There are twelve cities in Luxembourg, as defined by statute. Despite the status as cities, they are not coherent urbanised areas. They are similar to communes, but are elevated to a different legal status. There is a technical difference between the statuses of commune and cities, but this is limited in practicality. One difference is that échevins in cities are formally appointed by the Grand Duke, whereas échevins for other communes are appointed by the Minister for the Interior.

History

Historically, this status was derived from a city's possession of a city charter, but city rights are now granted and regulated by statute. In the modern era, the status was first conferred on 24 February 1843, when seven of the eight cities that had previously been granted charters were reinstated as cities (Clervaux was not). They were (in the order given in the law): Luxembourg City, Diekirch, Grevenmacher, Echternach, Wiltz, Vianden, and Remich.

For over sixty years, no more cities were added, but the vast demographic shift during the last part of the nineteenth century made it impossible to leave the arrangements unchanged. Thus, on 29 May 1906, Esch-sur-Alzette was promoted; Esch was followed by Differdange, Dudelange, Ettelbruck, and Rumelange on 4 August 1907. An area of the (now extinct) commune of Hollerich was conferred the title on 7 April 1914, under the title of 'Hollerich-Bonnevoie'; this status was lost when Hollerich was merged into Luxembourg City on 26 March 1920.

The last such statute affecting city status in Luxembourg was the Loi communale du 13 décembre 1988. In the order outlined in that legislation (i.e. alphabetical, except with Luxembourg City first), the twelve communes with city status are: Luxembourg City, Diekirch, Differdange, Dudelange, Echternach, Esch-sur-Alzette, Ettelbruck, Grevenmacher, Remich, Rumelange, Vianden, and Wiltz.

List of cities

	Name	Canton	District	Area (km²)	Population (2005)	Date of law
	Diekirch Dikrech	Diekirch	Diekirch	12.42	6,165	24 February 1843
	Differdange Déifferdeng	Esch-sur-Alzette	Luxembourg	22.18	19,005	4 August 1907
	Dudelange Diddeleng	Esch-sur-Alzette	Luxembourg	21.38	17,618	4 August 1907
	Echternach Iechternach	Echternach	Grevenmacher	20.49	4,507	24 February 1843
	Esch-sur-Alzette Esch-Uelzecht	Esch-sur-Alzette	Luxembourg	14.35	28,000	29 May 1906
	Ettelbruck Ettelbréck	Diekirch	Diekirch	15.18	7,364	4 August 1907
	Grevenmacher Gréiwemaacher	Grevenmacher	Grevenmacher	16.48	3,966	24 February 1843
	Luxembourg City Lëtzebuerg	Luxembourg	Luxembourg	51.46	76,420	24 February 1843
	Remich Réimech	Remich	Grevenmacher	5.29	2,986	24 February 1843
	Rumelange Rëmeleng	Esch-sur-Alzette	Luxembourg	6.83	4,495	4 August 1907
	Vianden Veianen	Vianden	Diekirch	9.67	1,561	24 February 1843
	Wiltz Wolz	Wiltz	Diekirch	19.37	4,587	24 February 1843

Footnotes