Walferdange Walfer
—  Commune  —
View from Sonnebierg
Coat of arms
Map of Luxembourg with Walferdange highlighted in orange, the district in dark grey, and the canton in dark red
Country	Luxembourg
District	Luxembourg
Canton	Luxembourg
Government
• Mayor	Guy Arendt
Area
• Total	7.06 km2 (2.73 sq mi)
Area rank	113rd of 116
Highest elevation	405 m (1,329 ft)
• Rank	54th of 116
Lowest elevation	228 m (748 ft)
• Rank	44th of 116
Population (2011)
• Total	7,117
• Rank	15th of 116
• Density	1,000/km2 (2,600/sq mi)
• Density rank	5th of 116
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
LAU 2	LU00011010
Website	walferdange.lu

Walferdange (Luxembourgish: Walfer, German: Walferdingen) is a commune and small town in central Luxembourg. It is located north of Luxembourg City.

As of 2001^[update], the town of Walferdange, which lies in the centre of the commune, has a population of 728. Other towns within the commune include Helmsange and Bereldange.

The commune of Walferdange was formed on 1 January 1851, when it was detached from the commune of Steinsel. The law forming Walferdange was passed on 25 November 1850.^[1]

  History

Although the commune first came into existence in 1851, there is evidence of prehistoric settlement as well as remains of a very large Roman villa. The Raschpëtzer Qanat, an underground aqueduct near Helmsange was built in the 1st century AD during the Roman occupation. It is said to be the longest qanat north of the Alps.^[2] Walferdange church was built between 1845 and 1852; the main features of its classical facade are two large statues of Père Kolbe and Thérèse de Lisieux, added at a later date. Before official unification of the commune, and even before this church was built, it was religion that pulled the villages of Heisdorf, Helmsange, Bereldange, and Walferdange together.

Recognition of Walferdange as an important town came in 1850, when Prince Henry, brother of Grand Duke William III, chose Walferdange as his seat of residence.

  Walferdange today

Sights include the Roman villa and the underground aqueduct, and Walferdange Castle, which was assigned to Grand Duke Adolphe according to the constitution. As an engaged winemaker, he enthusiastically served his guests wine from his own production. The palace was later vacated by the Grand Ducal family. The residential palace now houses the Faculty of Languages and Literature, Humanities, Art and Behavioral Sciences of the University of Luxembourg.

  Transport in Walferdange

Walferdange is connected to the outside world by means of Walferdange railway station, national highway N7, and several buslines, including the city of Luxembourg busline 11.

The commune also has its own mini-bus service known as "Walfy".

  Twinning

• Schmitshausen, Germany
• Longuyon, France
• Limana, Italy

  Footnotes

  References

This article incorporates information from the revision as of 28 September 2006 of the equivalent article on the German Wikipedia.

  External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Walferdange

• Website of Walferdange Commune

Communes of Luxembourg Bertrange Contern Hesperange Luxembourg Niederanven Sandweiler Schuttrange Steinsel Strassen Walferdange Weiler-la-Tour

Coordinates: 49°39′N 6°08′E / 49.65°N 6.133°E / 49.65; 6.133