Communes of Luxembourg
Encyclopedia
Administrative division
An administrative division, subnational entity, or country subdivision is a portion of a country or other political division, established for the purpose of government. Administrative divisions are each granted a certain degree of autonomy, and are required to manage themselves through their own...
in Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
. They conform to LAU
Local administrative unit
Generally, a local administrative unit is a low level administrative division of a country, ranked below a province, region, or state. Not all countries describe their locally governed areas this way, but it can be descriptively applied anywhere to refer to counties, municipalities, etc.In the...
level 2.
Within the hierarchy of administrative subdivisions, communes come directly below cantons
Cantons of Luxembourg
||The districts of Luxembourg are divided into 12 cantons. These cantons are subdivided into 116 communes. The cantons, listed by district, include:Diekirch District*Clervaux *Diekirch *Redange *Vianden *Wiltz Grevenmacher District...
, which are (in turn) directly below districts
Districts of Luxembourg
The three districts of Luxembourg are the top-level administrative divisions of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. The districts are further subdivided into cantons:#Diekirch District#*Diekirch#*Clervaux#*Redange#*Vianden#*Wiltz#Grevenmacher District...
. Communes are often re-arranged, being merged or divided as demographic change demands. Unlike the cantons, which have remained unchanged since their creation, the identity of communes has not become ingrained within the understanding of national geography. However, the cantons perform ceremonial, administrative, and statistical purposes, but do not provide local government services, which are all performed by the communes.
The system was first adopted when Luxembourg was annexed into the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
département of Forêts
Forêts
Forêts was a département of the French First Republic, and later the First French Empire, in present Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany. Its name, meaning 'forests', comes from the Ardennes forests. It was formed on 24 October 1795, after the Southern Netherlands had been annexed by France on 1...
, in 1795. Despite ownership passing to the Netherlands
United Kingdom of the Netherlands
United Kingdom of the Netherlands is the unofficial name used to refer to Kingdom of the Netherlands during the period after it was first created from part of the First French Empire and before the new kingdom of Belgium split out in 1830...
, the commune system was maintained until independence in 1839, whereupon they were enshrined in Luxembourgian law (in 1843). Since Luxembourg had little sovereignty of its own before it received independence, and also included the larger Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
province of Luxembourg
Luxembourg (Belgium)
Luxembourg is the southernmost province of Wallonia and of Belgium. It borders on the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, France, and the Belgian provinces of Namur and Liège. Its capital is Arlon, in the south-east of the province.It has an area of 4,443 km², making it the largest Belgian province...
, this article deals only with the commune system from 1839 until the present day.
Powers of the communes
The communes have no legislative power or control over matters relating to the national interest, which reside solely with the Chamber of DeputiesChamber of Deputies of Luxembourg
The Chamber of Deputies , abbreviated to the Chamber, is the unicameral national legislature of Luxembourg. 'Krautmaart' is sometimes used as a metonym for the Chamber, after the square on which the Hôtel de la Chambre is located....
. However, below that, the communes have wide-ranging powers. They are required by law to provide public education
Public education
State schools, also known in the United States and Canada as public schools,In much of the Commonwealth, including Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United Kingdom, the terms 'public education', 'public school' and 'independent school' are used for private schools, that is, schools...
, maintain the local road
Road
A road is a thoroughfare, route, or way on land between two places, which typically has been paved or otherwise improved to allow travel by some conveyance, including a horse, cart, or motor vehicle. Roads consist of one, or sometimes two, roadways each with one or more lanes and also any...
network, maintain basic public health
Public health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals" . It is concerned with threats to health based on population health...
, and provide some social security
Social security
Social security is primarily a social insurance program providing social protection or protection against socially recognized conditions, including poverty, old age, disability, unemployment and others. Social security may refer to:...
. Communes also have discretionary powers (described as missions morales: moral duties) in the fields of supply of water, gas, and electricity; comprehensive health care
Health care
Health care is the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in humans. Health care is delivered by practitioners in medicine, chiropractic, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, allied health, and other care providers...
(including maintenance of hospitals and clinics); land use planning
Land use planning
Land-use planning is the term used for a branch of public policy encompassing various disciplines which seek to order and regulate land use in an efficient and ethical way, thus preventing land-use conflicts. Governments use land-use planning to manage the development of land within their...
; culture and sport; and provision of care to the elderly.
Current communes
There are currently 116 communes, divided across the twelve cantons.Former communes
There are twenty former communes in Luxembourg, having been merged over time to reach the complement that there exists today. The twenty defunct communes (with years of existence in parentheses) are:| Arsdorf Arsdorf Arsdorf is a village in the commune of Rambrouch, in western Luxembourg. , the village has a population of 261.Arsdorf was a commune in the canton of Redange until 1 January 1979, when it was merged with the communes of Bigonville, Folschette, and Perlé to form the new commune of Rambrouch. The... (1839–1979) |
Eich Eich, Luxembourg Eich is a quarter in northern Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg.In 2001, the quarter had a population of 1,334 people.-Commune:Eich was a commune in the canton of Luxembourg until 1 July 1920, when it was merged into the commune of Luxembourg... (1839–1921) |
Harlange Harlange Harlange is a small town in the commune of Lac de la Haute-Sûre, in north-western Luxembourg. , the town has a population of 358.Harlange was a commune in the canton of Wiltz until 1 January 1979, when it was merged with the commune of Mecher to form the new commune of Lac de la Haute-Sûre. The... (1839–1979) |
Oberwampach Oberwampach Oberwampach is a village in the commune of Wincrange, in northern Luxembourg. , the village has a population of 172.Oberwampach was a commune in the canton of Clervaux until 1 January 1978, when it was merged with the communes of Asselborn, Boevange, and Hachiville to form the new commune of... (1839–1978) |
| Asselborn Asselborn Asselborn is a small town in the commune of Wincrange, in northern Luxembourg. , the town has a population of 387.Asselborn was a commune in the canton of Clervaux until 1 January 1978, when it was merged with the communes of Boevange, Hachiville, and Oberwampach to form the new commune of... (1839–1978) |
Folschette Folschette Folschette is a small town in the commune of Rambrouch, in western Luxembourg. , the town has a population of 273.Folschette was a commune in the canton of Redange until 1 January 1979, when it was merged with the communes of Arsdorf, Bigonville, and Perlé to form the new commune of Rambrouch. ... (1839–1979) |
Hollerich Hollerich Hollerich is a quarter in south-western Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg.In 2001, the quarter had a population of 5,569 people.Hollerich railway station is located on Chemins de Fer Luxembourgeois Line 70, which connects Luxembourg City to the south-west of the country... (1839–1921) |
Perlé Perlé Perlé is a small town in the commune of Rambrouch, in western Luxembourg. , the town has a population of 612.Perlé was a commune in the canton of Redange until 1 January 1979, when it was merged with the communes of Arsdorf, Bigonville, and Folschette to form the new commune of Rambrouch. The... (1839–1979) |
| Bastendorf Bastendorf Bastendorf is a small town in the commune of Tandel, in north-eastern Luxembourg. , the town has a population of 371.Bastendorf was a commune in the canton of Diekirch until 1 January 2006, when it was merged with the commune of Fouhren to form the new commune of Tandel, in Vianden. The law... (1839–2006) |
Fouhren Fouhren Fouhren is a small town in the commune of Tandel, in north-eastern Luxembourg. , the town has a population of 353.Fouhren was a commune in the canton of Vianden until 1 January 2006, when it was merged with the commune of Bastendorf to form the new commune of Tandel. The law creating Tandel was... (1839–2006) |
Kautenbach Kautenbach Kautenbach is a village in the commune of Kiischpelt, in northern Luxembourg. In 2005, the village had a population of 120.Kautenbach was a commune in the canton of Wiltz until January 1 2006, when it was merged with the commune of Wilwerwiltz to form the new commune of Kiischpelt. The law... (1839–2006) |
Rodenbourg Rodenbourg Rodenbourg is a village in the commune of Junglinster, in central Luxembourg. , the village has a population of 102.Rodenbourg was a commune in the canton of Grevenmacher until 1 January 1979, when it was merged into the commune of Junglinster. The law merging Rodenbourg into Junglinster was... (1839–1979) |
| Bigonville Bigonville Bigonville is a small town in the commune of Rambrouch, in western Luxembourg. , the town has a population of 450.Bigonville was a commune in the canton of Redange until 1 January 1979, when it was merged with the communes of Arsdorf, Folschette, and Perlé to form the new commune of Rambrouch... (1839–1979) |
Hachiville Hachiville Hachiville is a village in the commune of Wincrange, in northern Luxembourg. , the village has a population of 181.Hachiville was a commune in the canton of Clervaux until 1 January 1978, when it was merged with the communes of Asselborn, Boevange, and Oberwampach to form the new commune of... (1839–1978) |
Mecher Mecher Mecher is a village in the commune of Lac de la Haute-Sûre, in north-western Luxembourg. , the village has a population of 60.Mecher was a commune in the canton of Wiltz until 1 January 1979, when it was merged with the commune of Harlange to form the new commune of Lac de la Haute-Sûre. The law... (1839–1979) |
Rollingergrund Rollingergrund Rollingergrund is an area of north-western Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg. It forms the majority of the quarter of Rollingergrund-North Belair.... (1850–1921) |
| Boevange Boevange Boevange is a village in the commune of Wincrange, in northern Luxembourg. , the village has a population of 117.Boevange was a commune in the canton of Clervaux until 1 January 1978, when it was merged with the communes of Asselborn, Hachiville, and Oberwampach to form the new commune of... (1839–1978) |
Hamm Hamm, Luxembourg Hamm is a quarter in eastern Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg. It is the home of the Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial, the final resting place of 5,076 American servicemen, including General Patton.... (1874–1921) |
Oberpallen Oberpallen Oberpallen is a small town in the commune of Beckerich, in western Luxembourg. , the town has a population of 374.Oberpallen was a commune in the canton of Redange until 25 July 1846, when it was merged into the commune of Beckerich.... (1839–1846) |
Wilwerwiltz Wilwerwiltz Wilwerwiltz is a village in the commune of Kiischpelt, in northern Luxembourg. , the village has a population of 238.Wilwerwiltz was a commune in the canton of Wiltz until 1 January 2006, when it was merged with the commune of Kautenbach to form the new commune of Kiischpelt. The law creating... (1839–2006) |
Evolution of communes
French First Republic
The French First Republic was founded on 22 September 1792, by the newly established National Convention. The First Republic lasted until the declaration of the First French Empire in 1804 under Napoleon I...
. These were overhauled in 1823, but the system itself was retained until independence, which was granted under the 1839 Treaty of London
Treaty of London, 1839
The Treaty of London, also called the First Treaty of London or the Convention of 1839, was a treaty signed on 19 April 1839 between the European great powers, the United Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Kingdom of Belgium. It was the direct follow-up of the 1831 'Treaty of the XXIV Articles'...
. The law regulating their creation and organisation dates to 24 February 1843, which was later enshrined in the Luxembourgian constitution
Constitution of Luxembourg
The Constitution of Luxembourg is the supreme law of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. The modern constitution was adopted on 17 October 1868.Whilst the constitution of 1868 marked a radical change in Luxembourg's constitutional settlement, it was technically an amendment of the original constitution...
, promulgated on 17 October 1868.
Upon independence, there were 120 communes. A chain of demegers and partitions between 1849 and 1891 increased this number to 130. Most of these were brought about by asymmetrical population growth, as population growth in the south caused the balance of population in the country to shift; some of the communes born in that era include Rumelange
Rumelange
Rumelange is a commune with city status in south-western Luxembourg, on the border with France., the town of Rumelange, which lies in the east of the commune, has a population of 4,818. It is also the site of some of the underground iron mines no longer in operation...
, Schifflange
Schifflange
Schifflange is a commune and town in south-western Luxembourg. It is part of the canton of Esch-sur-Alzette, which is part of the district of Luxembourg., the town of Schifflange, which lies in the west of the commune, has a population of 7,849....
, and Walferdange
Walferdange
Walferdange is a commune and small town in central Luxembourg. It is located north of Luxembourg City., the town of Walferdange, which lies in the centre of the commune, has a population of 728. Other towns within the commune include Helmsange and Bereldange.The commune of Walferdange was formed...
. In what is now termed 'Nordstad
Nordstad
Nordstad is a development area in north-central Luxembourg, and a colloquial term to refer to the combined urban areas in the region. The name is Luxembourgish for 'northern city', but it remains the title, both formal and informal, of the region in any language.The idea was coined by...
', Erpeldange
Erpeldange
Erpeldange is a commune and small town in north-eastern Luxembourg. It lies along the river Sauer, between Ettelbruck and Diekirch. It is part of the canton of Diekirch, which is part of the district of Diekirch....
and Schieren
Schieren
Schieren is a commune and town in central Luxembourg. It is part of the canton of Diekirch, which is part of the district of Diekirch., the town of Schieren, which lies in the west of the commune, has a population of 1,358....
were separated from Ettelbruck
Ettelbruck
Ettelbruck is a commune with city status in central Luxembourg, with a population of approximately 7,500. As of 2005, the town of Ettelbruck itself, which lies in the east of the commune, has a population of 6,191. The town of Warken and Grentzingen are also within the commune...
.
However, from the end of the First World War, during which Luxembourg was occupied by Germany
German occupation of Luxembourg in World War I
The German occupation of Luxembourg in World War I was the first of two military occupations of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg by Germany in the twentieth century. From August 1914 until the end of World War I in November 1918, Luxembourg was under full occupation by the German Empire...
, the number of communes has dropped. In 1920, Luxembourg City was greatly expanded, annexing four surrounding communes. Another wave of mergers took place in the late 1970s, when sparsely-populated areas in the north and west of the country were merged to form Lac de la Haute-Sûre
Lac de la Haute-Sûre
Lac de la Haute-Sûre , is a commune in north-western Luxembourg. It is part of the canton of Wiltz, which is part of the district of Diekirch. The commune is named after the reservoir of the upper Sauer river. The commune's administrative centre is Bavigne....
, Rambrouch
Rambrouch
Rambrouch is a commune and small town in western Luxembourg, in the canton of Redange. It lies close to the border with Belgium.Rambrouch was formed on 1 January 1979 from the former communes of Arsdorf, Bigonville, Folschette, and Perlé, all in Redange canton...
, and Wincrange
Wincrange
Wincrange is a commune and village in northern Luxembourg, in the canton of Clervaux. The commune is the largest in Luxembourg by geographic area....
. 2006 saw the creation of Kiischpelt
Kiischpelt
Kiischpelt is a commune in northern Luxembourg, in the canton of Wiltz. The commune's administrative centre is Wilwerwiltz.Towns within the commune include Alscheid, Enscherange, Kautenbach, Pintsch, and Wilwerwiltz....
and Tandel
Tandel
Tandel is a commune and village in eastern Luxembourg, in the canton of Vianden. It lies close to the border with Germany., the village of Tandel, which lies in the centre of the commune, has a population of 87...
from four smaller communes, further reducing the number of communes to the present 116.
Cities
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
. They are:
- DiekirchDiekirchDiekirch is a commune with city status in north-eastern Luxembourg, capital city of the canton Diekirch and the district of Diekirch. The city is situated on the banks of the Sauer river....
- DifferdangeDifferdangeDifferdange is a commune with city status in south-western Luxembourg. Differdange is an industrial city that was home to much of Luxembourg's steel production, and lies near the borders with Belgium and France...
- DudelangeDudelangeDudelange is a commune with city status in southern Luxembourg. It is the fourth-most populous commune, with over 18,300 inhabitants. Dudelange is situated close to the border to France....
- EchternachEchternachEchternach is a commune with city status in the canton of Echternach, which is part of the district of Grevenmacher, in eastern Luxembourg. Echternach lies near the border with Germany, and is the oldest town in Luxembourg....
- Esch-sur-AlzetteEsch-sur-AlzetteEsch-sur-Alzette is a commune with city status, in south-western Luxembourg. It is the country's second city, and its second-most populous commune, with a population of 29,853 people...
- EttelbruckEttelbruckEttelbruck is a commune with city status in central Luxembourg, with a population of approximately 7,500. As of 2005, the town of Ettelbruck itself, which lies in the east of the commune, has a population of 6,191. The town of Warken and Grentzingen are also within the commune...
- GrevenmacherGrevenmacherGrevenmacher is a commune with city status in eastern Luxembourg, near the border with Germany. It is the capital of the canton and the district of Grevenmacher...
- LuxembourgLuxembourg (city)The city of Luxembourg , also known as Luxembourg City , is a commune with city status, and the capital of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. It is located at the confluence of the Alzette and Pétrusse Rivers in southern Luxembourg...
- RemichRemichRemich is a commune with city status in south-eastern Luxembourg with just under 3,000 inhabitants. It is the capital of the canton of Remich, which is part of the district of Grevenmacher. Remich lies on the left bank of the Moselle river, which forms part of the border between Luxembourg and...
- RumelangeRumelangeRumelange is a commune with city status in south-western Luxembourg, on the border with France., the town of Rumelange, which lies in the east of the commune, has a population of 4,818. It is also the site of some of the underground iron mines no longer in operation...
- ViandenViandenVianden is a commune with city status in the Oesling, north-eastern Luxembourg, with over 1,500 inhabitants. It is the capital of the canton of Vianden, which is part of the district of Diekirch. Vianden lies on the Our river, near the border between Luxembourg and Germany., the town of Vianden,...
- WiltzWiltzWiltz is a commune with city status in north-western Luxembourg, capital of the canton Wiltz. Wiltz is situated on the banks of the river Wiltz. It was also a battleground in the Battle of the Bulge, near the end of World War II...