Herstal

Policy

Elections 2006

5 Parties had deposited a list for the communal elections: Ecologist - EPH - MR. - PS PTB. Formation EPH (together for Herstal) is a gathering of member of the CDH and former dissenting communal elected officials of this same party.

With 50,86% of the votes the PS optient, as it became a practice with Herstal, an absolute majority which it decides nevertheless to extend to a partner. It is the second party of the commune which is selected: EPH.

Economy

FN Herstal, principal the Usine of armament of the country has its seat installed in the commune; it employs approximately 600 people. But the saving in Herstal is mainly based on the services (hospital, shopping malls, many shops,…).

It is curious to note that Herstal was a great production center motorcylcist, since three Constructeurs of motor bikes cohabited there: FN, Sarolea and Gillet Herstal.

History

Located in edge of Meuse, the occupation of the place by the men began very early in this area favourable with the human expansion (important means of communication and abundant natural food resources).
But it is in the fogs of the end of the Roman period and the beginning of the period mérovingienne that Héristal appears, old name of the city, small strengthened village located at the intersection of the Meuse and a Chaussée Brunehaut coming from Tongres, place chief of the Civitas Tungrorum, where the antique road Boulogne passes - Bavay - Cologne and moving through the Pays of Herve to the valley of the Vesdre and the area of Aachen. The passage of the river was probably done via a vat between Herstal and Jupille.

The proximity of the Tongres capitals and Maastricht of the Diocèse of Liege undoubtedly played in favor of the establishment of a principal place of residence of the mayors of the palate of Austrasie of which two will bear name of the locality: Pip of Herstal and his/her son Charles de Herstal which was famous Martel only tardily. Nothing however proves that Charlemagne there was born, that remains a possibility among other but it lived there about fifteen years at the beginning of its working life. This Carolingian presence also probably brought one supports with the worship of Saint-Lambert and the development of the place of this worship: Liege.

Later, the seigniory included/understood in the duchy of Low-Lotharingie (Low Lorraine) became the prerogative of the oldest sons of the dukes of the Brabant.

In 1546, Erard of Marck of yielding to Charles Quint a territory so that it can build there the fortress of Mariembourg but it will not obtain exchanges the seigniory of Herstal of it as certain sources say it. It is only in 1740 that the prince bishop of Liege Georges-Louis de Berghes repurchases with the full price this seigniory with Frederic II of Prussia. It is only at this time and extremely tardily that Herstal belongs to the Principauté of Liege.

August 7th 1914, 89e IH and 90e IH of the German imperial army passed by the weapons 27 civilians there and destroyed there 10 houses at the time of the German Atrocités made at the beginning of the invasion.

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