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Arlon (Municipality, Province of Luxembourg, Belgium)

Aarlen

by Ivan Sache

Presentation of Arlon
Description of the flag of Arlon
Coat of arms of Arlon

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Presentation of Arlon

The municipality of Arlon (24,418 inhabitants; 12,029 hectares) is the capital city of the province of Luxembourg. The municipality is made of the city of Arlon sensu stricto and the former municipalities of Autelbas, Bonnert, Guirsch, Heinsch, Toernich, incorporated in 1976. Arlon is located in the region called Belgian Lorraine (Lorraine belge), historically linked to Lower-Lorraine (Basse Lorraine), a.k.a. Lothier.

The Celtic place called Are Launos was renamed by the Roman colons Orolaunum. The city developed under emperor Claudius (41-54), and was located near the crossroad between the Reims-Trier and Metz-Tongeren ways. Initially a vicus (open city), Orolaunum was later an oppidum(fortified city). The sources of the river Semois were a shrine dedicated to Apollo and there were thermae in the city.

Under the Merovingians, the St. Martin's church was built in the IVth century, being one of the earliest Christian churches in Belgium. Between the Vth and the VIIth centuries, the church had the rank of basilica. The church was destroyed in 1550 but its cemetary was used until 1830.

In the Xth century, the village of Autelbas developed a specific pottery style. This expensive earthenware was sold locally but also exported. There is today an archeological museum in Autelbas.

In the Middle Ages, the counts of Arlon were allied to the counts of Limburg. In 1214, however, count Waleran of Arlon married countess Ermesinde of Luxembourg. Arlon remained associated with Luxembourg until 1839. Ermesinde founded in 1250 the convent of Clairefontaines, which was ruled by Bernardine nuns. The convent was destroyed in 1794.

The castle of Barnick is a rare example of fortress built in a plain. It was probably built on the remains of a Carolingian villa. The castle belonged to the family of Autel from 1371 to the XVIth century. It was partially burned in 1983.

The city of Arlon was burned in 1424, 1563, 1569, 1660. It was trashed by the troops of the duke of Orléans (1542) and of the duke de Guise (1558, the counts' castle being destroyed), the Dutch (1604), the Croats (1636), and again the French (1681).The French left Arlon in 1697 and the city was rebuilt. The St. Donat's church is known for its frescos probably painted by Johan Georg Weiser around 1740. The church keeps a fragment of the saint's hip as a venerated relic. Donat was a Roman soldier who preserved emperor Marcus Aurelius (161-180) from lightning. He is invoked to protect persons and goods against thunderstorms and lightning.

After the Belgian independence (1830), the definitive borders of the new kingdom were fixed only in 1839. Arlon became the capital city of the