Editing Limbourg

{{Short description|Municipality in Liège Province, Belgium}}
{{Other uses|Limburg (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox Belgium municipality
|name            = Limbourg
|native_name     = {{native_name|wa|Limbôr}}
|namenl          = Limburg
|namede          = Limburg
|picture         = Place Saint-Georges, Limbourg Ville Haute (2).jpg
|picture-legend  = Old centre of Limbourg
|map             = Limbourg Liège Belgium Map.svg
|map-legend      = Location of Limbourg in the province of Liège
|arms            = Blason Limbourg.svg
|flag            = Limbourg_Belgium.svg
|region          = {{BE-REG-WAL}}
|community       = {{BE-FR}}
|province        = {{BE-PROV-LG}}
|arrondissement  = [[Arrondissement of Verviers|Verviers]]
|nis             = 63046
|pyramid-date=
|0-19=
|20-64=
|65=
|foreigners=
|foreigners-date =
|mayor           = Valérie Fautre-Dejardin ([[Socialist Party (Belgium)|PS]])
|majority        = La Limbourgeoise
|postal-codes    = 4830–4834
|telephone-area  = 087
|web             = [http://www.ville-limbourg.be/ www.ville-limbourg.be]
|coordinates     = {{coord|50|37|N|05|56|E|region:BE|display=inline,title}}
}}

'''Limbourg''' ({{IPA|fr|lɛ̃buʁ|-|LL-Q150 (fra)-Manestra-Limbourg.wav}}; German and Dutch: ''Limburg''; {{langx|wa|Limbôr}}) or '''Limbourg-sur-Vesdre'''<ref>Occasionally formerly "Lambourg", as in the 1584 [[Treaty of Joinville]].</ref> is a city and [[Municipalities of Belgium|municipality]] of [[Wallonia]] located in the [[Liège Province|province of Liège]], Belgium.

On 1 January 2008, Limbourg had a total population of 5,680. The total area is 24.63&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> which gives a [[population density]] of 231 inhabitants per km<sup>2</sup>.

The municipality consists of the following districts: [[Bilstain]], [[Goé]], and Limbourg.

The lower part of the town, along the Vesdre, is called [[Dolhain]].

== Etymology and history ==
{{Quote box |width=22em |align=left |bgcolor=#B0D4DE
|title=Historical affiliations
|fontsize=85% |quote=<poem>{{flagicon image|Lothringen-Nieder.PNG}} [[Duchy of Lower Lorraine]] 1000–1065
{{flagicon image|Arms of the Duke of Limburg.svg}} [[Duchy of Limburg]] 1065–1795
   {{flagicon image|Flag of the Low Countries.svg}} [[Burgundian Netherlands]] 1430–1482
   {{flagicon image|Flag of the Low Countries.svg}} [[Habsburg Netherlands]] 1482–1556
   {{flagicon image|Flag of the Low Countries.svg}} [[Spanish Netherlands]] 1556–1714
   {{flagicon image|Austrian Low Countries Flag.svg}} [[Austrian Netherlands]] 1714–1794
{{flagicon image|Flag of France (1794-1815).svg}} [[French First Republic|French Republic]] 1795–1804
{{flagicon image|Flag of France (1794-1815).svg}} [[First French Empire|French Empire]] 1804–1815
{{flagicon image|Flag of the Netherlands.svg}} [[United Kingdom of the Netherlands|Kingdom of the Netherlands]] 1815–1830
{{flag|Kingdom of Belgium}} 1830–present</poem>
}}
The second part of the name Limbourg is from ''burg'' meaning a fortified town, which is common in many parts of Europe where [[Germanic languages]] are spoken or have been spoken historically (see [[Germanic placename etymology]]). Concerning the first part of the name, there are various theories. One is ''lint'' meaning "dragon". Another is that it refers back to the Roman-era [[Limes (Roman Empire)|limes]], situated at boundaries of the Empire. It may also have been related to the material ''lim'' or [[lime (material)|lime]].<ref>Berkel and Samplonius, "Het Plaatsnamenboek", 1989, Unieboek, Houten</ref> Jean-Louis Kupper has proposed that the fort was named by its founder [[Frederick, Duke of Lower Lorraine|Frederick]] after [[Limburg Abbey]] in Germany, which in his lifetime had important connection to his imperial patrons and the Abbey of Stavelot, for which he was advowee.<ref>Jean-Louis Kupper (2007) Les origines du duché de Limbourg-sur-Vesdre", ''Revue belge de Philologie et d'Histoire''  Année 85-3-4 pp. 609-637 [http://www.persee.fr/doc/rbph_0035-0818_2007_num_85_3_5096]</ref>

Limbourg is located on top of a hill which in its turn is surrounded by the river [[Vesdre]]. This was a strong military advantage in the Middle Ages and allowed the city to defend itself against foreign invaders. In the [[Middle Ages]], the ruling family came to have the rank of duke and so the town was the seat of the [[Duchy of Limburg]], which was a part of the [[Lower Lorraine]] region of the [[Holy Roman Empire]].

The town featured in the [[War of the Spanish Succession]], falling in 1703 to British and Dutch Republican forces led by the [[John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough|Duke of Marlborough]].

The song 'The Fat Lady of Limbourg' on [[Brian Eno]]'s 1974 album '[[Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy)]]' describes an asylum in the town which has more patients than there are residents of the town.<ref>DeRogatis, Jim (2004). Turn on Your Mind: Four Decades of Great Psychedelic Rock. Hal Leonard. ISBN 0-634-05548-8.</ref>

<gallery mode=packed>
File:Limbourg, de Vesder in de stad foto9 2017-03-12 14.07.jpg|Limbourg, the [[Vesdre]]
File:Limbourg, chapelle Saint-Anne oeg63046-CLT-0001-01 foto5 2017-03-12 13.42.jpg|The chapel of Saint Anne
Image:Limburg1600.png|Limbourg about 1600
</gallery>

== In popular culture ==
* [[Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy)|The Fat Lady of Limbourg]], song by English musician Brian Eno.

==See also==
* [[List of protected heritage sites in Limbourg]]
* [[Duchy of Limburg]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category-inline}}
*[http://historic-cities.huji.ac.il/belgium/limburg/maps/braun_hogenberg_II_18.html Historical view of Limbourg]

{{Geographic location
|Centre = Limbourg
|N = [[Welkenraedt]]
|E = [[Baelen]]
|S = [[Jalhay]]
|W = [[Dison]]<br/>[[Verviers]]
}}
{{Municipalities in Liège}}
{{Les Plus Beaux Villages de Wallonie}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Limbourg| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Wallonia]]
[[Category:Municipalities of Liège Province]]