Andenne (; ) is a city and

municipality A municipality is usually a single administrative division having municipal corporation, corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality' ...

Wallonia Wallonia ( ; ; or ), officially the Walloon Region ( ; ), is one of the three communities, regions and language areas of Belgium, regions of Belgium—along with Flemish Region, Flanders and Brussels. Covering the southern portion of the c ...

located in the province of Namur,

Belgium Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. Situated in a coastal lowland region known as the Low Countries, it is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeas ...

. On January 1, 2006, Andenne had a total population of 25,240. The total area is 86.17 km² which gives a

population density Population density (in agriculture: Standing stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geog ...

of 292 inhabitants per km². The municipality, and the central city, extend on both sides of the river

Meuse The Meuse or Maas is a major European river, rising in France and flowing through Belgium and the Netherlands before draining into the North Sea from the Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta. It has a total length of . History From 1301, the upper ...

. The municipality consists of the following

districts A district is a type of administrative division that in some countries is managed by the local government. Across the world, areas known as "districts" vary greatly in size, spanning regions or counties, several municipalities, subdivisions ...

: Andenne, Bonneville, Coutisse, Landenne, Maizeret, Namêche, Sclayn, Seilles, Thon-Samson, and Vezin.

History

The city is symbolized by a bear, originating from the legend that saw

Charles Martel Charles Martel (; – 22 October 741), ''Martel'' being a sobriquet in Old French for "The Hammer", was a Franks, Frankish political and military leader who, as Duke and Prince of the Franks and Mayor of the Palace, was the de facto ruler of ...

, while still a child, use a hammer to kill a bear that terrorized the inhabitants. The Collegiate Church of Saint Begga, located in Andenne, was founded in the 7th century. Andenne is the location of the Château du Moisnil. Andenne is associated with the

Rape of Belgium The Rape of Belgium was a series of systematic war crimes, especially mass murder and German occupation of Belgium during World War I#Deportation and forced labour, deportation, by German troops against Belgians, Belgian civilians during Germa ...

in 1914, during which between 211 and 225 townspeople were

massacre A massacre is an event of killing people who are not engaged in hostilities or are defenseless. It is generally used to describe a targeted killing of civilians Glossary of French words and expressions in English#En masse, en masse by an armed ...

Notable individuals

Saint Begga Saint Begga (also Begue, Beghe, Begge) (615 – 17 December 693) was the daughter of Pepin of Landen, mayor of the palace of Austrasia, and his wife Itta. She is also the grandmother of Charles Martel, who is the grandfather of Charlemagne. Li ...

(613–693), daughter of

Pepin of Landen Pepin I (also Peppin, Pipin, or Pippin) of Landen (c. 580 – 27 February 640), also called the Elder or the Old, was the Mayor of the palace of Austrasia under the Merovingian King Dagobert I from 623 to 629. He was also the Mayor for Sige ...

and mother of

Pepin of Herstal Pepin II (c. 635 – 16 December 714), commonly known as Pepin of Herstal, was a Franks, Frankish statesman and military leader who was the de facto ruler of Francia as the Mayor of the Palace from 680 until his death. He took the title Duke ...

. She founded a convent in Andenne of which she was the first abbess. She is buried in the Collegiate Church of Saint Begga in Andenne. *

Gertrude of Nivelles Gertrude of Nivelles, OSB (also spelled ''Geretrude'', ''Geretrudis'', ''Gertrud''; c. 628 – 17 March 659) was a seventh-century abbess who, with her mother Itta, founded the Abbey of Nivelles, now in Belgium. She is venerated in the Catholic ...

, (ca.628–659), abbess, who, with her mother

Itta Itta of Metz, Benedictines, O.S.B. (also ''Ida'', ''Itte'' or ''Iduberga''; 592–8 May 652) was the wife of Pepin of Landen, Mayor of the Palace of the Kingdom of Austrasia. After his death, she founded the Nivelles Abbey, Abbey of Nivelles, whe ...

, founded the

Nivelles Abbey Nivelles Abbey () is a former Imperial Abbey of the Holy Roman Empire founded in 640. It is located in Nivelles, Walloon Brabant, Belgium. Foundation The abbey was founded by Itta of Metz, the widow of Pepin of Landen, Mayor of the Palace of th ...

; younger sister of St. Begga. * Carl Johan Frederik Jakhelln (1914–1987), Norwegian diplomat and writer * Fats Sadi (1927–2009, Huy), jazz musician *

Cécile de France Cécile or Cecile is a female given name or surname. People Given name * Ce'cile (Cecile Charlton, born 1976), Jamaican musician * Severin Cecile Abega (1955–2008), Cameroonian author * Cécile Aubry (1928–2010), retired French film actres ...

(born 1975), actress

Gallery

File:Andenne JPG10.jpg, The Meuse river File:Hotel de Ville Andenne.JPG, The City Hall File:Andenne JPG03.jpg, Place des Tilleuls – The kiosk (1879) File:Andenne Collegiale kerk Heilige-Begga voorgevel.jpg, Collegiate Church of Saint Begga File:Andenne JPG0H1.jpg, The St. Begge fountain File:Andenne JPG07.jpg, Office du Tourisme – "Art Nouveau" house (1907) File:Andenne JPG04.jpg, St. Begge house (1623) File:Andenne JPG06.jpg, Classical house called "Maison de Chanoinesses" File:Château du Moisnil.png, Old engraving of the Château du Moisnil in Andenne

References

External links

Information and pictures about Andenne (English pages)
Cities in Wallonia Municipalities of Namur (province) {{Namur-geo-stub

History

Notable individuals

Gallery

See also

References

External links