Bertrange
Encyclopedia
Bertrange is a commune
and town in south-western Luxembourg
. It is located 6.5 km west of Luxembourg City
.
, the town of Bertrange, which lies in the north-east of the commune, has a population of 6,021 of which just over half are Luxemburgers. Over 60 different nationalities live in the commune.
To the north of the town of Bertrange, on the other side of the route d'Arlon, is the village of Tossenberg, next to which is Luxembourg's largest shopping centre, La Belle Etoile
.
, a Gallic
tribe, inhabited the region for several hundred years until they were conquered by Julius Caesar
in 54 BC. During the Gallo-Roman era which lasted until about 450, the Romans
built a number of roads
in the area including the Kiem (Latin caminus, road) linking Trier
to Reims
. It passed through Strassen
(Strata) to what is now Bertrange at Tossenberg where there was a refreshment post for travellers and continued to nearby Mamer
(Mambra), a Roman vicus
, and Arlon (Orolauneum). Another road connected Tossenberg to Titelberg
near Rodange
. Evidence of Gallo-Roman and indeed Treveri
inhabitants in Bertrange was found during excavations starting 1997.
There was probably a feudal castle in Bertrange as its lords are mentioned in documents establishing the freedom of Echternach
in 1226 and of Luxembourg in 1243.
(DP), with 47% of the vote cast in the 2005 communal elections being for the DP. In the communal council
, the DP rules outright, with six of the eleven councillors. The mayor is consequently the DP candidate, Frank Colabianchi, who heads an administration also consisting of two échevins
.
Communes of Luxembourg
The communes of Luxembourg are the lowest nation-wide administrative division in Luxembourg. They conform to LAU level 2.Within the hierarchy of administrative subdivisions, communes come directly below cantons, which are directly below districts. Communes are often re-arranged, being merged or...
and town in south-western Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
. It is located 6.5 km west of Luxembourg City
Luxembourg (city)
The city of Luxembourg , also known as Luxembourg City , is a commune with city status, and the capital of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. It is located at the confluence of the Alzette and Pétrusse Rivers in southern Luxembourg...
.
, the town of Bertrange, which lies in the north-east of the commune, has a population of 6,021 of which just over half are Luxemburgers. Over 60 different nationalities live in the commune.
To the north of the town of Bertrange, on the other side of the route d'Arlon, is the village of Tossenberg, next to which is Luxembourg's largest shopping centre, La Belle Etoile
La Belle Etoile
La Belle Etoile is a shopping mall in Bertrange, in south-western Luxembourg. It is owned by Cactus, Luxembourg's largest retailer and third-largest employer....
.
History
The TreveriTreveri
The Treveri or Treviri were a tribe of Gauls who inhabited the lower valley of the Moselle from around 150 BCE, at the latest, until their eventual absorption into the Franks...
, a Gallic
Gaul
Gaul was a region of Western Europe during the Iron Age and Roman era, encompassing present day France, Luxembourg and Belgium, most of Switzerland, the western part of Northern Italy, as well as the parts of the Netherlands and Germany on the left bank of the Rhine. The Gauls were the speakers of...
tribe, inhabited the region for several hundred years until they were conquered by Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar
Gaius Julius Caesar was a Roman general and statesman and a distinguished writer of Latin prose. He played a critical role in the gradual transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire....
in 54 BC. During the Gallo-Roman era which lasted until about 450, the Romans
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
built a number of roads
Roman road
The Roman roads were a vital part of the development of the Roman state, from about 500 BC through the expansion during the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire. Roman roads enabled the Romans to move armies and trade goods and to communicate. The Roman road system spanned more than 400,000 km...
in the area including the Kiem (Latin caminus, road) linking Trier
Trier
Trier, historically called in English Treves is a city in Germany on the banks of the Moselle. It is the oldest city in Germany, founded in or before 16 BC....
to Reims
Reims
Reims , a city in the Champagne-Ardenne region of France, lies east-northeast of Paris. Founded by the Gauls, it became a major city during the period of the Roman Empire....
. It passed through Strassen
Strassen, Luxembourg
Strassen is a commune and town in central Luxembourg. It is part of the canton of Luxembourg, which is part of the district of Luxembourg.In 2011, the town of Strassen has a population of 7500 citizens....
(Strata) to what is now Bertrange at Tossenberg where there was a refreshment post for travellers and continued to nearby Mamer
Mamer
Mamer is a commune and town in south-western Luxembourg. It is located west of Luxembourg City. The commune includes the town of Mamer, and also the smaller communities of Capellen and Holzem. Mamer is situated on the river Mamer, a tributary of the Alzette...
(Mambra), a Roman vicus
Vicus (Rome)
In ancient Rome, the vicus was a neighborhood. During the Republican era, the four regiones of the city of Rome were subdivided into vici. In the 1st century BC, Augustus reorganized the city for administrative purposes into 14 regions, comprising 265 vici. Each vicus had its own board of...
, and Arlon (Orolauneum). Another road connected Tossenberg to Titelberg
Titelberg
Titelberg is the site of a large Celtic settlement or oppidum in the extreme south west of Luxembourg. In the 1st century BC, this thriving community was probably the capital of the Treveri people...
near Rodange
Rodange
Rodange is a town in the commune of Pétange, in south-western Luxembourg. It lies next to the border with Belgium, across which is the town of Athus. The town is to the south-west of the town of Pétange and to the west of the smaller town of Lamadelaine...
. Evidence of Gallo-Roman and indeed Treveri
Treveri
The Treveri or Treviri were a tribe of Gauls who inhabited the lower valley of the Moselle from around 150 BCE, at the latest, until their eventual absorption into the Franks...
inhabitants in Bertrange was found during excavations starting 1997.
There was probably a feudal castle in Bertrange as its lords are mentioned in documents establishing the freedom of Echternach
Echternach
Echternach is a commune with city status in the canton of Echternach, which is part of the district of Grevenmacher, in eastern Luxembourg. Echternach lies near the border with Germany, and is the oldest town in Luxembourg....
in 1226 and of Luxembourg in 1243.
Politics
Like nearby Luxembourg City, Bertrange is one of the strongest communes for the Democratic PartyDemocratic Party (Luxembourg)
The Democratic Party , abbreviated to DP, is the major liberal political party in Luxembourg. One of the three major parties, the DP sits on the centre-right, holding moderate market liberal views combined with a strong emphasis on civil liberties, human rights, and internationalism.Founded in...
(DP), with 47% of the vote cast in the 2005 communal elections being for the DP. In the communal council
Bertrange communal council
Bertrange communal council is the local council for the commune of Bertrange, in south-western Luxembourg.It consists of eleven members, elected every six years by proportional representation. The last elections were held on 9 October 2005, and resulted in a victory for the Democratic Party...
, the DP rules outright, with six of the eleven councillors. The mayor is consequently the DP candidate, Frank Colabianchi, who heads an administration also consisting of two échevins
Échevin (Luxembourg)
An échevin is a member of the administration of a Luxembourgian commune. Together, they form the collège échevinal , which helps the mayor run the administration...
.