during the roman period, two main roads crossed the territory of the present city of luxembourg; these two roads met at the place "marché-aux-poissons" (now a street and a neighborhood) dominated by a fortified tower. a castle was built here called "lucilinburhuc" ("small castle"). in 963, this place became a property of siegfried i, a close relative of the emperors of germany and kings of france. siegfried built a castle, not far from the "lucilinburhuc" castle, on a rocky cliff called the "bock" (). this place is now considered the birthplace of the city, the country and the nation.