At the junction of Rue de la Forêt and Rue de Cessange, a small square gives a good idea of what everyday life is like in this neighbourhood. There’s a hairdresser, Steve Kapler’s butcher’s shop, a bakery and, above all, a sunny terrace, the main meeting point for the locals.
“Cessange is a fairly quiet area during the day, but in the evening it can be quite lively because people like to party,” says Erika Comiti, a sales assistant at the Arbre à Pain bakery. This French cross-border worker enjoys crossing the border every day to serve bread, croissants and other pastries. “I’ve come to know all the people who live in the area, but Cessange also has a lot of transient customers who like to stop off for a coffee and visit the small shops,” she explains, but adds that the neighbourhood is still missing a pharmacy and a grocery shop.
Just next door, Valérie, owner of the Instinctif salon, doesn’t quite agree. “If there was a grocery shop, I don’t think people would go shopping there. These days, everyone’s looking after their wallets. Here, people generally go as far as Gasperich or Cloche d’Or to do their shopping,” she says. Having been in business for 13 years, she says she has seen the population change. “Before there were fewer residents, now there are more and more young people, which is a good thing. What’s also positive is that it’s mostly small houses, not big blocks of flats,” she points out.
A culture of living together
In her opinion, there’s nothing to change in the neighbourhood, where “there’s already everything you need: a food truck a little further down the road, car garages, a beauty salon... It’s a good place to live, and I think the residents have retained certain values.” In addition to the shops, a number of associations help to keep the village alive, including the Ensho Sen karate club and the Dësch-Tennis Amicale.
Three schools, as many foyers scolaires (afterschool centres), eight playgrounds, several sports grounds or facilities, around twenty bus stops, a cultural centre... In terms of services, the district is very well equipped, and its proximity to motorways is a real asset.
Today’s image of the district is a far cry from that of the farming village that was once part of Hollerich. The population began to grow in the 1950s. And the demographic trend over the last ten years is quite remarkable: from 2,734 inhabitants in 2012, the district has grown to almost 5,000 today.
The area’s tree-lined streets and parks create a peaceful, leafy atmosphere. The harmonious blend of modern urbanism and nature gives the district its personality. Parc Brill, for example, offers walking trails, children’s play areas and even a pond where local wildlife can be observed. Residents can relax in the open air and enjoy a range of sporting activities.
The Cessange district is surrounded by the districts of Merl, Hollerich and Gasperich. Image: Shutterstock
This story was first published in French on . It has been translated and edited for Delano.