Bertrange

Bertrange (Luxembourgish: Bartreng, German: Bartringen) is a commune and town in south-western Luxembourg. It is located 6.5 km west of Luxembourg City.

As of 2006, 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.

History

The Treveri, 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.