Martelange

Martelange (Template:IPA; Template:Langx Template:IPA; Template:Langx Template:IPA; Template:Langx) is a municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Luxembourg, Belgium.

On 1 January 2007 the municipality, which covers 29.67 km², had 1,584 inhabitants, giving a population density of 53.4 inhabitants per km². Besides Martelange itself, the municipality includes the villages of Grumelange and Radelange.

For some Template:Convert, the N4 Brussels to Arlon road, which passes through the village, forms the border with the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Because fuel, tobacco, and alcohol taxes are lower in Luxembourg than in Belgium, the eastern, Luxembourgish side of this stretch of road has become lined with numerous petrol stations and liquor stores.

The street itself and the houses on the right side belong to Belgium, the red house and all the gas stations are on Luxembourg territory.

History

Between 1830 and 1947, the town was a major slate quarrying centre, though the industry has now completely disappeared.

On August 21, 1967, a French tanker lorry containing 45 000 litres of Liquefied petroleum gas suffered from failing brakes while driving downhill. It exploded in the middle of the village, killing 22 people<ref>News bulletin 21/8/1967 (Martelange accident), RTBF</ref> and injuring 54.<ref>Martelange: l'horreur et la tristesse il y a 45 ans, La Meuse, 20 August 2012</ref> Dozens of houses were completely destroyed.

See also

• List of protected heritage sites in Martelange

External links

• Template:Commons category-inline