Country Belgium Region Wallonia Website houffalize.be Area code 061 | Community French Community Area codes 061 Local time Wednesday 9:02 AM Province Luxembourg | |
 | ||
Postal codes 6660, 6661, 6662, 6663, 6666 Weather 8°C, Wind N at 6 km/h, 97% Humidity Arrondissement Arrondissement of Bastogne | ||
Houffalize (German: Hohenfels) is a Walloon municipality of Belgium located in the province of Luxembourg. On 1 January 2007 the municipality, which covers 166.58 square kilometres (64.32 sq mi), had 4,802 inhabitants, giving a population density of 28.8 inhabitants per km².
Contents
Map of Houffalize, Belgium
The municipality consists of the following sub-municipalities: Houffalize proper, Mabompré, Mont, Nadrin, Tailles, Tavigny, and Wibrin. Other population centers include Achouffe, Alboumont, Bœur, Bonnerue, Buret, Cetturu, Chabrehez, Cowan, Dinez, Engreux, Filly, Fontenaille, Mormont, Ollomont, Pisserotte, Sommerain, Taverneux, Vellereux, Vissoûle, Wandebourcy, and Wilogne.
History
Houffalize was a strategic location during the Battle of the Bulge of World War II. Specifically, Generals Montgomery and Patton met up here, Montgomery coming from the north and Patton from the south, in their counter-attack against the German forces remaining in the area. The town was flattened on the night of 5–6 January 1945 by ninety RAF Lancasters of Bomber Command to block the key crossroads for German supply columns and the escape route for German forces. Patton was driven to writing a poem in his diary about the bombing.
Twin towns - Sister cities
Houffalize is a founding member of the Douzelage, a unique town twinning association of 24 towns across the European Union. This active town twinning began in 1991 and there are regular events, such as a produce market from each of the other countries and festivals. Discussions regarding membership are also in hand with three further towns (Agros in Cyprus, Škofja Loka in Slovenia, and Tryavna in Bulgaria).