Diekirch

Diekirch (; from Diet-Kirch, i.e. "people's church") is a commune with city status in north-eastern Luxembourg, capital city of the canton Diekirch and the district of Diekirch. The city is situated on the banks of the Sauer river.

The National Museum of Military History of Luxembourg is in Diekirch.

Name
Diekirch is mentioned in 938 as Theochirica and then as Diecirke in 1182 and Diekirke in 1221. The word Diekirch means, in Luxembourgish, "people's church". Maurits Gysseling, Toponymisch Woordenboek van België, Nederland, Luxemburg, Noord-Frankrijk en West-Duitsland (vóór 1226), Tongres, 1960. (

Geography
The town of Diekirch, which lies in the south of the commune, has an area of . The altitude is  high. At the church, the altitude  is  high.

Diekirch is surrounded by four communes: Tandel (Vianden canton) to the north, Bettendorf to the east, Vallée de l'Ernz to the south, and Erpeldange to the west.

The most important river is the Sauer (German, Luxembourgish) or Sûre (French) that flows through the city.

Population
There were 6,472 persons living in the commune in 2017, for a population density of  inhabitants/km².

Evolution of the population in Diekirch

Mascot
The town's mascot is the donkey. There is a donkey fountain in the centre of Diekirch.

Twin cities
The city of Diekirch has, as twin cities, the following cities:
  Bitburg, Germany, since 1962
  Arlon, Belgium, since 1962
  Hayange, France, since 1962
  Liberty, Missouri, United States, since 1986
  Monthey, Switzerland, since 1962

 Gallery 

Related pages
 Cantons of Luxembourg
 Communes of Luxembourg
 List of cities in Luxembourg

References

Category:Communes of Diekirch