The city of Ettelbruck is located in the heart of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, at the exact spot where three rivers, the Sauer, the Alzette and the Wark flow towards their geographic meeting place. Natural approach routes and ancient routes were improved upon in the course of our national independance with a highway network which highlighted this point of confluence of rivers and roads. It became a meeting point and distribution center surpassed in importance only by our capital.

By the 11th century a population of some 300 inhabitants formed the core of the parish of Ettelbruck (Hettelbrucken), which included the adjacent localities of Grentzingen, Birtrange, Schieren, Welsdorf, Warken, Welscheid and Burden

The democratic and progressive aspirations of the turbulent period of the first half of the 19th century were at the source of strongly felt drives and needs in realm of free enterprise. Such activities favoured the evolution of Ettelbruck as a flourishing center of commerce and crafts.

The devastating fire of July 18, 1778, represents the starting point of a new destiny for our town. The fire destroyed 480 dwellings and other buildings. Besides the annual duty-free fair in October, in 1780 Empress Maria-Theresia of Austria granted Ettelbruck the privilege of holding eleven additional monthly fairs. It was the beginning of an agricultural, commercial, industrial, and artisanal period which in the course of the 19th century became one of the dominant traits of Ettelbruck

Prosperous small and medium-sized enterprises and industries took root, encouraged as early as 1862 by the advent of the railroad.

The community of Ettelbruck, formed by grand-ducal decree on June 30, 1823, was deprived of its component parts of  Burden, Erpeldange, Ingeldorf, Schieren, and Windhof at that time and confined to Ettelbruck, Warken, and Grentzingen.

In the course of the remarkable growth period of the second half of the nineteenth century the foundations of the town's future were clearly laid down:

development of a primary and post-primary education system;

founding in 1852 of the St. Anne girls boarding school;

opening of the State Agricultural School in 1883;

founding in 1855 of the Central Hospice on the premises of old artillery barracks, converted into an Asylum for mentally handicapped and, today, the Neuro-Psychiatric Clinic;

improvement of social security and health services;

advent of the first local clubs;

Hand in hand with the commercial and craft development came an expansion in the fields of religious, educational, cultural, social, and medical endeavour. Around the turn of the century the population of some 2.400 inhabitants proved itself broadly receptive to urban progress with the construction of new streets, the enlargement of the trainstation quarter, the installation of an electric power plant for local power consumption and of a municipal slaughterhouse.

Ettelbruck, which since 1839, date of independence of today's Grand-Duchy, had been ranked among the county's most populous towns, aspired to the status of a "city". Despite a pronounced period of stagnation, caused by the Great War 1914-1918 and the ensuing postwar economic difficulties, the imposing edifice of the new State Agricultural School was inaugurated in 1932. This was followed in 1936 by the opening by Dr Charles Marx of the first surgical clinic north of our capital. Both events fostered the expansion of the city towards Warken. Since the locality was closely linked to the agricultural pursuits of the surrounding countryside, it did not suffer in the same measure as elsewhere the nefarious influence of the 1929 stock market and banking crash.

The German occupation starting on May 10, 1940, put a complete damper on all beneficial development for the duration of the Second World War. The town was first liberated by American troops on September 11, 1944. Unfortunately, a few days after the German surprise attack of December 16, 1944, scattered elements of the 352nd Volks-Grenadier Division occupied the town on December 22.

Town centre, slightly redesigned by the Germans during the
battle of the bulge ("Ardennen-Offensive") in 44/45.

The civilian population had fled two days earlier. In the wake of violent combat, Ettelbruck was retaken by American troops on Christmas Day following a heavy artillery barrage.

In a spontaneous outburst of profound gratitude towards the American liberators, the idea was born, as early as 1946, to erect a memorial to the memory of General George S. Patton and the brave soldiers of the Third Army. With the agreement of the authorities, Patton Square was dedicated in1954 at the very spot where the German advance into the Alzette valley and thus into the heard of our country had been halted. Every July since 1954 the moving commemorations of the "Remembrance Day", which earned the city the nickname "Patton-town", have taken place in the presence of members of the Grand Duke's family, of the highest civilian and military officials and with the participation of American, British, Belgian, French, and Luxembourg military units.

Little by little, following years of reconstruction, a transformed and prosperous urban area developed. Alongside the preserved presence of the past are the signs of ongoing renewal. With the establishment of Goodyear Industries at Colmarberg in 1949, evidence of vitality and entre-preneurial spirit multiplied. The impact could be seen in the various reinvigorated spheres of commerce, education, health and housing. In the course of this period, the economy and commerce took unsuspected and remarkable strides. The vitality of the city manifests itself in a level of daily activity far out of proportion to the actual size of its population of some 7000 inhabitants. Boasting approximately 350 commercial establishments, three large sales outlets, and representing a commercial and crafts center, Ettelbruck can justly claim the title of "Commercial Center of the North".

A view of the centre from the surrounding hills

These fortuitous developments were accompanied by initiatives and innovations in the spheres of education and medicine. The inauguration of a new vocational- technical school, the conversion of the State Agricultural School into an agricultural-technical high school, and the conversion of the Pensionnat Ste Anne into a private technical "lycee" resulted in the formation of a sizable educational center serving over 2.000 students. Additionally there are some 734 primary school pupils and 700 students attending the music school.

0ver the past two centuries Ettelbruck has made efforts to create and perfect a medical service establishment; With facilities including the 800 to 900 beds of the neuro-psychiatric hospital founded in 1855, to which were joined as early as 1936 the 50 beds of the old St. Louis Clinic, came the farsighted idea to create a multipurpose medical center. More than sixty medical specialists, equipped with the most modern facilities and assisted by a highly trained nursing staff, ensure the quality of medical and surgical care under excellent conditions in a hospital with 340 beds. Ettelbruck, alongside Luxembourg in the center and Esch/Alzette in the south, has become the "medical hub of the north".

0n the threshold of the 21 st century commerce, education, and health care represent the key elements determining the future direction of the Ettelbruck-Warken area. If in the 1960s residential areas were largely limited to expanding in the valley, this is no longer the case today. After first extending in the general direction of Warken, the city began to grow, especially up the heights rolling away to the West.

The busy and necessary activities of a population ever more reliant upon road transport have engendered a traffic congestion problem, which is a nuisance and represents an untenable condition. After years of equivocation concerning a proper trajectory, followed by ten years of construction work, a partial improvement in traffic flow was achieved starting on November 10, 1989, with the opening of the North-South bypass. The next project, a minibypass in the Wiltz-Bastogne direction, allows the creation of an attractive pedestrian zone in the heart of the town.

0ver 86 local clubs and societies are the basis of a rich and varied athletic and cultural life. Attractive fairs and special events contribute to the positive reputation called upon to build and maintain bridges between urban and rural populations. These include agricultural and commercial fairs, livestock and floral exhibits, dog shows, and sports meets of international caliber such as the Luxembourgish Moto-Cross Grand Prix  and the Trials Grand Prix.

 The Town Hall

Numerous hiking trails all around the "Entrance to  the Ardennes" invite discovery either of the gentle idyllic banks of the area's three rivers or enjoyment of beautiful vistas from the surrounding heights. A convenient point of departure for small excursions to the four corners of the country, the city boasts a comfortable camping ground located in pleasant surroundings. In 1989 the bicycle trails of the Sauer and Our river valleys were extended as far as Ettelbruck, allowing the many fans of biking to enjoy visits to Diekirch, Vianden, and Echternach using their own pedal power.

Today's local population remains vigourous and vibrant thanks to an ongoing mingling of population fueled over the past two decades by the influx of Portuguese and Cape-Verde residents. Natives and immigrants have been  living side by side in well-meaning harmony while working hard at successful integration.

Given its privileged situation in the heart of the country,  the significance of its commercial activities, the importance of its medical and educational facilities, the future and the welfare of the city of Ettelbruck is both promising and encouraging.
 
 

Source: Extraits de "Ettelbruck Portrait", album photographique rernarquable (1993)

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