Clervaux

Clervaux (French: [klɛʁvo]; Luxembourgish: Clierf [kliɐ̯f] ^ⓘ or locally Cliärref [ˈkli̯ɛʀəf]; German: Clerf [ˈklɛʁf]) is a commune and town in northern Luxembourg, situated in the canton of the same name.

Clervaux Clierf (Luxembourgish) Clerf (German)
Commune
Coat of arms
Map of Clervaux 1 to 100 Scale With lakes
Coordinates: 50.05°N 6.0333°E / 50.05; 6.0333
Country	Luxembourg
Canton	Clervaux
Government
• Mayor	Georges Keipes (Independent)
Area
• Total	85.05 km2 (32.84 sq mi)
• Rank	2nd of 100
Highest elevation	548 m (1,798 ft)
• Rank	3rd of 100
Lowest elevation	276 m (906 ft)
• Rank	77th of 100
Population  (2025)
• Total	6,289
• Rank	25th of 100
• Density	73.94/km2 (191.5/sq mi)
• Rank	84th of 100
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
LAU 2	LU0000501
Website	clervaux.lu

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.^[1]

As of 2024^[update], the town of Clervaux, which lies in the southwest of the commune, has a population of 1,572.^[2]

History

The city was the site of heavy fighting during World War II, in the December 1944 Battle of Clervaux, part of the "Battle of the Bulge".

Population

View source data.

^[3]

Sights

The Family of Man, a famous exhibit of photos collected by Edward Steichen, 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 Icelandic writer, who converted to Roman Catholicism while staying at the abbey. A Roman Catholic mission to Scandinavia 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, 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
• 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 and Liège, Belgium.

Twin towns — sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Luxembourg

Clervaux is twinned with:^[4]

• 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

• 
  Castle of Clervaux
• 
  Castle of Clervaux
• 
  Church Saints Cosmas and Damian (1910-1912)