Bütgenbach
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Bütgenbach is a German -speaking community in the province of Liège and one of the nine municipalities of the German-speaking Community in Belgium with a population of 5731 (as of 1 January 2012) on a total municipal area of 97.31 square kilometers. Bütgenbach forms since 1977 with Else Born, Mountain, Küchelscheid - Leykaul, Nidrum and Weywertz the United Bütgenbach.
History
A first mention learned Bütgenbach under the Carolingians in the 9th century as an outpost of Büllingen court. The first documentary mention in 1130 can be found in a directory of taxes to the abbey of Malmedy. From 1200 to 1214, the area belonged to Bütgenbach to the estate of the Count of Luxembourg and then by marriage to the Duchy of Limburg.
The Lords of Limburg in 1237 prompted the construction of the castle Bütgenbach on the north side of the village on a cliff on the banks of the Warche. Thus, it was Bütgenbach center of an area which is referred to as yard Bütgenbach. In addition to Bütgenbach Hofgebiet included the villages Mountain, Elsenborn, Faymonville Nidrum, Sourbrodt and Weywertz.
1265 came the farm by inheritance to the house Falkenburg, the later Sankt Vith also possessed the lands of Monschau. Walram Falkenburg approved in 1300 the establishment of a monastery De Porta Coeli ( Heaven's Gate ) on his estate Bütgenbach. Today, there is still along the road of military training area, storage Else Born to Küchelscheid the Flurname green monastery, but could not be determined whether there is a connection between him and the founding of the monastery of Walram Falkenburg today. Over time Bütgenbach went successively into the possession of the counts of Vianden and the House of Nassau.
1461 Weywertz is first mentioned in the form of Wivertz or Wiverhus, which means women home. According to an old tradition once to three women who lived in Weywertz and if the settlement its name. Around the house this women or women should then over time a considerable village have arisen.
1503 the family received from Rolhausen the castle and the courtyard Bütgenbach as a fief of the nassauern they remained in their possession until 1786. 1575 possession under Christoph von Reiffenberg was partially destroyed by fire, but by his son Johann introduced him in 1624 to restore. 1689, the castle was destroyed by the troops of the French King Louis XIV.
1795 were the Hofgebiet Bütgenbach, the entire Duchy of Luxembourg and left-bank part of Germany by the French annexed ( to about 1815 - French Time). During the occupation the castle Bütgenbach was finally destroyed. What was left of the castle on the Warche, was removed and used in the construction of various houses in the village.
At the Congress of Vienna (1814-1815) Europe's borders were reorganized. Bütgenbach then became part of the Rhine province of Prussia. 1893 put Prussia in Elsenborn a maneuver area with railway connections to the military training area Elsenborn that was acquired after the First World War by the Belgian Army.
1920 came the districts of Eupen and Malmedy ( with Sankt Vith ) by the Treaty of Versailles to the Kingdom of Belgium. On 1 January 1922, the Belgian legislation for this space came into force.
1920, the area was divided into four municipalities Bütgenbach:
- Bütgenbach,
- Else Born,
- Faymonville and
- Robertsville
The entire area of East Belgium was provided until 1925 under the management of the employed by the Belgian Government High Commissioner General Herman Baltia. In 1925, the inclusion in the Belgian political structure.
In May 1940 ( West campaign ), the Wehrmacht captured the Benelux countries. On the morning of May 10 Belgian units blew prepared numerous bridges and triggered other obstacles and roadblocks out. A single bridge - at Bütgenbach - could be undestroyed conquered and held by an advance party of the Wehrmacht.
The area of Eupen - Malmedy with Bütgenbach was annexed by the German Reich (1942 were the local men drafted for military service ). As of September 9, 1944 Bütgenbach was liberated by U.S. troops. After the war the territory returned under the administration of the Kingdom of Belgium. During the Battle of the Bulge ( from 16 December 1944 / January 1945 ) was General Eisenhower for a few days his quarters. In Bütgenbach were 458 soldiers of the 1st U.S. Infantry Division.
The last time governed the German - Belgian border treaty of 1956, among other things, the return of certain sub-areas within the municipality between Belgium and Germany. This was done on August 28, 1958.
As a result of municipal mergers in 1977 now includes the villages of Bütgenbach Mountain, Bütgenbach, Else Born, Küchelscheid, Leykaul, Nidrum and Weywertz.
Attractions
- The Bütgenbacher dam with the sports infrastructure Worriken.
- The parish church of St. Stephen in Bütgenbach, which was inaugurated in 1932, the architect was Henry Cunibert
- The wild daffodils meadows along the Warche and Holzwarchetales.
- The trails around the lake, through valleys and forests.
- The parish church of St. Michael in Weywertz, which was inaugurated in 1959.
- The High Moor.
- Herba Sana (2 ha didactic herb garden )
Media
In Elsenborner Cultural Herzebösch the regional studio of the radio station Radio 700 is located. He is to receive 101.7 MHz in the communities Bütgenbach, Büllingen, Amel and the communities on the frequency 90.1 MHz and in Burg- Reuland and St. Vith on FM.
Economy
In addition to tourism and gastronomy, local craft shops and also the military training area Elsenborn generate income.
The Walloon Regional Planning Minister André Antoine ( CDH) has forbidden to carry out private ammunition tests Mecar on the military training ground Else Born by the Decree of 5 June 2008. There were health hazards and to prevent pollution of the drinking water was feared also associated with a decline in the tourism business.
On 20 May 2011 the State Council issued a global license for ammunition testing in Elsenborn, he followed the arguments of the defense contractor hereby Mecar. The citizens' initiative "Stop Mecar " to be reactivated.