Diekirch

Diekirch (Luxembourgish: Dikrech; from Diet-Kirch, i.e. "people's church") is a commune with city status in north-eastern Luxembourg, capital city of the canton Diekirch and the district of Diekirch. The city is situated on the banks of the Sauer river.

The city's heraldic shield, showing a crowned lion on a castle, was granted in 1988. It is based on the city's 14th century seal and arms.

As of 2001, the city of Diekirch itself, which lies in the south of the commune, has a population of 6,068.

Diekirch was the first city in Luxembourg to have a pedestrian zone, in 1977.

Diekirch is home to a brewery of national importance carrying the city's name.

Three secondary schools are located in Diekirch: Lycée classique de Diekirch, Lycée technique hôtelier Alexis Heck and Nordstadlycée.

The city is home to the national operational headquarters of the Luxembourgish Army at the Haerebierg Military Centre (located on the hill Herrenberg) and the National Museum of Military History, reflecting Diekirch's pivotal role in the famous Battle of the Bulge, called by the Germans Rundstedt-Offensive, a major battle of World War II. It was here that the river Sauer was crossed on the night of January 18, 1945, by the US 5th Infantry division.

Diekirch District

The District of Diekirch is one of three districts of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. It contains 5 cantons divided into 43 communes:

Clervaux

• Clervaux
• Consthum
• Heinerscheid
• Hosingen
• Munshausen
• Troisvierges
• Weiswampach
• Wincrange

It borders Belgian's Walloon Region by the latter's provinces of Luxembourg in the west and Liège in the north, the districts of Luxembourg in the south and Grevenmacher in the south-east, and the German Land of Rhineland-Palatinate in the east. It has a per capita income of $49,000.

Diekirch (canton)

Diekirch is a canton in Luxembourg in Diekirch District, consisting of 10 communes:

It covers an area of 214.93 km² and (as of July 1, 2006) has a population of 26,021. Until January 1, 2006 it also included the community of Bastendorf, which had a land area of 24.44 km². This territory was then ceded to the adjoining Canton of Vianden when Bastendorf decided to join the community of Tandel in that canton.