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Wiltz

Coordinates:49°57′58″N5°55′57″E/ 49.9661°N 5.9325°E/49.9661; 5.9325
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For other uses, seeWiltz (disambiguation).

Wiltz
Wolz, Wooltz
Commune
Town hall
Town hall
Coat of arms of Wiltz
Coat of arms
Map of Luxembourg with Wiltz highlighted in orange, and the canton in dark red
Map of Luxembourg with Wiltz highlighted in orange, and the canton in dark red
Coordinates:49°57′58″N5°55′57″E/ 49.9661°N 5.9325°E/49.9661; 5.9325
CountryLuxembourg
CantonWiltz
Government
[1]
• MayorFränk Arndt (LSAP)
Area
• Total39.25 km2(15.15 sq mi)
• Rank14thof 100
Highest elevation
518 m (1,699 ft)
• Rank14thof 100
Lowest elevation
285 m (935 ft)
• Rank87th of 100
Population
(2023)
• Total7,939
• Rank20thof 100
• Density200/km2(520/sq mi)
• Rank45thof 100
Time zoneUTC+1(CET)
• Summer (DST)UTC+2(CEST)
LAU 2LU0000807
Websitewiltz.lu

Wiltz(Luxembourgish:Wolz[ˈvolts]ⓘor (locally)Wooltz[ˈvoːlts]) is acommunewithtown statusin north-westernLuxembourg,situated in thecanton of the same name.Wiltz is situated on the banks of the riverWiltz.It was also a battleground in theBattle of the Bulge,near the end ofWorld War II.A local airfield (near the village of Noertrange) was used by both sides of the conflict, depending on the location of the Front.

As of 2024,the town of Wiltz, which lies in the south of the commune, has a population of 5,848.[2]

Populated places[edit]

The commune consists of the following villages:

History[edit]

The name "Wiltz" comes from a Celtic word meaning "on the creek." Wiltz was originally inhabited by the Celts, and was first documented in 764AD. It received its town rights in 1240. The counts of Wiltz are among the oldest in Luxembourg.[3]

One of the main features of the town isWiltz Castlewhich belonged to the former Counts of Wiltz. This castle, which is situated on 600 acres (2.4 km2) of lawns and gardens, contains hundreds of rooms. It was completed in 1727, and the final Count died in 1793. It served as a private girls school from 1851 until 1950, and became a retirement home after that. The industrialisation of Wiltz was advanced in the late 19th and early 20th century by the leather industry, namely byIDÉAL Tannerie de Wiltz S.A.belonging to theAdler & Oppenheimertrust.

During World War II, Luxembourg was occupied 10 May 1940 (the first day of theBattle of France). On 31 August 1942, ageneral strikewas initiated in Wiltz, that spread throughout the country.

On 16 December 1944, theWehrmachtsurprisingly began theArdennes Offensive.Norman Cota,the commander of the28th Infantry Divisionand his staff left Wiltz when the Germans came nearer. In the evening of 19 December, after some combat, the last Americans left Wiltz.

In January 1945, Wiltz was again liberated by American troops after intensive combats during the days before.[4]

Wiltz was namedMartyr Townafter the war.[citation needed]A monument representing a lighthouse was erected to commemorate the victims of the repression following the 1942 General Strike.[5]

In 2015, Wiltz absorbed the neighbouringcommuneofEschweiler.[6]

Wiltz' "American St. Nicholas"[edit]

In 1944, Wiltz had been under German occupation for about four years; among the many negative effects of the occupation, they had been unable to hold their traditionalSt. Nicholas Daycelebrations. After American troops arrived in Wiltz in the fall. Members of the28th Infantry Divisiondecided to do what they could for the children of Wiltz and organized a holiday celebration to lift their spirits.

Soldiers pooled their rations to provide candy and chocolate for the children. CorporalRichard Brookins,a tall encryptionist and projectionist, was recruited to portray St. Nicholas himself (Kleeschenin Luxembourgish), making use of the local priest's vestments, a beard of rope, and a bishop's miter constructed by the local nuns. On December 5, 1944, he was driven through town in a jeep, rather than the traditional carriage, and gave out candy to the children. The role only lasted a few hours, and in less than two weeks the German forces had pushed back into Wiltz as part of theBattle of the Bulge.But the people of Wiltz didn't forget what the Americans had done for them.

In 1947, Wiltz reinstated their Saint Nicholas Day celebrations, but the goal was not just to honor St. Nicholas, but also to honor the "American St. Nick", as a representative of all of the American forces who had fought to liberate Luxembourg. His identity remained a mystery until 1977, when Brookins' fellow infantryman Frank McClelland tracked him down and delivered a handwritten message from the people of Wiltz inviting Brookins back to town. Brookins had had no idea his brief role had been remembered after all that time. Brookins would return to Wiltz six times, the last in 2014. He was granted honorary citizenship of Wiltz, and in 2009 they erected a monument in his honor. In 2016, the government of Luxembourg awarded him theLuxembourg Military Honor Medal;he died in 2018, aged 96.

Town Centre[edit]

Wiltz has a quiet town centre. There is an outdoor musical hall with bands and classical musical shows held typically every fortnight. Looking out from the hill on the music hall one will see the largest lake in the country atEsch-sur-Sure,located around 20 km away. A local multi-carriage tourist "road-train" takes visitors around the village and its surroundings on the hour.

The International Scouting One Penny Monument.

There is also an international soccer training pitch. In the heart of Wiltz there is plenty to see with a second world war tank parked in the main plaza. One of the most popular nights out is the summer rave held 10 km in the wilderness. A local farm has been transformed into a pub and rave club, this is a favourite night out for scout units (male and female).

Attractions[edit]

Wiltz is a major centre for the internationalscoutingmovement. There are manyscout campsitesand buildings surrounding the town. TheInternational Scouting One Penny Monument,dedicated toRobert Baden-Powell,is located in Wiltz.

Nearby Wiltz, on a hill overlooking the town, theSanctuary ofOur Lady of Fatimais the site of an annual pilgrimage onAscension Day.In particular it attracts many of thePortuguese peoplewho form a sizeable proportion of the population of Luxembourg.

TheFestival of Wiltz,a music and performing arts festival, takes place every summer.

Population[edit]

[7]

Tourism[edit]

In 2015 it was the venue for theLinuxbierwanderung.

Notable people[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^"WILTZ - Syvicol".www.syvicol.lu.Retrieved3 April2019.
  2. ^"Registre national des personnes physiques RNPP: Population par localité".data.public.lu.7 January 2024.
  3. ^German Wikipedia
  4. ^Chronologie(pdf)
  5. ^The relief on the monument is by Luxembourg's best-known modern sculptorLucien Wercollier.
  6. ^"Eschweiler and Wiltz Municipalities to Merge".8 July 2014.Retrieved13 June2015.
  7. ^"Population par canton et commune".statistiques.public.lu.Retrieved11 January2022.

External links[edit]

Wikivoyage has a travel guide forWiltz.
Wikimedia Commons has media related toWiltz.
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