Walferdange
Encyclopedia
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 on 1 January 1851, when it was detached from the commune of Steinsel
. The law forming Walferdange was passed on 25 November 1850.
. The Raschpëtzer Qanat
, an underground aqueduct near Helmsange
was built in the 1st century AD during the Roman
occupation. It is said to be the longest qanat
north of the Alps. Walferdange church was built between 1845 and 1852; the main features of its classical facade are two large statues of Père Kolbe and Thérèse de Lisieux
, added at a later date. Before official unification of the commune, and even before this church was built, it was religion that pulled the villages of Heisdorf
, Helmsange
, Bereldange
, and Walferdange together.
Recognition of Walferdange as an important town came in 1850, when Prince Henry, brother of Grand Duke William III
, chose Walferdange as his seat of residence.
, which was assigned to Grand Duke
Adolphe
according to the constitution
. As an engaged winemaker
, he enthusiastically served his guests wine from his own production. The palace was later vacated by the Grand Ducal family. The residential palace now houses the Faculty of Languages and Literature, Humanities, Art and Behavioral Sciences of the University of Luxembourg
.
, national highway N7, and several buslines, including the city of Luxembourg busline 11.
The commune also has its own mini-bus service known as "Walfy".
Communes of Luxembourg
The communes of Luxembourg are the lowest nation-wide administrative division in Luxembourg. They conform to LAU level 2.Within the hierarchy of administrative subdivisions, communes come directly below cantons, which are directly below districts. Communes are often re-arranged, being merged or...
and small town in central 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...
. It is located north of Luxembourg City
Luxembourg (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...
.
, the town of Walferdange, which lies in the centre of the commune, has a population of 728. Other towns within the commune include Helmsange
Helmsange
Helmsange is a town in the commune of Walferdange, in central Luxembourg. , the town has a population of 2,139....
and Bereldange
Bereldange
Bereldange is a town in the commune of Walferdange, in central Luxembourg. As of 2005, the town has a population of 3,570.Though only a small town, Bereldange sports most of the facilities a family requires: supermarkets; petrol-stations; school; and fast-food chains...
.
The commune of Walferdange was formed on 1 January 1851, when it was detached from the commune of Steinsel
Steinsel
Steinsel is a commune and town in central Luxembourg. It is located north of Luxembourg City., the town of Steinsel, which lies in the west of the commune, has a population of 1,844. Other towns within the commune include Heisdorf and Mullendorf....
. The law forming Walferdange was passed on 25 November 1850.
History
Although the commune first came into existence in 1851, there is evidence of prehistoric settlement as well as remains of a very large Roman villaRoman villa
A Roman villa is a villa that was built or lived in during the Roman republic and the Roman Empire. A villa was originally a Roman country house built for the upper class...
. The Raschpëtzer Qanat
Raschpëtzer Qanat
The Raschpëtzer Qanat is located NE of Helmsange in the commune of Walferdange, 10 km north of the City of Luxembourg. A qanat is an underground water management system consisting of vertical shafts connecting to a sloping tunnel designed to provide a supply of fresh water.The Raschpëtzer is a...
, an underground aqueduct near Helmsange
Helmsange
Helmsange is a town in the commune of Walferdange, in central Luxembourg. , the town has a population of 2,139....
was built in the 1st century AD during the Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
occupation. It is said to be the longest qanat
Qanat
A qanāt is a water management system used to provide a reliable supply of water for human settlements and irrigation in hot, arid and semi-arid climates...
north of the Alps. Walferdange church was built between 1845 and 1852; the main features of its classical facade are two large statues of Père Kolbe and Thérèse de Lisieux
Thérèse de Lisieux
Saint Thérèse of Lisieux , or Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face, born Marie-Françoise-Thérèse Martin, was a French Carmelite nun...
, added at a later date. Before official unification of the commune, and even before this church was built, it was religion that pulled the villages of Heisdorf
Heisdorf
Heisdorf is a town in the commune of Steinsel, in central Luxembourg. , the town has a population of 1,553....
, Helmsange
Helmsange
Helmsange is a town in the commune of Walferdange, in central Luxembourg. , the town has a population of 2,139....
, Bereldange
Bereldange
Bereldange is a town in the commune of Walferdange, in central Luxembourg. As of 2005, the town has a population of 3,570.Though only a small town, Bereldange sports most of the facilities a family requires: supermarkets; petrol-stations; school; and fast-food chains...
, and Walferdange together.
Recognition of Walferdange as an important town came in 1850, when Prince Henry, brother of Grand Duke William III
William III of the Netherlands
William III was from 1849 King of the Netherlands and Grand Duke of Luxembourg until his death and the Duke of Limburg until the abolition of the Duchy in 1866.-Early life:William was born in Brussels as son of William II of the Netherlands and...
, chose Walferdange as his seat of residence.
Walferdange today
Sights include the Roman villa and the underground aqueduct, and Walferdange CastleWalferdange Castle
Walferdange Castle , located in the small town of Walferdange in central Luxembourg, dates from 1824 when William I of the Netherlands who was also Grand Duke of Luxembourg built it as a stud farm. It is now part of the University of Luxembourg.-History:...
, which was assigned to Grand Duke
Grand Duke of Luxembourg
The Grand Duke of Luxembourg is the sovereign monarch and head of state of Luxembourg. Luxembourg has been a grand duchy since 15 March 1815, when it was elevated from a duchy when placed in personal union with the United Kingdom of the Netherlands...
Adolphe
Adolphe, Grand Duke of Luxembourg
Adolphe I, Grand Duke of Luxembourg was the last Duke of Nassau, and the fourth Grand Duke of Luxembourg.-Biography:...
according to the 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...
. As an engaged winemaker
Winemaker
A winemaker or vintner is a person engaged in winemaking. They are generally employed by wineries or wine companies, where their work includes:*Cooperating with viticulturists...
, he enthusiastically served his guests wine from his own production. The palace was later vacated by the Grand Ducal family. The residential palace now houses the Faculty of Languages and Literature, Humanities, Art and Behavioral Sciences of the University of Luxembourg
University of Luxembourg
thumb|Campus LimpertsbergThe University of Luxembourg is the only university in Luxembourg, founded on 13 August 2003. Prior to that, there were several higher educational institutions such as the cour universitaire or the IST that offered one or two years of academic studies...
.
Transport in Walferdange
Walferdange is connected to the outside world by means of Walferdange railway stationWalferdange railway station
Walferdange railway station is a railway station serving Walferdange, in central Luxembourg. It is operated by Chemins de Fer Luxembourgeois, the state-owned railway company....
, national highway N7, and several buslines, including the city of Luxembourg busline 11.
The commune also has its own mini-bus service known as "Walfy".