired in 1912 and 1913.

The Simon and Mertens families offered the League several hectares of land. In February 1913, a competition was announced to realize this project with the main facade of the sanatorium and a round forecourt facing south. The entrance building was planned for "Sandkaul," next to the villa of the doctor and the hospital director.

On September 17, 1913, the jury chose the design by J. Warken. The construction supervision was entrusted to architect Conrardy from Bertrange. The sanatorium was to be called "Sanatorium Leopold Richard."

On June 14, 1914, "edelweiss" flowers were sold for the first time nationwide for the benefit of the League, with proceeds intended for the construction of the sanatorium.

The town of Wiltz assured all opponents of the project that the water problem had been resolved. The community had submitted its application to acquire a spring in Benonchamps, and the negotiations promised a favorable result. - In August 1914, World War I broke out.

The General Assembly of the League announced in March 1915 the purchase of the land (64 hectares) but regretted that the negotiations to purchase the spring had failed after the outbreak of the war and that the necessary water had to be sourced elsewhere.

In 1916, the firm Giorgetti was commissioned to carry out the beautiful work.

In September 1918, the basic construction work was put out to tender, and the firm Rauwald from Saarbrücken won the contract. The work began in the spring of 1919. Leopold Richard did not witness the groundbreaking ceremony. He died on January 30, 1918.

In 1920, the work stalled. A year later (1921), a sanatorium for lung diseases opened its doors in Dudelange. In 1924, construction began on the sanatorium in Vianden. The success of the project in Wiltz has been questioned.

In 1930, the chamber of the committee spoke in favor of building an orphanage in the "Kaul."

In August 1935, Jean Jacoby presented a study on the establishment of a "state educational institution in Wiltz."

In 1955, the Chamber of Deputies approved funding for the Wiltz project for the last time.

Sources:

- J.B.L. Richard "Notice généalogiques et biographiques sur la famille Richard de Clervaux et ses parentés" (genealogical and biographical information about the Richard family von Clervaux and their relatives), archive Villa Simon Wiltz.

- Léopold Richard (Isidore Léopold Richard), what has been written about him and his wife Jos Eschette, archive Villa Simon Wiltz.

- about Wiltz and its surroundings, The "Leopold Richard Sanatorium" in Wiltz, Luxemburger Wort February 21, 1981, eFeS (Franz Schloesser Wiltz), archive Villa Simon Wiltz.

- Jean, Léopold, Isidore Richard, (1832-1918), his work and the Kaul, Will Schumacher, Wéltzer Leggt Wéltzer Stories, pp. 335-344, Editions Schortgen, Esch-sur-Alzette 1993, ISBN: 2-87953-011-3.

- Jean Jacoby, study on the establishment of a state educational institution in Niederwiltz, August 1935, archive Villa Simon Wiltz.

To highlight the historical ruins of the sanatorium, artist Edmée Marth created three works in 2006 with the following text:

Spiritual Journey - Path of Healing and Peace.

Recent studies have shown that more than half of the people on this planet are dissatisfied with their lives and lead lives that do not fit them. When discomfort, inner conflicts, fears, and suffering dominate our lives, then change and transformation, especially internal ones, are necessary. The need to awaken, to transform our dark areas, and to heal our lower being is therefore essential.

Let us embark on a spiritual journey together that leads us to the heart of creation, that is, to the heart of ourselves. Our goal is the same: unity, peace, and happiness.

Let us begin by giving our quiet zones, trust, and gratitude ample space. We must start each day with unconditional acceptance of everything that is, everything that we are, and with deep gratitude for everything that we have.

To regain inner balance and unity, one must see, accept, and act upon the life process, know and understand the life process, and dare to answer the questions: What? How? Why? Clarify what you truly wish to live.

The inner journey experience allows us to enter a healing phase of transformation and to move from a state of victimhood to a state of acceptance and responsibility. Yes, only we are the creators of our lives, our experiences, only we create our reality.
We have an unlimited creative power, so we must also be co-creators of our happiness and healing and bring about the changes we want to see in this world.

Several very valuable solutions will help us on our way:

- asking ourselves the right questions and making the right decisions,

- letting go of old fears and false beliefs.

- creating balanced individual value,

- being instead of having

- giving instead of taking, as it is a tragic mistake to strive for happiness and peace while remaining indifferent to the suffering of others.

We are all interconnected and dependent on each other; we all belong to one large family, and we are all part of the same journey.

Unity lies in the heart; it is a feeling: love.

Peace must also come from the heart; it is a matter of brotherhood, respect, and acceptance of differences.

Love and compassion thus seem to be the answer to all our problems.

The best we can do for humanity is to visualize the goal we want to achieve, hold the energy of hope for our future in check, and project a divine light onto every dark place.

Edmée Marth
2006
This work is part of the "European Path to Peace."

Translated from German

Source: www.wiltz.lu

Eddy&Rita