Durbuy

Durbuy (in Walloon Derbu ) is a French-speaking city of Belgium located in Walloon region in the Province of Luxembourg. She is regarded as more the small town of the world.

Geography

Placed in a remarkable natural ECRIN, the site of the east old city to the tuning fork of the landscape which surrounds it. To traverse with foot or in attachment, to saunter in the maze of the medieval lanes allows to seize all the charm of it.

History

Durbuy, heart of the " Ground of Durbuy" , was in charge of the defense of the territory of the counts de Luxembourg (which since Henri the Blind man were also counts de Durbuy) vis-a-vis the neighbors and enemies who were the Principality of Liege and the abbey of Stavelot-Malmédy. Thus one there found a castle, builds on a rock headland girdled by Ourthe, and an enclosure protecting the castle and the borough which had developed with the foot of this one. Durbuy acquires its statute of city in 1331, when the king Jean Ier of Bohemia, Count de Luxembourg, grants the middle-class men of Durbuy of the privileges consigned in a charter of frankness. This favor was granted not because Durbuy was an important agglomeration, but because it was a center of trade and justice. Indeed, Durbuy was located then at the northern border of Luxembourg and was for this reason suceptible to undergo foreign attacks. However, only a city could have an army, for this reason and in order to avoid having to multiply movements of troops in north, the king Jean Ier of Bohemia gave to Durbuy the title of city.

One does not know large thing of his origins which probably go back to the Middle Ages (the Earth of Durbuy is perhaps an old great Carolingian field). Whereas many villages of the area are quoted as of VIIIe and IXe centuries, Durbuy appears officially in the history only in XIe century: " Like Henricus de Dolbui castello" (the Count Henri of the castle of Durbuy, written mention of 1078).

Origin of the name

The origin of the name Durbuy could be prélatine, that is to say a Celtic compound duro-bodion , " the dwelling close to the forteresse".

Monuments

At the entry of the city, after the old bridge on Ourthe, draws up the castle of Durbuy. If there were already there a castle in XIe century, the current masonry dates from the XVIIIe century, when the Counts d' Ursel inherited the Earth of Durbuy and the ruins of the old feudal fortification.

One distinguishes then the Saint Nicolas's Day church from XVIIe and XVIIIe centuries (baptismal font of XVIe century) and the old convent of Récollets.

Among a homogeneous and picturesque whole of old houses, the Corn exchange is characterized by its pinion with half-timbering. Mentioned as of 1380, it will be useful especially like sits of the legal and administrative activities of the city. Dating from XVIe century and modified at the XVIIIe century, the current building, superbly restored, accommodates cultural exposures.

Amalgamated communes

The " Town of Durbuy" of the 12 following sections following the fusion of the communes occurred in 1977 is made up:

Others

Rob Vanoudenhoven, former presenter on television Dutch-speaking, produced a song devoted to the city and its Walloon region at the time of one of the emissions humorous Of XII Werken van Vanoudenhoven, it video of this one was repeated and popularized on Internet.

External bonds

  • Photographs of the area

  • Site of the Union of the Cities and the Communes of Wallonia
  • Official site of the town of Durbuy
  • Site of the tourist bureau of Durbuy
  • Academy of Leadership in Ardenne, close to Durbuy
  • Song of Rob Van Oudenhoven devoted to the city and its area

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