Arlon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Arlon Arel  (Luxembourgish) Aarlen  (Dutch) Arel  (German)
Municipality
Arlon centre with bell tower of St. Martin's Church
Flag Coat of arms
Arlon Location in Belgium
Country	Belgium
Community	French Community
Region	Wallonia
Province	Luxembourg
Arrondissement	Arlon
Area
• Total	118.64 km2 (45.81 sq mi)
Population  (2018-01-01)Lua error in Module:Wd at line 1575: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
• Total	Lua error in Module:Wd at line 1,575: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
Postal codes	6700, 6704, 6706
Area codes	063
Website	www.arlon.be

Arlon is a city and municipality in Wallonia, a region in Belgium. It is the capital of the province of Luxembourg and is located in the Ardennes area. With a population of just over 28,000, Arlon is the smallest provincial capital in Belgium.

Arlon is also the capital of its cultural region, known as the Arelerland. This name means "Land of Arlon" in Luxembourgish, one of the languages spoken there.

The municipality of Arlon includes the main city and several smaller areas. These are called sub-municipalities and include Autelbas, Bonnert, Guirsch, Heinsch, and Toernich. Other villages and towns in the area are:

History of Arlon: A Journey Through Time

Arlon has a very long and interesting history, going back thousands of years. It has seen many changes and different rulers.

Ancient Roman and Medieval Arlon

Long ago, before the Romans arrived, the area around Arlon was home to a Celtic tribe called the Treveri. When the Romans conquered Gaul, the local people quickly adopted Roman ways. Arlon, then known as Orolaunum, became an important center for trade and administration. Many beautiful stone sculptures and monuments from this time have been found here.

However, in the 3rd century, Germanic tribes invaded, causing a lot of destruction. Even though defensive walls were built on Knipchen hill, much of the Roman progress was lost.

During the Middle Ages, people still used some of the old Roman buildings. In 1060, a count named Waleran I built a castle on Knipchen hill, right in the middle of the town. This castle became very important.

Later, Arlon became part of the County of Luxembourg. In the 13th century, a special abbey for Cistercian nuns was built in Clairefontaine.

Arlon from the 15th Century to the French Revolution

In 1441, Arlon, as part of the Duchy of Luxembourg, became part of the Burgundian Netherlands. This was a time of many wars involving France, Spain, and the Southern Netherlands. In 1558, French soldiers destroyed almost half of Arlon, including its castle.

In the 17th century, Capuchin friars built a convent on the castle's ruins. The French also made the city's defensive walls stronger. Sadly, in 1785, a big fire accidentally destroyed a large part of the city again.

Modern Times in Arlon

St Donat's church, Arlon

The French Revolution brought more changes. On June 9, 1793, French troops fought and defeated the Austrians near Arlon. The French took control of the city and used the Capuchin convent as a hospital.

After Napoleon's defeat in 1815, Arlon returned to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. But in 1839, the Treaty of London made the Grand Duchy fully independent. A larger western part of it, including Arlon, was given to the newly formed Kingdom of Belgium.

Arlon suffered greatly during both World Wars. In 1914, at the start of World War I, German invaders executed many inhabitants. In World War II, German forces invaded again in May 1940. French troops tried to defend Arlon but could not stop the invasion.

Arlon Today: A Lively Border City

Today, Arlon is a busy city located very close to the border with the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Many new homes and businesses have been built here. Lots of people from Arlon travel across the border every day to work in Luxembourg.

Arlon is also an important stop for trains. All international express trains traveling between Brussels and Luxembourg City stop in Arlon, as it is the last station on that main railway line in Belgium.

Places to See in Arlon

The Jewish cemetery

Arlon is famous for its amazing archeological museum. It has a huge collection of Roman sculptures and Merovingian funerary art (art found in tombs).

You can still see a part of the old Gallo-Roman defensive wall, which was built in the 3rd century.

The Gaspar Museum is another interesting place. It displays art by Jean-Marie Gaspar and Charles Gaspar. It also has local art, including the beautiful Fisenne altarpiece [fr] from the 16th century.

Saint Donat's church stands on Knipchen hill, the same spot where Waleran I built his castle and the Capuchin friars later built their convent.

Arlon also has a cemetery with the largest Jewish section among all cemeteries in Wallonia.

Fun Local Customs in Arlon

• The Arlon carnival is a lively event that happens in the middle of Lent. During the carnival, the city keys are traditionally given to the carnival prince. There's also a colorful parade with many folk dance groups.
• The Maitrank is Arlon's most popular drink. Its name means "drink of May" in German. It's made by soaking a local flower, the Asperula odorata, in white wine. Sometimes, cognac is added, or woodruff is used instead of Asperula. The Maitrank celebrations take place in the city every fourth Sunday of May.

Climate in Arlon

Arlon has a temperate climate. Summers are generally mild, and winters are cool. It receives a good amount of rainfall throughout the year.

Population of Arlon

Arlon is the most populated municipality in the province of Luxembourg. However, it is the least populated provincial capital in Belgium. As of December 31, 2019, the city of Arlon had a total population of 30,047 people.

Famous People from Arlon

Many notable people were born in Arlon, including:

• Johann Kaspar Basselet von La Rosée, a Bavarian general (1710–1795)
• Godefroid Kurth, a historian (1847–1916)
• Jean-Marie Gaspar, a sculptor (1861–1931)
• Benoît Lamy, a film director (1945–2008)
• Ingrid Lempereur, a swimmer (1969)
• Jeroen van Busleyden, a humanist (1470–1517)
• Anthony Moris, a Luxembourgish footballer (1990)
• Timothy Castagne, a Belgian footballer (1995)

Arlon's Sister Cities

Arlon has special connections with several cities around the world. These are called twin towns or sister cities:

• Saint-Dié-des-Vosges, France (since 1962)
• Diekirch, Luxemburg
• Bitburg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany (since 1965)
• Sulphur, Louisiana, United States
• Hayange, France
• Alba, Italy (since March 1, 2004)
• Market Drayton, England, UK

See also

In Spanish: Arlon para niños