Martelange

Martelange
St. Martin's church
Martelange Location in Belgium
Coordinates: 49°50′N 05°44′E / 49.833°N 5.733°E / 49.833; 5.733
Country	Belgium
Region	Walloon Region
Community	French Community
Province	Luxembourg
Arrondissement	Arlon
Government
- Mayor	Daniel Waty
- Governing party/ies	UC
Area
- Total	29.67 km2 (11.5 sq mi)
Population (1 January 2010)[1]
- Total	1,618
- Density	54.5/km2 (141.2/sq mi)
Postal codes	6630
Area codes	063
Website	www.martelange.be
Map of Martelange

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.

For some 1.8 km 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.

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 and injuring over 120. Dozens of houses were completely destroyed.

References

1. ^ Population per municipality on 1 January 2010 (XLS; 221 KB)

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