Diekirch

Diekirch Dikrech
—  Commune  —
Coat of arms
Map of Luxembourg with Diekirch highlighted in orange, the district in dark grey, and the canton in dark red
Country	Luxembourg
District	Diekirch
Canton	Diekirch
Government
- Mayor	Nico Michels
Area
- Total	12.42 km2 (4.8 sq mi)
Area rank	96th of 116
Highest elevation	396 m (1,299 ft)
- Rank	62nd of 116
Lowest elevation	187 m (614 ft)
- Rank	23rd of 116
Population (2009)
- Total	6,318
- Rank	18th of 116
- Density	508.7/km2 (1,317.5/sq mi)
- Density rank	13th of 116
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
- Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
LAU 2	LU00002004
Website	diekirch.lu

Diekirch (Luxembourgish: Dikrech; from Diet-Kirch, i.e. "people's church") is a commune with city status in north-eastern Luxembourg, capital city of the canton Diekirch and the district of Diekirch. The city is situated on the banks of the Sauer river.

As of 2001^[update], the town of Diekirch, which lies in the south of the commune, has a population of 6,068.

Diekirch was the first city in Luxembourg to have a pedestrian zone, in 1977.

There is a brewery with the same name. There are 3 secondary schools in Diekirch: Lycée classique de Diekirch, Lycée technique hotelier Alexis Heck and Nordstadlycée.

The town is home to the National Museum of Military History, reflecting Diekirch's pivotal role in the Battle of the Bulge, a major battle of World War II. It was here that the river Sauer was crossed on the night of January 18, 1945, by the US 5th Infantry division.

The town is the site of one of the six regional headquarters of the Grand Ducal Police.

The town has an annual cross country running competition — the Eurocross — which is an IAAF permit meeting and attracts world-class runners, with Gabriela Szabo and Irina Mikitenko among its past winners.^[1]

Mascot

The town's mascot is the donkey. There is a donkey fountain in the centre of Diekirch. The yearly cavalcade (carnival procession) is held under the sign of the donkey.

International relations

Twin towns — Sister cities

• Bitburg, Germany since 1962
• Arlon, Belgium
• Hayange, France
• Liberty, Missouri, United States
• Monthey, Switzerland

Gallery

• 

  The Sauer river flows through Diekirch
• 

  Donkey fountain
• 

  Castle Wirtgen (today Highschool of music)
• 

  Old town streets of Diekirch

References

1. ^ Civai, Franco & Gasparovic, Juraj (2009-02-28). Eurocross 10.2 km (men) + 5.3 km (women). Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved on 2010-03-01.

External links

• Official website

Coordinates: 49°52.08′N 6°9.4′E / 49.868°N 6.1567°E / 49.868; 6.1567