Alzette

River in Luxembourg and France
  • France
  • Luxembourg
Physical characteristicsSource  • locationThil • elevation305 m (1,001 ft) MouthSauer
 • location
Ettelbruck
 • coordinates
49°50′54″N 6°6′43″E / 49.84833°N 6.11194°E / 49.84833; 6.11194Length73 km (45 mi)Basin featuresProgressionSauer→ Moselle→ Rhine→ North SeaTributaries  • leftMess, Pétrusse, Eisch, Attert, Wark

The Alzette (French pronunciation: [alzɛt]; Luxembourgish: Uelzecht [ˈuəltsəɕt] ; German: Alzig [ˈaltsɪç]) is a river with a length of 73 kilometres (45 mi) in France and Luxembourg. It is a right tributary of the Sauer (a tributary to the Moselle), and ultimately to the Rhine.

It rises in Thil near the town Villerupt in the Meurthe-et-Moselle département, France. It crosses the border with Luxembourg after 2.7 km (1.7 mi).[1] At Lameschmillen (near Bergem) it is joined by the Mess. It flows through the Luxembourgish towns Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg City and Mersch, and empties into the Sauer near Ettelbruck.

The rocky cliffs above the Alzette in Luxembourg City are called 'Bock'. This name was given to the Casemates du Bock;[2] a honeycomb of tunnels colloquially named 'Paula', which runs under the ruins of the Fortress of Luxembourg. The fortress protected the city of Luxembourg for centuries until it began to be dismantled in 1867.

References

  1. ^ Sandre. "Fiche cours d'eau - L'Alzette (A89-0200)".
  2. ^ Centre, UNESCO World Heritage. "City of Luxembourg: its Old Quarters and Fortifications". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 2022-05-13.
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