Clervaux

Clervaux

Klierf
Clervaux Klierf
	General view of Clervaux.
	Coat of arms
	Map showing, in orange, the Clervaux commune
	Coordinates: 50°03′0″N 6°02′0″E / 50.05000°N 6.03333°E
Country	Luxembourg
Canton	Clervaux
Commune	Clervaux
Government
• Mayor	Emile Eicher
Area
• Total	85.0 km2 (32.8 sq mi)
Highest elevation	544 m (1,785 ft)
Lowest elevation	274 m (899 ft)
Population (2017)
• Total	5,069
• Density	60/km2 (150/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
LAU2	LU00001001
Website	Official website

Clervaux (Luxembourgish: Klierf, German: Clerf) is a commune and town in northern Luxembourg, administrative capital of the canton of Clervaux.

The city is in the valley of the Clerve river and is part of the Natural Park of the Our.

History[change | change source]

The city was the site of heavy fighting during World War II, in the December 1944 Battle of Clervaux, part of the "Battle of the Bulge".

In 2012, the commune of Clervaux was combined with the communes of Heinerscheid and Munshausen.

Clervaux before 2012
Heinerscheid
Munshausen
Clervaux in 2012

Geography[change | change source]

The commune is in the Oesling, a region within the greater Ardennes area. It has an area of 85 km² (32.8 sq mi).^[1]

The highest point in the commune is in Schwaarzenhiwwel near the town of Marnach that is 544 m (1,785 ft) high, and the lowest point is 274 m (899 ft) high that is in the valley of the Our river near the town of Roder.^[3] The altitude is 208–428 m (682–1,404 ft) high. At the railway station, the altitude is 360 m (1,180 ft) high.^[4]

To the east, the Our river forms the border with Germany and, to the north, is the commune borders Belgium. In this commune is the place where three countries meetː Luxembourg, Germany and Belgium.

Population[change | change source]

There were 5,069 persons living in the commune in 2017,^[2] for a population density of 59.6 inhabitants/km².

Other towns, besides the town of Clervaux, within the commune are:

Drauffelt (Draufelt)
Eselborn (Eeselbur)
Fischbach (Fëschbech)
Grindhausen (Grandsen)
Heinerscheid (Hengescht)
Hupperdange (Hëpperdang)
Urspelt (Ischpelt)
Kalborn (Kaalber)
Lieler (Léiler)
Marnach (Maarnech)
Mecher (Mecher)
Munshausen (Munzen)
Reuler (Reiler)
Roder (Rueder)
Siebenaler (Siwwenaler)
Weicherdange (Wäicherdang)

Evolution of the population in Clervaux

Places of interest[change | change source]

The Clervaux Castle. Here is on permanent display The Family of Man, a famous exhibit of photos collected by Edward Steichen. The castle also includes the Battle of the Bulge Museum, with an extensive collection of objects from World War II, and an exhibition of models of the castles and palaces of Luxembourg.
The Abbey of St. Maurice and St. Maur is situated close to the town of Clervaux. Halldór Laxness, 1902–1998, the Nobel Prize-winning Icelandic writer, stayed at the abbey for some time.
Church of Saints Cosmas and Damian, built in the years 1910-1912.