Limbourg (;
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
** Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ge ...
and
Dutch
Dutch commonly refers to:
* Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands
* Dutch people ()
* Dutch language ()
Dutch may also refer to:
Places
* Dutch, West Virginia, a community in the United States
* Pennsylvania Dutch Country
People E ...
: ''Limburg''; wa, Limbôr) or Limbourg-sur-Vesdre is a city and
municipality
A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate.
The term ''municipality'' may also mean the go ...
of
Wallonia
Wallonia (; french: Wallonie ), or ; nl, Wallonië ; wa, Waloneye or officially the Walloon Region (french: link=no, Région wallonne),; nl, link=no, Waals gewest; wa, link=no, Redjon walone is one of the three regions of Belgium—alo ...
located in the
province of Liège,
Belgium
Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...
.
On 1 January 2008, Limbourg had a total population of 5,680. The total area is 24.63 km² which gives a
population density
Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopul ...
of 231 inhabitants per km².
The municipality consists of the following districts:
Bilstain,
Goé, and Limbourg.
The lower part of the town, along the Vesdre, is called
Dolhain
Dolhain is the industrial centre of the city of Limbourg, Wallonia, in the Belgian province of Liège.
It occupies the site of the lower town of the ancient city of Limbourg, which was destroyed by Louis XIV in 1675. On a rocky eminence above Do ...
.
Etymology and history
The second part of the name Limbourg is from ''burg'' meaning a fortified town, which is common in many parts of Europe where
Germanic languages
The Germanic languages are a branch of the Indo-European language family spoken natively by a population of about 515 million people mainly in Europe, North America, Oceania and Southern Africa. The most widely spoken Germanic language, Engli ...
are spoken or have been spoken historically (see
Germanic placename etymology
Germanic languages, Germanic toponyms are the names given to places by Germanic peoples and tribes. Besides areas with current speakers of Germanic languages, many regions with previous Germanic speakers or Germanic influence had or still have Germ ...
). Concerning the first part of the name, there are various theories. One is ''lint'' meaning "dragon". Another is that it refers back to the Roman-era
limes
Limes may refer to:
* the plural form of lime (disambiguation)
* the Latin word for ''limit'' which refers to:
** Limes (Roman Empire)
(Latin, singular; plural: ) is a modern term used primarily for the Germanic border defence or delimiting ...
, situated at boundaries of the Empire. It may also have been related to the material ''lim'' or
lime
Lime commonly refers to:
* Lime (fruit), a green citrus fruit
* Lime (material), inorganic materials containing calcium, usually calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide
* Lime (color), a color between yellow and green
Lime may also refer to:
Botany ...
. Jean-Louis Kupper has proposed that the fort was named by its founder
Frederick Frederick may refer to:
People
* Frederick (given name), the name
Nobility
Anhalt-Harzgerode
*Frederick, Prince of Anhalt-Harzgerode (1613–1670)
Austria
* Frederick I, Duke of Austria (Babenberg), Duke of Austria from 1195 to 1198
* Frederick ...
after
Limburg Abbey in Germany, which in his lifetime had important connection to his imperial patrons and the Abbey of Stavelot, for which he was advowee.
Limbourg is located on top of a hill which in its turn is surrounded by the river
Vesdre
The Vesdre (French language, French, ) or Weser (German language, German, ) and Vesder (Dutch language, Dutch, ) is a river in Liège Province, eastern Belgium. A few kilometres of the upper reaches also flow through the German municipality Roetge ...
. This was a strong military advantage in the Middle Ages and allowed the city to defend itself against foreign invaders. In the
Middle Ages
In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire a ...
, the ruling family came to have the rank of duke and so the town was the seat of the
Duchy of Limburg
The Duchy of Limburg or Limbourg was an imperial estate of the Holy Roman Empire. Much of the area of the duchy is today located within Liège Province of Belgium, with a small portion in the municipality of Voeren, an Enclave and exclave, excla ...
, which was a part of the
Lower Lorraine
The Duchy of Lower Lotharingia, also called Northern Lotharingia, Lower Lorraine or Northern Lorraine (and also referred to as '' Lothier'' or '' Lottier'' region of the
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a Polity, political entity in Western Europe, Western, Central Europe, Central, and Southern Europe that developed during the Early Middle Ages and continued until its Dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire, dissolution i ...
.
The town featured in the
War of the Spanish Succession
The War of the Spanish Succession was a European great power conflict that took place from 1701 to 1714. The death of childless Charles II of Spain in November 1700 led to a struggle for control of the Spanish Empire between his heirs, Phil ...
, falling in 1703 to British and Dutch Republican forces led by the
Duke of Marlborough
General (United Kingdom), General John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, 1st Prince of Mindelheim, 1st Count of Nellenburg, Prince of the Holy Roman Empire, (26 May 1650 – 16 June 1722 Old Style and New Style dates, O.S.) was an Engl ...
.
The song 'The Fat Lady of Limbourg' on
Brian Eno
Brian Peter George St John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno (; born Brian Peter George Eno, 15 May 1948) is a British musician, composer, record producer and visual artist best known for his contributions to ambient music and work in rock, pop an ...
's 1974 album '
Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy)
''Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy)'' is the second solo album by English musician Brian Eno, released in November 1974 by Island Records. Unlike his debut album ''Here Come the Warm Jets'', which had featured 16 musicians, this album utili ...
' describes an asylum in the town which has more patients than there are residents of the town.
[DeRogatis, Jim (2004). Turn On Your Mind: Four Decades of Great Psychedelic Rock. Hal Leonard. ISBN 0-634-05548-8.]
File:Limbourg, de Vesder in de stad foto9 2017-03-12 14.07.jpg, Limbourg, the Vesdre
The Vesdre (French language, French, ) or Weser (German language, German, ) and Vesder (Dutch language, Dutch, ) is a river in Liège Province, eastern Belgium. A few kilometres of the upper reaches also flow through the German municipality Roetge ...
File:Limbourg, chapelle Saint-Anne oeg63046-CLT-0001-01 foto5 2017-03-12 13.42.jpg, The chapel of Saint Anne
Image:Limburg1600.png, Limbourg about 1600
See also
*
List of protected heritage sites in Limbourg
*
Duchy of Limburg
The Duchy of Limburg or Limbourg was an imperial estate of the Holy Roman Empire. Much of the area of the duchy is today located within Liège Province of Belgium, with a small portion in the municipality of Voeren, an Enclave and exclave, excla ...
References
External links
Historical view of Limbourg
{{Authority control
Cities in Wallonia
Municipalities of Liège Province