Troisvierges

Troisvierges
Ëlwen
Commune

Binsfeld street

Coat of arms

Map of Luxembourg with Troisvierges highlighted in orange, and the canton in dark red
Coordinates: 50°07′00″N 6°00′00″E / 50.1167°N 6°E / 50.1167; 6Coordinates: 50°07′00″N 6°00′00″E / 50.1167°N 6°E / 50.1167; 6
Country  Luxembourg
Canton Clervaux
Government
  Mayor Édouard Mertens
Area
  Total 37.86 km2 (14.62 sq mi)
Area rank 14 of 105
Highest elevation 560 m (1,840 ft)
  Rank 1st of 105
Lowest elevation 407 m (1,335 ft)
  Rank 105th of 105
Population (2014)
  Total 3,010
  Rank 47th of 105
  Density 80/km2 (210/sq mi)
  Density rank 70th of 105
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
  Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
LAU 2 LU00001003
Website troisvierges.lu

Troisvierges (Luxembourgish: Ëlwen, German: Ulflingen) is a commune and town in northern Luxembourg, in the canton of Clervaux. The two highest hills in Luxembourg, the Kneiff (560 m) and Buurgplaatz (559 m), are located in the commune.

As of 2005, the town of Troisvierges, which lies in the south of the commune, has a population of 1,365. Other towns within the commune include Basbellain, Drinklange, Hautbellain, Huldange, and Wilwerdange.

Until 28 December 1908, the commune was known as 'Basbellain,' after its former administrative centre. On that date, the administrative centre was moved from Basbellain to Troisvierges.[1]

The coat of arms granted to Troisvierges in 1982 shows three virgins, representing Faith, Hope and Charity; a mountain, for the Oesling region; a stylised papal cross from the oldest known document naming the place; and a railway and wheel, for the importance of the railway in the town's development.[2]

History

The first known reference to the place was made in 1353 under its German name Ulflingen. The French name Troisvierges was adopted in the 17th century when Walloon pilgrims started using it to refer to the three virgins Saint Fides, Saint Spes and Saint Caritas. The Franciscan church of Troisvierges was built in 1658. By 1900 most of the local population were railway and customs employees. There were some 1550 inhabitants in 1910.

Troisvierges is known for being the site of the start of hostilities on the Western Front in the First World War. On 1 August 1914, German soldiers of the 69th Infantry Regiment disembarked at the town's railway station, violating the terms of Germany's use of the railways and hence violating Luxembourg's neutrality. This began a four-year occupation of Luxembourg by German forces.[3]

More recently the old farming population has almost entirely disappeared, and now many of the population are from Portugal or Belgium.[4]

Twin town

Images

References

  1. "Mémorial A, 1908, No. 77" (PDF) (in French). Service central de législation. Retrieved 2006-10-29.
  2. Heraldry of the World
  3. Tuchman, Barbara, The Guns of August. (Macmillan, New York: 1962) 82
  4. Bievre Commune of Europe
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