Houffalize

Houffalize
Hohenfels  (German)
Municipality

Houffalize

Coat of arms
Houffalize

Location in Belgium

Coordinates: 50°08′N 05°47′E / 50.133°N 5.783°E / 50.133; 5.783Coordinates: 50°08′N 05°47′E / 50.133°N 5.783°E / 50.133; 5.783
Country Belgium
Community French Community
Region Wallonia
Province Luxembourg
Arrondissement Bastogne
Government
 • Mayor Gérard Otto
 • Governing party/ies GS
Area
 • Total 166.58 km2 (64.32 sq mi)
Population (1 January 2016)[1]
 • Total 5,177
 • Density 31/km2 (80/sq mi)
Postal codes 6660, 6661, 6662, 6663, 6666
Area codes 061
Website houffalize.be

Houffalize (German: Hohenfels) is a Walloon municipality of Belgium located in the province of Luxembourg.[2] On 1 January 2007 the municipality, which covers 166.58 square kilometres (64.32 sq mi), had 4,802 inhabitants, giving a population density of 28.8 inhabitants per km².

The municipality consists of the following sub-municipalities: Houffalize proper, Mabompré, Mont, Nadrin, Tailles, Tavigny, and Wibrin. Other population centers include Achouffe, Alboumont, Bœur, Bonnerue, Buret, Cetturu, Chabrehez, Cowan, Dinez, Engreux, Filly, Fontenaille, Mormont, Ollomont, Pisserotte, Sommerain, Taverneux, Vellereux, Vissoûle, Wandebourcy, and Wilogne.

History

Houffalize was a strategic location during the Battle of the Bulge of World War II. Specifically, Generals Montgomery and Patton met up here, Montgomery coming from the north and Patton from the south, in their counter-attack against the German forces remaining in the area. The town was flattened on the night of 5–6 January 1945 by ninety RAF Lancasters of Bomber Command to block the key crossroads for German supply columns and the escape route for German forces. Patton was driven to writing a poem in his diary about the bombing.

International relations

Twin towns - Sister cities

Houffalize is a founding member of the Douzelage, a unique town twinning association of 24 towns across the European Union. This active town twinning began in 1991 and there are regular events, such as a produce market from each of the other countries and festivals.[3][4] Discussions regarding membership are also in hand with three further towns (Agros in Cyprus, Škofja Loka in Slovenia, and Tryavna in Bulgaria).

See also

References

  1. ↑ Population per municipality as of 1 January 2016 (XLS; 397 KB)
  2. ↑ Sven Vrielinck: De territoriale indeling van België 1795-1963 Volume 1. Universitaire Pers Leuven 2000. page 48.
  3. ↑ "Douzelage.org: Home". www.douzelage.org. Retrieved 2009-10-21.
  4. ↑ "Douzelage.org: Member Towns". www.douzelage.org. Retrieved 2009-10-21.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Houffalize.
 Manhay Vielsalm
La Roche-en-Ardenne Gouvy
   Houffalize  
Bertogne Bastogne Wincrange (LU-D)


This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 12/1/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.