Marche-en-Famenne
Municipality Belgian province of Luxembourg From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Municipality Belgian province of Luxembourg From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Marche-en-Famenne (French pronunciation: [maʁʃ ɑ̃ famɛn] ; Walloon: Måtche-el-Fåmene [mɑːtʃ ɛl fɑːmɛn]; literally "Marche in Famenne") is a city and municipality of Wallonia located in the Belgian province of Luxembourg.
Marche-en-Famenne
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City and municipality | |
Coordinates: 50°13′N 05°20′E | |
Country | Belgium |
Community | French Community |
Region | Wallonia |
Province | Luxembourg |
Arrondissement | Marche-en-Famenne |
Government | |
• Mayor | André Bouchat |
• Governing party/ies | Mayeur cdH - PS |
Area | |
• Total | 122.07 km2 (47.13 sq mi) |
Population (2018-01-01)[1] | |
• Total | 17,455 |
• Density | 140/km2 (370/sq mi) |
Postal codes | 6900 |
NIS code | 83034 |
Area codes | 084 |
Website | www |
The municipality consists of the following districts: Aye, Hargimont, Humain, Marche-en-Famenne, On, Roy, and Waha.
Other population centres include Grimbiémont, Hollogne, Lignières, Marloie, and Verdenne.
In the early Middle Ages, Marche was just a little hamlet on the Marchette brook, one of the dependencies of the nearby Abbey of Stavelot. In the 12th century, this territory was made part of the County of La Roche. It was ideally located, on the main road between Namur and Luxembourg City, and quickly evolved into a town, which obtained its charter in the 13th century. At the end of the century, in true medieval fashion, it acquired a complete system of defensive walls, with two gates, a series of watchtowers, and a keep. The market place and religious organizations, such as the Carmes convent founded in 1473, could thrive inside the closed city.
When in 1555 Philip II of Spain, son of Charles V, inherited his father's empire, the freedoms of Spain's Seventeen Provinces to the north were reduced considerably, giving rise to the Eighty Years' War. In the aftermath of the Pacification of Ghent, Don John of Austria, Philip II's half brother, granted the Perpetual Edict, which was signed in the city in February 1577. The edict allowed for the departure of the Spanish troops and recognized most of the city's freedoms, with the notable exception of religion. The war started again and Don John died a year later near Namur.
The castle and defensive walls were dismantled at the end of the 17th century on the orders of Louis XIV. A century later, the French Revolutionary troops entered the city and closed the convent. Fighting occurred in and around Marche in December 1944 as part of the Battle of the Bulge, the last major German offensive in West during World War II. Today, with its schools, light industries, military complex, and tourist attractions, Marche is a vibrant regional centre.
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