Capellen
Encyclopedia
Capellen is a town in the commune
of Mamer
, in south-western Luxembourg
, 12 km west of Luxembourg City. , the town has a population of 1,336. Despite not having a commune named after it, Capellen lends its name to the canton of Capellen
, and is the only town in Luxembourg to bear the latter distinction but not the former.
Capellen is home of the NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency
(NAMSA), currently being transformed into the NATO Supply Agency (NSA) which will act as the headquarters of NATO's Agencies. The site occupies a large part of the town south of the route d'Arlon. To the west of the NAMSA complex is Capellen railway station
, which lies on Chemins de Fer Luxembourgeois
' Line 50.
The town is the site of one of the six regional headquarters of the Grand Ducal Police
. A museum
dedicated to police uniform
s and accessories, both national and international, was opened in the town on 21 June 2007.
, today's Kiemwee, from Trier
in Germany
to Reims
and Paris
. Some years ago, a Roman milestone was found on the Kiem in the direction of Windhof
to the west of Capellen.
Furthermore, in 2002, beside the Roman road to the east, the remains of several Roman buildings and brick kilns (see below) were uncovered. These appear to date back to the 4th century.
The first reference to Capellen is to be found in the Koerich
parish records from 1718 which state that five households reside in Auf der Kappe, soon to be known as Cap. In 1722, a new weekly stagecoach
service from Luxembourg to Brussels passed through Cap. The road linking Luxembourg City to Brussels
, passing through Capellen, was built in 1790. From 1796, Cap and Capellen came under the jurisdiction of Mamer.
When Luxembourg was divided into cantons in 1840, as a result of disputes between Mamer and Koerich, it was decided that the canton should be named Capellen and that Capellen should become its seat.
In 1859, the railway from Luxembourg to Brussels was opened, with a station
in Capellen. American troops, liberating Luxembourg in September 1944, proceeded through Capellen towards Arlon along what became known as the Voie de la Liberté. In 1951, barracks for the Luxembourg army including the main vehicle depot were built to the south of the town. After the national draft was lifted in 1967, these facilities were taken over by NAMSA as a major NATO supply centre. Since the 1970s, Capellen has expanded rapidly, both as a residential town and, increasingly, a business and financial development area.
were discovered. With assistance from the National Museum of History and Art
, archeologists from Nospelt
belonging to the Georges Kayser Altertumsfuerscher uncovered a number of Roman buildings and kilns. One of the kilns was in remarkably good condition. As it was not possible to keep it in its original location, the Ministry of Culture and the Commune of Mamer
decided it should be transferred to the centre of Capellen. After long and careful preparations, the kiln was moved to its new position in April 2003.
The brick kiln is of great historical interest as it shows that in the 4th century, the Romans were undertaking a considerable amount of construction work, probably under the direction of Constantine the Great who frequently resided in nearby Trier
from 306 to 316. The site of the brick factory was on the Kiem (Latin caminus, road) or Roman road linking Trier
to Reims
only 4 km from the vicus
of Mamer.
The kiln's new site, opposite the church on Route d'Arlon in the centre of Capellen, is open to the public.
Capellen also hosts the Ligue HMC, an innovative association offering vocational training and employment for mentally disabled people.
There are frequent bus services to Luxembourg and to various locations to the west. The A6 motorway
or European route E25
from Luxembourg to Brussels
runs through Capellen.
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...
of 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...
, 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...
, 12 km west of Luxembourg City. , the town has a population of 1,336. Despite not having a commune named after it, Capellen lends its name to the canton of Capellen
Capellen (canton)
Capellen is a canton in the south-west of Luxembourg, in the Luxembourg District. The capital is Capellen .The canton consists of the following 11 communes:*Bascharage*Clemency*Dippach*Garnich*Hobscheid*Kehlen*Koerich*Kopstal*Mamer...
, and is the only town in Luxembourg to bear the latter distinction but not the former.
Capellen is home of the NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency
NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency
The NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency , abbreviated to NAMSA, is the main logistics agency of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation...
(NAMSA), currently being transformed into the NATO Supply Agency (NSA) which will act as the headquarters of NATO's Agencies. The site occupies a large part of the town south of the route d'Arlon. To the west of the NAMSA complex is Capellen railway station
Capellen railway station
Capellen railway station is a railway station serving Capellen, in the commune of Mamer, in south-western Luxembourg. It is operated by Chemins de Fer Luxembourgeois, the state-owned railway company....
, which lies on Chemins de Fer Luxembourgeois
Chemins de Fer Luxembourgeois
Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Luxembourgeois is the national railway company of Luxembourg. In 2005, the company carried approximately 14.1 million passengers and 11.7 million tonnes of goods...
' Line 50.
The town is the site of one of the six regional headquarters of the Grand Ducal Police
Grand Ducal Police
The Grand Ducal Police is the primary law enforcement agency in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. The police is under the control of the Minister for the Interior of Luxembourg, although they operate in the name, and under the ultimate control, of the Grand Duke. Day-to-day executive control is...
. A museum
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
dedicated to police uniform
Uniform
A uniform is a set of standard clothing worn by members of an organization while participating in that organization's activity. Modern uniforms are worn by armed forces and paramilitary organizations such as police, emergency services, security guards, in some workplaces and schools and by inmates...
s and accessories, both national and international, was opened in the town on 21 June 2007.
History
Capellen lies on the old Roman roadRoman 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...
, today's Kiemwee, from 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....
in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
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....
and Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. Some years ago, a Roman milestone was found on the Kiem in the direction of Windhof
Windhof
Windhof is a village in the south of the commune of Koerich in south-western Luxembourg. It lies on the N6 road from Luxembourg City to Arlon in Belgium...
to the west of Capellen.
Furthermore, in 2002, beside the Roman road to the east, the remains of several Roman buildings and brick kilns (see below) were uncovered. These appear to date back to the 4th century.
The first reference to Capellen is to be found in the Koerich
Koerich
Koerich is a commune and village in western Luxembourg. It is part of the canton of Capellen, which is part of the district of Luxembourg., the commune of Koerich has a population of 2,075. The other small communities in the commune are Goeblange, Goetzingen and Windhof...
parish records from 1718 which state that five households reside in Auf der Kappe, soon to be known as Cap. In 1722, a new weekly stagecoach
Stagecoach
A stagecoach is a type of covered wagon for passengers and goods, strongly sprung and drawn by four horses, usually four-in-hand. Widely used before the introduction of railway transport, it made regular trips between stages or stations, which were places of rest provided for stagecoach travelers...
service from Luxembourg to Brussels passed through Cap. The road linking Luxembourg City to Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, passing through Capellen, was built in 1790. From 1796, Cap and Capellen came under the jurisdiction of Mamer.
When Luxembourg was divided into cantons in 1840, as a result of disputes between Mamer and Koerich, it was decided that the canton should be named Capellen and that Capellen should become its seat.
In 1859, the railway from Luxembourg to Brussels was opened, with a station
Capellen railway station
Capellen railway station is a railway station serving Capellen, in the commune of Mamer, in south-western Luxembourg. It is operated by Chemins de Fer Luxembourgeois, the state-owned railway company....
in Capellen. American troops, liberating Luxembourg in September 1944, proceeded through Capellen towards Arlon along what became known as the Voie de la Liberté. In 1951, barracks for the Luxembourg army including the main vehicle depot were built to the south of the town. After the national draft was lifted in 1967, these facilities were taken over by NAMSA as a major NATO supply centre. Since the 1970s, Capellen has expanded rapidly, both as a residential town and, increasingly, a business and financial development area.
The Roman brick kiln
In 2002, while excavation work was in progress at the Parc d'Activités site to the east of Capellen, the remains of a Roman brick factoryRoman brick
Roman brick can refer either to a type of brick originating in Ancient Rome and spread by the Romans to the lands they conquered; or to a modern type of brick, inspired by the ancient prototypes...
were discovered. With assistance from the National Museum of History and Art
National Museum of History and Art
The National Museum of History and Art , abbreviated to MNHA, is a museum located in Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg. It is dedicated to displaying artworks and artefacts from all epochs of Luxembourgian history...
, archeologists from Nospelt
Nospelt
Nospelt is a village in the commune of Kehlen, in south-western Luxembourg. , the village has a population of 754. It is known above all for its potters who were particularly successful during the 19th century.-Location:...
belonging to the Georges Kayser Altertumsfuerscher uncovered a number of Roman buildings and kilns. One of the kilns was in remarkably good condition. As it was not possible to keep it in its original location, the Ministry of Culture and the Commune of 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...
decided it should be transferred to the centre of Capellen. After long and careful preparations, the kiln was moved to its new position in April 2003.
The brick kiln is of great historical interest as it shows that in the 4th century, the Romans were undertaking a considerable amount of construction work, probably under the direction of Constantine the Great who frequently resided in nearby 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....
from 306 to 316. The site of the brick factory was on the Kiem (Latin caminus, road) or Roman 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....
only 4 km from the 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...
of Mamer.
The kiln's new site, opposite the church on Route d'Arlon in the centre of Capellen, is open to the public.
Capellen today
Capellen has prospered over the past 40 years, first as a result of the establishment of NAMSA with personnel from all the NATO countries, then as a residential area for those working in Luxembourg City. With the recent development of the Parc d'Activités, many financial and technology companies now have offices in Capellen. This has all led to the opening of a large supermarket, a new post office, a pharmacy and several restaurants in the locality. There is also a large community centre next to the church and primary school.Capellen also hosts the Ligue HMC, an innovative association offering vocational training and employment for mentally disabled people.
There are frequent bus services to Luxembourg and to various locations to the west. The A6 motorway
A6 road (Luxembourg)
The Autoroute 6, abbreviated to A6 or otherwise known as the Arlon motorway , is a motorway in southern and western Luxembourg. It is long and connects Luxembourg City, in the south, to Kleinbettingen, in the west...
or European route E25
European route E25
European route E 25 is a north-south European route from Hoek van Holland in the Netherlands to Palermo in Italy which includes ferry crossings from Genoa to Bastia , from Bonifacio to Porto Torres and from Cagliari to Palermo .It passes through the following cities:Hoek van Holland –...
from Luxembourg to Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
runs through Capellen.
Economy
Capellen's largest employer by far is NAMSA with some 1000 employees. There are however well over 30 smaller companies providing some 1,200 jobs in a wide variety of areas including financial and technology services, pharmaceuticals, engineering, food and insurance.Famous people
- Paul Faber, born 1888 in Capellen: human rightsHuman rightsHuman rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
advocate, member of the Permanent Arbitration Court in The Hague. - Albert Steffen (1884–1962): Luxembourg historian and court cleric.
- Géza WertheimGéza WertheimGéza Wertheim was a Luxembourgian tennis player and bobsledder.He made thirty appearances for Luxembourg in the Davis Cup between 1947 and 1957, losing all thirty...
(born 1910 in Capellen, date of death unknown): tennis player and bobsledderBobsleighBobsleigh or bobsled is a winter sport in which teams of two or four make timed runs down narrow, twisting, banked, iced tracks in a gravity-powered sled that are combined to calculate the final score....
. - Nicolas Stoffel (1900–1988) founder of the Ligue HMC (1963) an association dedicated to integrate people with intellectual disabilities into society.