Arlon

Arlon

French: [aʁlɔ̃]; Luxembourgish: Arel; Dutch: Aarlen, [ˈaːrlə (n)]; German: Arel; Walloon: Årlon) is a Walloon municipality of Belgium located in and capital of the province of Luxembourg.

With a population of just over 28,000, it is the smallest provincial capital in Belgium. Arlon is also the capital of its cultural region: the Arelerland (Land of Arlon in Luxemburgish).

The municipality consists of the following sub-municipalities: Arlon proper, Autelbas-Barnich, Bonnert, Guirsch, Heinsch, and Toernich.

History

Roman and medieval times

Before the Roman conquests of Gaul, the territory of Arlon and a vast area to the southeast were settled by the Treveri, a tribe of mixed Celtic and Germanic origins. The local population adapted relatively easily to Roman culture. The number and quality of sculpted stones and monuments that have been unearthed in the area demonstrate that the vicus (neighbourhood) of Orolaunum quickly became a vibrant commercial and administrative centre of Roman civilization. The Germanic invasions of the 3rd century destroyed most of these early advances, despite the defensive walls that had been built on the Knipchen hill to protect the vicus.

During most of the middle Ages, the population still used the earlier buildings such as the thermae (bathing complex). In 1060, Waleran I of Limburg, Count of Arlon, built a castle on the Knipchen hill. In the 13th century, the only women's Cistercian abbey known to date was built in Clairefontaine.

15th century until the French Revolution

The Duchy of Luxembourg itself, of which Arlon was dependent, became part of The Burgundian Netherlands under Philip the Good in 1441. After Charles V's abdication of his empire to his son Philip II of Spain in 1556, a troubled period started for the whole region as continuous wars opposed France, Spain, and the Southern Netherlands. In 1558, nearly half of the city, including its castle, was destroyed by the French troops of Duke François of Guise. In the 17th century, Capuchin monks built a convent on the ruins of the castle and the French strengthened the defensive walls according to Vauban's designs. An accidental fire destroyed a large part of the city again in 1785.

Modern times

On 9 June 1793 the French Revolutionary troops opposed the Austrians just outside Arlon. The French emerged victorious and occupied the city. They expelled the Capuchin monks and used their convent as a hospital. After the Battle of Waterloo, Arlon's history is entwined with that of Belgium.

Arlon was one of the first victims of the German invasion in 1914 as 121 inhabitants were executed on 26 August, on the orders of Colonel Richard Karl von Tessmar. Its territory was again among the first to be invaded at the onset of World War II. During the Second World War the mayor collaborated with the Germans. He was shot in 1946.

Arlon today

Being situated very close to the border with the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Arlon has continued to expand with new residential areas and commercial development zones, and many people cross the border everyday to work in the Grand Duchy. One of the largest industrial employers is the Ferrero Rocher chocolate factory. All International express trains make a stop in Arlon, as it is the last station on the main Brussels—Luxembourg City railway line.

Tourism

High on the ramparts of the province's capital, the landscapes of the Pays d'Arlon offer travellers a wonderful view.

Located between the Anlier forest and the Pays de l'Ardoise in the north, and the Lorraine hills of the iron industry in the south, the region offers a wide variety of attractions: quality architectural heritage, museums reflecting ancestral and traditional activities and natural spaces with significant scientific and scenic interest.

Exhibitions, markets, shopping centers, leisure zones and accommodation are also available for visitors to the region; with 10 hotels, 2 B&B, many self catering cottages and camping.

Walking / hiking: Numerous marked out walks going up and down the Country of Arlon constitute a good means to discover small heritage, different landscapes of villages and hamlets of this pretty land. Beautiful nature parks, Horse riding: There are 3 equestrian centers. Cycling: 1st circuit is in a continuous loop of 22 km for the discovery - of heritage and natural sites of the Valley of Attert. It notably crosses the village of Nobressart ' One of the nicest village of Walloon area of Belgium ', 2nd circuit is 54 km to discover lots of villages including Arlon. There are several bike repair shops in the area.

A team of guides, especially formed to introduce you our region under all its aspects, is held at your disposal. Possible visits in French, Dutch, English, and German.

Topics:

- Historical heritage and museums of the city of Arlon

- Country heritage

- Nature

- Local culture, its traditions and his legends

Monuments & Museums

Archeological Institute of Luxembourg (IAL)

Arlon is best known for holding one of the richest archeological museums in Belgium. It houses numerous examples of Roman sculptures. Founded in 1847, the Archeological Institute of Luxembourg (IAL) dedicates itself to the maintenance of heritage of Luxembourg, to its study and to its broadcasting. The missions of IAL concentrate around a library and of collections deposited in two museums located in Arlon: The Archeological Museum of Arlon (Province of Luxembourg) and the Museum Gaspar (City of Arlon) and Merovingian funerary art.

Museum Shop

Besides the publications of the Archeological Institute of Luxembourg, the Museums boutique offers a series of postcards, posters or reproductions of certain objects of collections.

Institute Address: Rue des Martyrs 13-16, B-6700 ARLON   

Tel: +32 (0) 63 212 849

Open:

¤ From Tuesday till Saturday, from 9 h till 12 h and from 13 h till 17 h 30

¤ Sunday and bank holidays, of 13 h 30 - 17 30

¤ Closed on Mondays

The library

The library of the Archeological Institute of Luxembourg consists of more than 25.000 works and hundreds of magazines, local, national and international, giving amateurs or scientists access to renowned publications in the South of Belgium.

Open:

¤ From Monday till Friday, of 8 h 30 at 12 h and of 13 h 30 - 16 30.

¤ Saturday, from 9 h till 12 h on reservation.

The Gaspar Museum is well known for its furniture, paintings, ceramics, and religious art.

Tel: +63 (0) 63 600 654

Open:

¤ From Tuesday till Saturday, of 9 h 30 - 12 and 13 h 30 - 17 30.

¤ From April till September, 2015, Sunday and the bank holidays of 13 h 30 - 17 30.

¤ Closed on Mondays

Other places of interest

• A fragment of the Gallo-Roman defensive wall that was built in the 3rd century still stands in Arlon.
• Saint Donat's church now stands on the Knipchen hill, where Waleran I of Limburg once built his castle and the Capuchin monks built their convent.
• Arlon cemetery has the largest Jewish section of all Walloon cemeteries.
• Wash house of Wäschbourg in Arlon. For reasons of hygiene and to prevent epidemics, the mesh size of pumps, fountains, wash houses developed in the course of the XIXth century s. In villages, they are seen appearing as public pumps, watering places for the stock and wash houses. By definition, a wash house is a building with collective usage done up to wash or rinse the linen in one or several basins linked up with a source or with a water inlet. Up until the 1950s, the villagers contented themselves with public or private wells, with fountains or with wash houses in more or less worked out architecture. These covered places were a place of meeting for the women. A prime example the lovely old wash house of Wäschbourg in Arlon.

       Office du Tourism (Arlon Tourist Information Office)

       Address: Rue des Faubourgs 2, 6700 Arlon, Belgium

       Phone: +32 63 21 94 54

Source https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arlon

Museum http://www.ial.be/index.php