Virton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Virton
Viertån (Gaumais)
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The town hall
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 Virton
Location in Belgium
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| Country | Belgium | ||
| Community | French Community | ||
| Region | Wallonia | ||
| Province | Luxembourg | ||
| Arrondissement | Virton | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 94.49 km2 (36.48 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 |
6760-6762
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| Area codes | 063 | ||
| Website | virton.be | ||
Virton is a lively city and municipality in Wallonia, a region in Belgium. You can find it in the province of Luxembourg.
Virton is also the main town of its district, which shares the same name. It's known as the most important town in a small area called the Gaume. This region is famous for its special microclimate, meaning it has slightly different weather than nearby places.
The municipality of Virton includes several smaller areas. These are Bleid, Ethe, Latour, Ruette, Saint-Mard, and Virton itself. Other smaller communities within the area are Chenois, Gomery, Grandcourt, and Saint-Remy.
Contents
History of Virton
County of Chiny 1183–1364
Duchy of Luxembourg 1364–1795, part of:
Burgundian Netherlands 1443–1482
Habsburg Netherlands 1482–1556
Spanish Netherlands 1556–1714
Austrian Netherlands 1714–1794
French Republic 1795–1804
French Empire 1804–1815
Grand Duchy of Luxembourg 1815–1839
Kingdom of Belgium 1839–present
Ancient Times and the Middle Ages
Long ago, people lived in the Virton area even before the Romans arrived. The Romans built homes here and named the town Vertunum.
Around the early 400s, the Romans had to leave because of invasions by Germanic peoples. Their settlement was destroyed. Later, the Franks rebuilt the town a bit north of its original spot.
Virton was first officially mentioned in a document from Pope Lucius III in 1183. It was a fiefdom, meaning it was controlled by the House of Chiny. The Counts of Chiny, who ruled Virton, could collect taxes on goods sold at the local market. This market was already active by 1270.
In 1441, the Duchy of Luxembourg, which included Virton, was sold to Philip the Good. From then on, Virton, like many other Walloon cities, faced over 200 years of wars. These wars were fought between France, Spain, and the Netherlands. This period brought a lot of fighting, hunger, diseases like the plague, and economic problems.
Things got better for the city in the 1700s under the rule of Maria Theresa of Austria. This was partly because the steel industry in Lorraine grew.
Modern History of Virton
The French Revolution at the end of the 1700s stopped Virton's progress. The town didn't see good times again until Napoleon left in 1815.
Virton was very involved in the Belgian Revolution and even the French Revolution of 1848. Sadly, on August 22, 1914, at the start of World War I, the invading German army executed many people. During World War II, many residents were forced to leave their homes.
Today, Virton is an important center for shopping and tourism in the Gaume region.
The town also holds a special place in Israeli sports history. On February 17, 1977, the Maccabi Tel Aviv basketball team beat CSKA Moscow 91:79 in a European Basketball Champions' Cup game held in Virton. CSKA hosted the game there because the USSR (Russia) and Israel didn't have good diplomatic relations at the time. This victory was a huge moment for Maccabi Tel Aviv, making Virton's name famous among Israeli sports fans.
Climate in Virton
| Climate data for Virton | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 4.4 (39.9) |
6.0 (42.8) |
10.0 (50.0) |
13.5 (56.3) |
18.2 (64.8) |
21.0 (69.8) |
23.4 (74.1) |
23.3 (73.9) |
19.1 (66.4) |
13.9 (57.0) |
7.9 (46.2) |
5.3 (41.5) |
13.8 (56.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −0.8 (30.6) |
−1.2 (29.8) |
0.9 (33.6) |
2.5 (36.5) |
6.8 (44.2) |
9.9 (49.8) |
11.7 (53.1) |
11.2 (52.2) |
8.2 (46.8) |
5.4 (41.7) |
1.9 (35.4) |
0.3 (32.5) |
4.7 (40.5) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 101.0 (3.98) |
78.9 (3.11) |
86.7 (3.41) |
61.9 (2.44) |
78.8 (3.10) |
78.1 (3.07) |
76.7 (3.02) |
63.9 (2.52) |
78.2 (3.08) |
92.8 (3.65) |
95.1 (3.74) |
118.8 (4.68) |
1,010.9 (39.8) |
| Average precipitation days | 14 | 11 | 13 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 140 |
| Source: World Meteorological Organisation (UN) | |||||||||||||
Places to See in Virton
When you visit Virton, you can explore:
- The charming, hilly streets and their colorful houses.
- The beautiful Church of St Lawrence, built between 1825 and 1830. It has a classic façade (front design).
- Parts of the old defensive wall from the Middle Ages.
- Les Musées gaumais, which are museums about the Gaume region.
Virton's Fun Folklore
- The city's special mascot is D'Jean d'Mady. He's a happy and clever Gaume resident who was supposedly born in a nearby village in 1585.
- Since 1935, Virton has had two traditional giants. These giant figures take part in local festivals and celebrations.
Canadian Friendship in Virton
Virton, along with Florenville and other nearby villages, was once home to many Canadian families. Their fathers or husbands were stationed at RCAF Station No. 1 (F) Wing in Marville, France.
Before the base moved to Lahr, Germany, special ceremonies were held in these towns. The Canadians left three small 'thunderbird' totem poles as gifts. These totem poles are still there today! They were rededicated in September 2005 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the base opening.
Famous People from Virton
Some notable people who were born in Virton include:
- Ludwig Anton, Count Baillet de Latour (1753–1836), an Austrian general.
- Maximilian Anton Karl, Count Baillet de Latour (1737–1806), another Austrian general.
- Benoît Mariage, a film director born in 1961.
See also
In Spanish: Virton para niños
