Neufchâteau, Belgium

For other uses, see Neufchâteau.

Neufchâteau
Neufchâteau, Belgium Location in Belgium
Coordinates: 49°50′N 05°26′E / 49.833°N 5.433°E / 49.833; 5.433
Country	Belgium
Region	Wallonia
Community	French Community
Province	Luxembourg
Arrondissement	Neufchâteau
Government
– Mayor	Yves Evrard (Du 9 pour vous)
– Governing party/ies	Du 9 pour vous, Ecolo, Alternative
Area
– Total	113.79 km2 (43.9 sq mi)
Population (1 January 2010)[1]
– Total	7,019
– Density	61.7/km2 (159.8/sq mi)
Postal codes	6840
Area codes	056 - 069
Website	neufchateau.be
Map of Neufchâteau, Belgium

Neufchâteau (Li Tchestea in Walloon) is a Walloon municipality of Belgium located in the province of Luxembourg.

On 1 January 2007 the municipality, which covers 113.79 km², had 6,652 inhabitants, giving a population density of 58.5 inhabitants per km².

It includes the former municipalities of Grandvoir, Grapfontaine, Hamipré, Longlier, and Tournay as well as the localities of Cousteumont, Fineuse, Gérimont, Harfontaine, Hosseuse, Lahérie, LeSart, Malome, Marbay, Massul, Molinfaing, MonIdée, Montplainchamps, Morival, Namoussart, Nolinfaing, Offaing, Petitvoir, Respelt, Semel, Tronquoy, Verlaine, and Warmifontaine.

History

Early history

A Neolithic megalith dating form about 2000 BC and a Celtic necropolis dating from between the 5th and 2nd centuries BC have been found in this area, attesting to early human activity. Gallo-Roman sepultures and a small Roman villa were found here as well, showing the presence around the 2nd century AD of a minor agricultural domain. The region was used in Carolingian times mostly as a hunting area and population remained sparse throughout the Middle Ages. A document dating from 1100 shows that one of the many tiny hamlets in the area, Semel, was donated to the Abbey of Amdain (currently Saint-Hubert). In 1239, that same hamlet was mentioned as being part of the lordship of Neufchâteau, at the time when it was now given to the Orval Abbey. Like many of its neighbours, the lordship of Neufchâteau was part of the Duchy of Luxembourg.

17th century until now

The hall of justice

An important document for the history of the Neufchâteu region is a 1609 painting entitled “LA TERRE ET PREVOSTEE DE NEVFCHASTEAV AVECQZ SES DESPENDENCES", now kept in the Arlon archives. The painting shows the town of Neufchâteau within its protective walls, at the foot of its castle, surrounded by a number of villages and hamlets. In the mid-17th century, the plague and Louis XIV’s wars decimated the area. After the French Revolution and until 1815, Neufchâteau became the chief town of the old French département of Forêts. During World War I, its governor, Count Hans von Blumenthal, was one of a small number of German military officials who struck up a rapport with the local population, chiefly through his interest in hunting. Fighting in the area, however, was heavy, as more than 200 soldiers lost their lives in the first month of the war.

Sights

• The city hall, law courts, and main church.
• The Griffon tower, last remnant of the medieval castle that gave the city its name.
• The rural-life museum.
• The nearby Neufchâteau Lake.

See also

• Fort d'Aubin-Neufchâteau, a companion to Fort Eben-Emael, located just outside of the town

References

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

• Gourdet L. and Geubel A., Histoire du Pays de Neufchâteau , Gembloux, 1956, 467 p., in-8º, cited in fr:Carte d'Arenberg de la Prévôté de Neufchâteau en 1609.
• fr:Le Sart, fr:Massul, and fr:Semel

External links

• Official city web site (in French)