Last modified: 2007-10-20 by ivan sache
Keywords: bullingen | bullange |
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The municipality of Büllingen (in French, Bullange; 5,453 inhabitants on 1 July 2007; 15,049 ha, therefore the second biggest municipality of Belgium) is the easternmost municipality of Belgium, located in the German-speaking Community, on the border with Germany. The municipality of Büllingen is made since 1976 of the former municipalities of Büllingen, Manderfeld and Rocherath, the highest village of Belgium (650 m asl). Auf Weisserstein (lit., "On the White Stone"; 692 m asl) is the second highest point of Belgium. The white stone is 2 x 2 m block of quartz, located near Mürringen. The legend says it is a part of a star or an asteroid.
Büllingen, most probably founded by the Franks in 450-600 like the
places whose name ends with -ler, -herim or -ingen, appears in the
written history as Villa Bollingen in a document of the abbey of
Echternach dated 789/790. Emperor Otto I signed a deed in Bullinga in
940. In the early Middle Ages, the region was disputed among the local
lords, and was eventually incorporated to the Duchy of Luxembourg
around 1200. Several people emigrated in the XVIIth century after the
Thirty Years' War; in 1767, Büllingen had 219 inhabitants.
After the set up of the French rule, the farmers of Büllingen revolted against
the new rulers in 1798, an event known as Klöppelkrieg, the Clapper's
War. In 1815, Büllingen and the Eastern Cantons were incorporated to
Prussia; bad harvests caused waves of emigration in 1845-1846 and
1883-1884. However, Büllingen was a renowned market place.
In 1912, Büllingen was linked to the railway network, which allowed the
exportation of cattle and wooden products. Büllingen was incorporated
to Belgium in 1920, annexed by the German Third Reich on 18 May 1940
and reincorporated to Belgium in 1945. Büllingen and Rocherath were
nearly completely destroyed during the Battle of the Bulge in winter
1944-1945. Of the 2,153 inhabitants of Büllingen, 372 were enrolled in
the Wehrmacht and 140 were killed; 38 civilians were killed during the
Battle of the Bulge. Of the 1,431 inhabitants of Rocherath, 100
soldiers and 33 civilians were killed. Of the 1,304 inhabitants of
Manderfeld, 57 soldiers and 28 civilians were killed. The Americans
liberated Büllingen and Rocherath at the end of January 1945; the last
liberated hamlet was Krewinkel, on 4 February 1945.
Büllingen is famous for its butter, in spite of the closure of the
dairy.
Source: Municipal website
Ivan Sache, 28 May 2007
There is no report of a municipal flag in Büllingen.
Ivan Sache, 28 May 2007
