Herstal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Herstal
Hesta (Walloon)
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 Herstal
Location in Belgium
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| Country | Belgium | ||
| Community | French Community | ||
| Region | Wallonia | ||
| Province | Liège | ||
| Arrondissement | Liège | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 23.54 km2 (9.09 sq mi) | ||
| Population
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| • Total | Lua error in Module:Wd at line 1,575: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | ||
| Postal codes |
4040-4042
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| Area codes | 04 | ||
| Website | www.herstal.be | ||
Herstal (French pronunciation: [ɛʁstal]; Walloon: Hesta) is a city in Belgium. It is located in the province of Liège, within the Wallonia region. Herstal sits right next to the Meuse river.
It is part of a larger city area called "Greater Liège". This area has about 600,000 people living in it. The municipality of Herstal includes the areas of Herstal, Liers, Milmort, and Vottem.
Herstal is known for its large armaments factory, the Fabrique Nationale (FN). It also has the biggest industrial zone in Wallonia, called Haut-Sart. These places provide many jobs for local people.
Contents
Herstal's History
Early Beginnings and Golden Age
People have lived in the Herstal area for a very long time. They were attracted by the nearby Meuse river and plenty of natural resources. This goes back to about 5,000 BC!
Around the end of the Roman times, Herstal became a strong, fortified village. An important road connecting Tongeren to Aachen crossed the Meuse here. Travelers likely used a ferry to cross the river to Jupille.
The name Herstal comes from an old language called Franconian. Hari means "army" and stal means "resting place" or "camp". The first time Herstal was mentioned in writing was around 718 AD.
Pippin of Herstal (who lived from about 635 to 714 AD) was a very powerful leader. He was the Mayor of the Palace, which meant he was the real ruler of areas like Austrasia and Neustria. He probably chose Herstal as his main home. This was because it was close to important cities like Tongeren, Maastricht, and Liège.
Pippin was the father of Charles Martel. Charles Martel won a very important battle, the Battle of Tours. This battle stopped the Arab-Muslim advance into northwestern Europe. Pippin was also the great-grandfather of Charlemagne, one of the most famous emperors in history. Many believe Charlemagne was born in Herstal. He lived in Herstal for at least fifteen years. However, he later moved his capital to Aachen. This ended Herstal's time as a major capital.
From Middle Ages to Today
Herstal became part of the Duchy of Lower Lotharingia. This area later joined the Duchy of Brabant in the late 1100s. Even though it was close to Liège, Herstal did not become part of the Prince-Bishopric of Liège until 1740. This was when a prince-bishop named Georges-Louis de Berghes bought it. By then, Herstal was famous for its skilled workers. They made pottery, worked with metal, and built clocks.
In the 1800s, Herstal grew into a city known for coal mining and steel production. It became world-famous in 1889 when the Fabrique Nationale (FN) was founded. This was a major factory that made weapons. Several motorcycle companies also started in Herstal.
During World War I, on August 7, 1914, the German army attacked Herstal. They killed 27 civilians and destroyed 10 homes.
After World War II, heavy industries like coal and steel started to decline. This meant fewer jobs in these areas. However, Herstal's economy is now improving. More than 200 companies are located there today. One example is Techspace, which makes special parts for the European Space Agency’s Ariane rocket.
Places to Visit
- A museum in Herstal is located in a building from 1664. It shows many old items from the Prehistoric and Gallo-Roman times. You can also see things from a Frankish burial site. The museum also tells the story of the Pippinid family, who came from Herstal. It has a collection of local industrial products, including items from the FN.
- The Pippin Tower has a wall section that people believe was part of Charlemagne's palace.
Famous People from Herstal
- Pippin of Herstal (635 or 640–714) – A powerful leader who was Mayor of the Palace.
- Charles Martel (686–741) – A military leader and Duke of the Franks.
- Charlemagne (742 or 747–814) – A famous king of the Franks and founder of the Holy Roman Empire. His birth in Herstal is not certain.
- John Browning (1855–1926) – An American designer of firearms.
Sister Cities
Herstal has special connections with these cities:
Italy: Castelmauro in Italy
Scotland: Kilmarnock in Scotland
France: Alès in France
See also
In Spanish: Herstal para niños
