Clervaux (; or locally ; ) is a
commune and town in northern
Luxembourg
Luxembourg, officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, is a landlocked country in Western Europe. It is bordered by Belgium to the west and north, Germany to the east, and France on the south. Its capital and most populous city, Luxembour ...
, situated in the
canton of the same name.
The town's arms, granted in 1896, show three blackbirds on a gold ground in the chief of a red shield, as a variation of the arms of the former Lords of Clervaux.
, the town of Clervaux, which lies in the southwest of the commune, has a population of 1,572.
History
The city was the site of heavy fighting during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, in the December 1944
Battle of Clervaux, part of the "
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge, also known as the Ardennes Offensive or Unternehmen Die Wacht am Rhein, Wacht am Rhein, was the last major German Offensive (military), offensive Military campaign, campaign on the Western Front (World War II), Western ...
".
Population
Sights
The Family of Man, a famous exhibit of photos collected by
Edward Steichen
Edward Jean Steichen (; March 27, 1879 – March 25, 1973) was a Luxembourgish American photographer, painter and curator and a pioneer of fashion photography. His gown images for the magazine ''Art et Décoration'' in 1911 were the first modern ...
, is on permanent display in
Clervaux Castle.
The castle also includes the Battle of the Bulge Museum, with an extensive collection of American, German, and Luxembourgish artifacts from World War II, and an exhibition of models of the castles and palaces of Luxembourg. A U.S. Sherman tank that participated in the battle for Clervaux and a German 88 anti-aircraft/anti-tank artillery piece are on display in front of the castle.
The
Abbey of St. Maurice and St. Maur is situated on the hills above the town of Clervaux. Notable associations include
Halldór Laxness, 1902–1998, the
Nobel Prize-winning
Iceland
Iceland is a Nordic countries, Nordic island country between the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between North America and Europe. It is culturally and politically linked with Europe and is the regi ...
ic writer, who converted to
Roman Catholicism
The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...
while staying at the abbey. A
Roman Catholic
The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institut ...
mission to
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a subregion#Europe, subregion of northern Europe, with strong historical, cultural, and linguistic ties between its constituent peoples. ''Scandinavia'' most commonly refers to Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. It can sometimes also ...
has for many years maintained a base at the abbey.
The town is also home to a parish church, built between 1910 and 1912 in the Rheinisch-Romanesque style, and to an eighteenth-century chapel.
Notable people
*
Édouard Thilges (1817–1904), a Luxembourgish politician; the 7th
Prime Minister of Luxembourg
The prime minister of Luxembourg (; ; ) is the head of government of Luxembourg. The prime minister leads the executive branch, chairs the Cabinet and appoints its ministers.
Since 1989, the title of ''Prime Minister'' has been an official one, ...
, serving from 1885 to 1888.
*
Émile Colling (1899–1981), a Luxembourgish medical doctor, politician and diplomat.
*
Camille Dimmer (1939–2023), a Luxembourgish footballer, played 19 games for
Luxembourg
Luxembourg, officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, is a landlocked country in Western Europe. It is bordered by Belgium to the west and north, Germany to the east, and France on the south. Its capital and most populous city, Luxembour ...
*
Marianne Majerus (born 1956), a leading specialist garden photographer
Transportation
Clervaux railway station serves the town and the surrounding area, with trains to
Luxembourg City
Luxembourg (; ; ), also known as Luxembourg City ( or ; ; or ), is the capital city of Luxembourg and the Communes of Luxembourg, country's most populous commune. Standing at the confluence of the Alzette and Pétrusse rivers in southern Luxe ...
and
Liège, Belgium.
Twin towns — sister cities
Clervaux is
twinned with:
*
Horezu, Romania
Populated places
The commune consists of the following villages:
* Clervaux Section:
** Clervaux
**
Eselborn (Eeselbur)
**
Mecher (Mecher)
**
Reuler (Reiler)
**
Urspelt (Ischpelt)
**
Weicherdange (Wäicherdang)
**
Kaaspelterhof (Kaaspelt) (lieu-dit)
**
Kirelshof (Kirelshaff) (lieu-dit)
**
Wirtgensmühle (Wirtgensmillen) (lieu-dit)
*
Heinerscheid Section:
**
Fischbach (Fëschbech)
**
Grindhausen (Grandsen)
**
Heinerscheid (Hengescht)
**
Hupperdange (Hëpperdang)
**
Kalborn (Kaalber)
**
Lieler (Léiler)
**
Fossenhof (Fossenhaff) (lieu-dit)
**
Kaesfurt (Kéisfuert) (lieu-dit)
**
Kalborn-Moulin (Kaalber Millen) (lieu-dit)
**
Lausdorn* (Lausduer) (lieu-dit)
**
Tintesmühle (Tëntesmillen) (lieu-dit)
*
Munshausen Section:
**
Drauffelt (Draufelt)
**
Marnach (Maarnech)
**
Munshausen (Munzen)
**
Roder (Rueder)
**
Siebenaler (Siwwenaler)
Note:
* - partially shared with the
Commune of Wäisswampech
Gallery
Image:0 Clervaux 101021 CH1.JPG, Castle of Clervaux
Image:0 Clervaux 101021 CH3.JPG, Castle of Clervaux
Image:0 Clervaux 101021 E2.JPG, Church Saints Cosmas and Damian (1910-1912)
References
External links
*
*
{{Authority control
Clervaux,
Communes in Clervaux (canton)
Towns in Luxembourg