St. Vith facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sankt Vith
Saint Vith (French)
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View of St. Vith
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 Sankt Vith
Location in Belgium
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| Country | Belgium | ||
| Community | German-speaking Community | ||
| Region | Wallonia | ||
| Province | Liège | ||
| Arrondissement | Verviers | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 146.93 km2 (56.73 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 |
4780-4784
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| Area codes | 080 | ||
| Website | www.st.vith.be | ||
St. Vith (also known as Sankt Vith in German) is a city and a group of towns (called a municipality) in eastern Belgium. It is located in the province of Liège, which is part of the Walloon region. The city was named after Saint Vitus. Most people in St. Vith speak German, just like in other parts of the German-speaking community of Belgium.
As of January 1, 2006, St. Vith had a total population of 9,169 people. The total area of the municipality is about 146.93 square kilometers. This means there are about 62 people living in each square kilometer. German is the official language used in the municipality.
The municipality of St. Vith includes several smaller areas called sub-municipalities. These are Sankt Vith, Crombach, Lommersweiler, Recht, and Schönberg.
A Look Back: The History of St. Vith
St. Vith became an important place for trading goods by the 1100s. It was given "town rights" in 1350, which meant it had special rules and freedoms. The town faced tough times, being damaged by big fires in 1543, 1602, and 1689.
For a long time, St. Vith was part of the Duchy of Luxemburg. Later, it became part of France until Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte was defeated. After this, in 1815, St. Vith became part of the Kingdom of Prussia.
St. Vith officially became part of Belgium on March 6, 1925. This happened because of the Treaty of Versailles, which was signed after the German Empire lost World War I.
St. Vith During World War II
St. Vith was a very important place during World War II. It had key roads and railway lines. Because of this, it was a major battleground in the 1944 Battle of the Bulge.
The United States Army bravely defended the town against German attacks for several days. This defense was very important because it slowed down the German army's plans. Eventually, the American soldiers had to pull back.
Once German forces took over the town, St. Vith was heavily bombed. American planes bombed it on December 25 and 26, 1944. British planes also bombed it with 300 aircraft on December 26. Most of St. Vith was destroyed during these battles and air attacks. American forces took the town back on January 23, 1945.
Today, the only building that remains from before the war is the Büchel Tower.
Partner Cities
St. Vith has "sister cities" or "partner cities." These are towns in different countries that have friendly connections and often share cultural exchanges.
See also
In Spanish: Sankt Vith para niños
