LONGWY  , a fortified

town of north-eastern France in the department of Meurthe-et-Moselle, 89 m . N.N.W. of Nancy by rail . Pop . (1906) 8523 . Longwy is situated on a plateau overlooking the Chiers, a right-bank affluent of the Meuse, near the frontiers of Belgium and Luxemburg . It comprises an upper and a lower town; the former, on a hill, 390 ft. above the Chiers valley, commands the Luxemburg road, and is strengthened by an enceinte and a few out-lying fortifications . There is garrison accommodation for 5000 men and 800 horses, but the permanent garrison is small . The lower town is the industrial centre . The 17th-century church has a lofty square tower, the hotel de vile dates from 1730, and there is a fine hospital . Iron is extensively mined in the district, and supplies numerous blast furnaces . Several iron and steel works are in operation, and metal. utensils, fire-proof ware and porcelain are manufactured . Longwy (Longus vicus) came into the possession of the French in 1678 and was at once fortified by Vauban .

It was captured by the Prussians in 1792, 1815 and 1871 .