Wiltz

The lords of Wiltz, later counts, were one of the oldest noble families of Luxembourg, seated above the Wiltz river in the Ardennes. Walther of Wiltz fought for the duke of Brabant at the Battle of Worringen in 1288. In the thirteenth century the family built a fortified castle on a rocky spur above the town.

Godart of Wiltz renewed the town's charters of liberties in 1437. The title of baron came in 1536, and John V styled himself count and began the Renaissance castle in 1631. From 1656 the comital line called itself de Custine; its last count fled the French revolutionary army in 1793 and died in exile at Bamberg in 1799.