Oesling
Features
The region is characterised by hills and large deciduous forests. Almost all of Luxembourg's tallest hills are in the Éislek, particularly in the north and north-west, near the borders with Belgium and Germany. Its main hill chains are cut by scenic river valleys, most notable those of the Clerve, Our, upper Sauer, and Wiltz.
Towns and villages
The Éislek is sparsely populated, with few larger towns; Clervaux, Vianden and Wiltz are the largest ones in the Luxembourgish part of the Éislek, of which only Wiltz has a population of over 6,000 people. The area is known for its hill-side villages, which rely upon the visitors that the tourist season brings.
History
In the late 18th century, a rural popular rising against the French Revolutionary forces was centered upon the Éislek area.
In World War II, the Battle of the Bulge was partly fought in the region in late 1944 and early 1945.
Regionalist pressures
In the 2004 general election, the Free Party of Luxembourg, a small regionalist party based in the Éislek and led by local personality Jean Ersfeld, offered candidates, but none were elected. The party had difficulty in continuing to organize after the election.
Gallery
References
- ^ "Luxembourg in figures" (PDF). luxembourg.public.lu. 2022-09-01.