Lontzen — municipality in the province of Liège, Belgium
Lontzen is a small Belgian municipality in the eastern province of Liège, part of the German-speaking Community. It lies near the German border and had about 5,200 inhabitants in 2007.
Lontzen is a municipality in eastern Belgium, located in the province of Liège and forming part of the German-speaking Community. It sits in the area historically known as the East Cantons, close to the border with Germany. The commune's approximate coordinates are 50°40′N, 6°00′E.
The town is relatively small and predominantly rural. Official local administration operates in German, reflecting the municipality's membership of Belgium's German-speaking Community. Population figures vary over time; a census count recorded 5,175 inhabitants in 2007, so current totals are commonly described as "about 5,000" to "around 6,000" depending on more recent counts.
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2 ImagesGeography and transport
Lontzen occupies low-lying countryside typical of the region between the higher Ardennes to the southwest and the German border to the east. Road links provide direct access toward larger nearby cities and cross-border destinations; the municipality is within easy driving distance of Aachen (Aix-la-Chapelle) in Germany and the city of Liège. Local lanes connect hamlets and agricultural areas while regional public transport serves commuters to neighbouring towns.History and identity
The area around Lontzen shares the history of the East Cantons: for centuries it was under German-speaking rule and, after the First World War, it was transferred to Belgium under the postwar treaties. That historic shift explains the municipality's German-language institutions alongside Belgian political structures and contributes to a local identity shaped by both Belgian and German cultural influences.Economy, culture and landmarks
The local economy is a mix of agriculture, small businesses and services catering to residents and visitors. Villages and hamlets within the municipality contain churches, community halls and examples of regional architecture. Annual events and local clubs reflect German-speaking traditions, and residents often cross the nearby border for work, shopping or cultural activities.Governance and further information
Lontzen is governed by a municipal council and mayor under the framework of the Belgian state and the autonomous institutions of the German-speaking Community. For administrative and practical information see the municipal page, details on the wider area at the Liège province site, the regional arrondissement information at arrondissement resources, and general Belgian government material at Belgium portals.- Coordinates: 50°40′N, 6°00′E
- Language: German (official in municipal matters)
- Region: East Cantons, province of Liège
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Author
AlegsaOnline.com Lontzen — municipality in the province of Liège, Belgium Leandro Alegsa
URL: https://en.alegsaonline.com/art/59161
Sources
- statbel.fgov.be : Werkelijke bevolking per gemeente op 1 januari 2007 / Population de droit par commune au 1 janvier 2007 (.xls)
- statbel.fgov.be : Geografische coördinaten van de gemeenten (.xls)