Martelange

Martelange
Martelingen  (German)
Municipality

St. Martin's church
Martelange

Location in Belgium

Coordinates: 49°50′N 05°44′E / 49.833°N 5.733°E / 49.833; 5.733Coordinates: 49°50′N 05°44′E / 49.833°N 5.733°E / 49.833; 5.733
Country Belgium
Community French Community
Region Wallonia
Province Luxembourg
Arrondissement Arlon
Government
 • Mayor Daniel Waty
 • Governing party/ies UC
Area
 • Total 29.67 km2 (11.46 sq mi)
Population (1 January 2016)[1]
 • Total 1,767
 • Density 60/km2 (150/sq mi)
Postal codes 6630
Area codes 063
Website www.martelange.be

Martelange (German: Martelingen, Luxembourgish: Maartel, Walloon: Måtlindje) is a Walloon municipality of Belgium located in the province of Luxembourg.

On 1 January 2007 the municipality, which covers 29.67 km2, had 1,584 inhabitants, giving a population density of 53.4 inhabitants per km². Besides Martelange itself, the municipality includes the population centers of Grumelange and Radelange.

For some 1.8 kilometres (1.1 mi), the N4 Brussels to Arlon road, which passes through the village, forms the border with the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Because fuel, tobacco, and alcohol taxes are lower in Luxembourg than in Belgium, the eastern, Luxembourgish side of this stretch of road has become lined with numerous filling stations and liquor stores.

The street itself and the houses on the right side belong to Belgium, the red house and all the gas stations are on Luxembourg territory.

History

Between 1830 and 1947, the town was a major slate quarrying centre, though the industry has now completely disappeared.

On August 21, 1967, a French tanker lorry containing 45 000 litres of liquid gas suffered from failing brakes while driving downhill. It exploded in the middle of the village, killing 22 people[2] and injuring 54.[3] Dozens of houses were completely destroyed.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Population per municipality as of 1 January 2016 (XLS; 397 KB)
  2. ↑ News bulletin 21/8/1967 (Martelange accident), RTBF
  3. ↑ Martelange: l'horreur et la tristesse il y a 45 ans, La Meuse, 20 August 2012
 Fauvillers
Léglise Rambrouch (LU-D)
   Martelange  
Habay Attert


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