Virton
Virton | |||
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Municipality of Belgium | |||
The town hall | |||
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Virton | |||
Map of Virton
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Coordinates: 49°34.05′N 05°31.95′E / 49.56750°N 5.53250°ECoordinates: 49°34.05′N 05°31.95′E / 49.56750°N 5.53250°E | |||
Country | Belgium | ||
Community | French Community | ||
Region | Wallonia | ||
Province | Luxembourg | ||
Arrondissement | Virton | ||
Government | |||
• Mayor | Michel Thiry (CDH) | ||
• Governing party/ies | CDH, PS | ||
Area | |||
• Total | 94.49 km2 (36.48 sq mi) | ||
Population (1 January 2012)[1] | |||
• Total | 11,508 | ||
• Density | 120/km2 (320/sq mi) | ||
Postal codes | 6760-6762 | ||
Area codes | 063 | ||
Website | (French) virton.be |
Virton (French pronunciation: [viʁ.tɔ̃]) is the most southerly town in Belgium and the administrative centre of a Walloon municipality (French: commune) and district (arrondissement) of the same name, located in the Belgian province of Luxembourg. Virton is the principal town of the small region of Belgian Lorraine known as the Gaume, famous for its microclimate.
Virton municipality includes the old communes of Belmont, Bleid, Chenois, Èthe, Gomery, Grandcourt, Latour, Ruette, Saint-Mard, and Saint-Remy.
History
Antiquity and Middle Ages
Several archeological finds indicate that the area was already inhabited before the Romans built villas there and named the town Vertunum. In the early 5th century, the Romans had to flee the Germanic invasions. Their settlement was destroyed and rebuilt by the Franks somewhat north of its original site.
Modern times
The French Revolution shattered those advances.[citation needed] Virton had to wait until the departure of Napoleon in 1815 to see prosperous times again. Virton enthusiastically participated in the Belgian Revolution and even in the French Revolution of 1848. On August 22, 1914, at the onset of World War I, hundreds of inhabitants were summarily executed by the invading German army, while mass deportations occurred during World War II. Virton is now the centre of commerce and tourism for the Gaume region.
Sights
- The small hilly streets and colourful houses.
- The church of St Lawrence, built between 1825 and 1830 with a classical façade.
- Remnants of the medieval defensive wall.
- Les Musées gaumais
Climate
Climate data for Virton | |||||||||||||
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Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Average high °C (°F) | 4.4 (39.9) |
6.0 (42.8) |
10.0 (50) |
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) |
7.9 (46.2) |
5.3 (41.5) |
13.83 (56.89) |
Average low °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) |
4.73 (40.52) |
Precipitation mm (inches) | 101.0 (3.976) |
78.9 (3.106) |
86.7 (3.413) |
61.9 (2.437) |
78.8 (3.102) |
78.1 (3.075) |
76.7 (3.02) |
63.9 (2.516) |
78.2 (3.079) |
92.8 (3.654) |
95.1 (3.744) |
118.8 (4.677) |
1,010.9 (39.799) |
Avg. precipitation days | 14 | 11 | 13 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 140 |
Source: World Meteorological Organisation (UN)[2] |
Folklore
- The city’s mascot is D’Jean d’Mady, a typical, joyful, and resourceful Gaume inhabitant who was allegedly born in one of the neighbouring villages in 1585.
- Since 1935, Virton owns two traditional giants who take part in the local festivities.
People born in Virton
- Maximilian Anton Karl, Count Baillet de Latour (1737–1806), Austrian military
- Benoît Mariage, film director (born 1961)
Canadian friendship
Virton, Florenville, and many other neighbouring villages were the homes of many Canadian families whose fathers/husbands were stationed nearby at RCAF Station No. 1 (F) Wing, in Marville, France. Prior to moving the base to Lahr, Germany, there were ceremonies in these towns and in Longuyon, France (Permanent Married Quarters), where the Canadians left three small 'thunderbird' totem poles. These totems are still there and were rededicated in September 2005 on the 50th anniversary of the opening of the base.
Notes
- ↑ Population per municipality on 1 January 2012 (XLS; 214 KB)
- ↑ "World Weather Information Service – Virton". United Nations. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
References
- Lambert G., Michel J., Petit A., and Vaulet P., "Histoire de Virton : des origines à l'an 2000" Ed. des musées gaumais, asbl Virton – 1998, cited in fr:Virton
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Virton. |
- Official website
- Official Gaume site (in French, Dutch, German, and English)
- Alternative Gaume site (in French and Dutch)
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