[2] Originally, the Canton of Echternach was quite different in its territory from what it is today since it extended over both banks of the Sûre, from Dillingen to Moersdorf.

On the left bank, in current German territory, it included Bollendorf, Ernzen, Irrel, Edingen, Ralingen, Wintersdorf, Metzdorf, Grevenich, Fusenich, Mesenich, and Liersberg.

However, in 1810, this court was transferred to Echternach because this locality had extensive premises for public services in the disused abbey buildings.

Although a sub-prefecture, Bitbourg, with barely a thousand inhabitants, could not compare as a commercial, industrial, intellectual, and religious center with the old abbey city.

The loss of this region, now blocked by Prussian customs, led to the decline of trade and industries in Echternach, such as pottery, textiles, leather, and boat manufacturing.

[2] This depiction of the difficulties faced by Echternach at the time is confirmed by Governor Willmar's report on the inspection tour he made in 1821 in the region.

It stated that "the administrators of the city of Echternach painted vivid pictures of the distress weighing on all classes of inhabitants.

"[2] In the 1819 address to the sovereign, speaking of the rival town of Diekirch, the officials of Echternach did not mince words.

"The only resource until now," they said, "has been a poorly built, unhealthy convent where, at great cost, the sous-intendant [term for the district commissioner], a judge, two lawyers, a tax collector, the vicar of the parish, and a bailiff reside.

In 1827, the Pletschette farm (near Haller), detached from the municipality of Beaufort, was attached to that of Medernach and thus moved from the canton of Echternach to that of Diekirch.

[2] This was the situation when, the political ties of the Grand Duchy with the Netherlands and Belgium having been severed by the London Treaty of 1839, Luxembourg, reduced to a third of its territory and half of its population, acquired the character of a state.

Nevertheless, with its rich historical past, it was an isolated locality from the rest of the world since no major road led there.