Putcheid Luxembourg
https://darksky.org/news/putscheid-luxembourg-designated-as-luxembourgs-first-international-dark-sky-community/
Putscheid, Luxembourg – Designated as Luxembourg’s first International Dark Sky Community
Putscheid, Luxembourg
The Municipality of Putscheid, located in northern Luxembourg within the Our Nature Park, has been officially designated as an International Dark Sky Community by DarkSky International under the name Stärepark Pëtschent (Star Park Putscheid). This recognition confirms Putscheid’s long-standing commitment to protecting the natural night environment through responsible lighting policies, technological innovation, and strong community engagement. The designation marks an important milestone for Luxembourg, as Putscheid becomes the country’s first certified Dark Sky Community.
Nestled in the Ardennes region near the borders of Germany and Belgium, Putscheid covers 27 square kilometers (km²) and is home to 1,176 residents. With elevations ranging from 220 to 550 meters above sea level, the municipality benefits from a rural landscape of forests, valleys, and small villages. Its location within the Our Nature Park, one of Luxembourg’s three designated nature parks, places it in a region dedicated to sustainable development, biodiversity protection, and environmentally responsible tourism.
Despite being situated in one of Europe’s most densely populated regions, Putscheid has remarkably dark skies. Professional night sky quality measurements and continuous monitoring using an All-Sky Camera and a TESS sky sensor confirm zenith brightness values of around 21.2 mag/arcsec² on clear, moonless nights. These measurements demonstrate the effectiveness of local lighting policies and provide a scientific foundation for long-term night sky protection
No dark sky policy , just behind the campground. The difference in light pollution is immense