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Diekirch

Coordinates:49°52′05″N6°09′24″E/ 49.8681°N 6.1567°E/49.8681; 6.1567
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Diekirch
Dikrech(Luxembourgish)
Commune
Flag of Diekirch
Flag
Coat of arms of Diekirch
Coat of arms
Map of Luxembourg with Diekirch highlighted in orange, and the canton in dark red
Map of Luxembourg with Diekirch highlighted in orange, and the canton in dark red
Coordinates:49°52′05″N6°09′24″E/ 49.8681°N 6.1567°E/49.8681; 6.1567
CountryLuxembourg
CantonDiekirch
Area
• Total12.42 km2(4.80 sq mi)
• Rank87thof 100
Highest elevation
396 m (1,299 ft)
• Rank54thof 100
Lowest elevation
187 m (614 ft)
• Rank20th of 100
Population
(2023)
• Total7,295
• Rank21stof 100
• Density590/km2(1,500/sq mi)
• Rank15thof 100
Time zoneUTC+1(CET)
• Summer (DST)UTC+2(CEST)
LAU 2LU0000603
Websitediekirch.lu

Diekirch(French pronunciation:[dikiʁʃ];German pronunciation:[ˈdiːkɪʁç];Luxembourgish:Dikrech[ˈdikʀəɕ]ⓘor (locally)Dikrich[ˈdikʀiɕ];fromDiet-Kirch,i.e. "people's church" ) is acommunewithtown statusin north-easternLuxembourg,in thecanton of Diekirchand, until its abolition in 2015, thedistrict of Diekirch.The town is situated on the banks of theSauerriver.

The town's heraldic shield, showing a crowned lion on a castle, was granted in 1988. It is based on the town's 14th-century seal and arms.[1]

In 1977, Diekirch became the first town in Luxembourg to have apedestrian zone.

Diekirch is home to a brewery of national importance carrying the town's name.

Three secondary schools are located in Diekirch:Lycée classique de Diekirch,Lycée technique hôtelier Alexis HeckandNordstadlycée.[2]

The town is home to the national operational headquarters of theLuxembourgish Armyat the Haerebierg Military Centre (located on the hillHerrenberg) and theNational Museum of Military History,reflecting Diekirch's pivotal role in theBattle of the Bulge,a major battle ofWorld War II.It was here that the river Sauer was crossed on the night of January 18, 1945, by the US5th Infantry division.

The town is also the seat of one of the six regional headquarters of theGrand Ducal Policeand one of Luxembourg's two judicial districts.

History

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The town received its name, according to old sources, whenCharlemagnein the late 8th century resettled Saxons, in order to bring them under his control. One of the centres of these settlements was in the area of Diekirch. In order to convert the pagan Saxons to Christianity, a church was built, which gave the settlement its name: "Diet-Kirch" ( "people's church" ). InOld Franconian,thioda(Old High German:"diota" – the people). Þeudō is a reconstructed word from Germanic, which plays a role in the etymology of the term "Deutsch".

In the 14th century,John,the blind king of Bohemia, fortified it, surrounding the place with acastellatedwall and a ditch supplied by a stream. It remained more or less fortified until the beginning of the 19th century when the French, during their occupation, levelled the old walls and substituted avenues of trees.[3]

In the course of extensive excavation in the 1960s, it was shown that the St. Laurence church is a Roman building. In the early 20th century, wall ruins and mosaics were found north of the town center. Archaeological investigations in 1992–1993, 1999, and 2008 enabled the reconstruction of a large Roman villa, which extended over all the land of the medieval town and was abandoned in the early 5th century.

LTC Laura Miller, Commander of the 492nd Civil Affairs Battalion with Paul Binsfeld, the Luxembourg honorary Consul prior to the Marche Internationale de Diekirch event in Buckeye, Arizona 2022.

Sport

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Diekirch hosts the "International March of Diekirch", a 20 km up to 40 km road walking event. Held since 1968, it is open to both the military and civilians, with finishers earning the Medal of the "Marche de L’Armée", a Luxembourgish Army award. The marches of 2020 and 2021 were canceled due to the Coronavirus Pandemic, and held as a virtual event in 2022, with the distances walked in different locations across the world. The march drew significant interest from service members across NATO countries. This included the United States Army, with the 492nd Civil Affairs Battalion based out of Buckeye, Arizona hosting the largest individual marching event in the United States that year. In 2023 the march returned to being only held as a live event in Diekirch.[4][5][6]

Diekirch has an annualcross country runningcompetition — theEurocross— which is anIAAFpermit meeting and attracts world-class runners, withGabriela SzaboandIrina Mikitenkoamong past winners.[7]

Mascot

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The town'smascotis thedonkey.There is a donkey fountain in the centre of Diekirch. The yearly cavalcade (carnival procession) is held under the sign of the donkey.

Population

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[8]

Notable people

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Paul Eyschen

Sport

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Twin towns — sister cities

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See also:List of twin towns and sister cities in Luxembourg

Diekirch istwinnedwith:[9]

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  • Diekirch city centre
    Diekirch city centre
  • The Old Church of St Lawrence was built on a Gallo Roman base
    The Old Church of St Lawrence was built on a Gallo Roman base
  • The Wirtgensschlass or Schloss Wirtgen is nowadays used as one building of the conservatory of music.
    The Wirtgensschlass or Schloss Wirtgen is nowadays used as one building of the conservatory of music.
  • Detail of one of the donkey fountains in the city centre
    Detail of one of the donkey fountains in the city centre
  • Fountains in the municipal park
    Fountains in the municipal park
  • The Sauer river flows through Diekirch.
    TheSauerriver flows through Diekirch.

References

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  1. ^"Diekirch".ngw.nl.9 September 2022.
  2. ^"Nordstad-Lycée Diekirch NOSL".NOSL.
  3. ^One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain:Chisholm, Hugh,ed. (1911). "Diekirch".Encyclopædia Britannica.Vol. 8 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 209.
  4. ^Winkie, Davis (2022-12-23)."Army reinstates foreign footmarch awards after backlash, review".Army Times.Retrieved2023-05-20.
  5. ^"Marche Internationale de Diekirch".marche.lu.Retrieved2023-05-20.
  6. ^"492nd Civil Affairs Battalion conducts Rising Phoenix Battalion March, Marche Internationale de Diekirch".DVIDS.Retrieved2023-05-20.
  7. ^"Eurocross 10.2 km (men) + 5.3 km (women) Diekirch LUX".arrs.run.
  8. ^"Population par canton et commune".statistiques.public.lu.Archivedfrom the original on 2016-09-12.Retrieved11 January2022.
  9. ^"La ville".diekirch.lu(in French). Diekirch.Retrieved2019-09-03.
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