HERSTAL

French Hristal municipality, Lige province, eastern Belgium. It lies along the Meuse River and the Lige-Maastricht Canal. Herstal was originally a Carolingian settlement, and its name is probably derived from the German Heerstelle (permanent or fortified camp). Pippin II, 7th-century ruler of the Frankish empire, was born there, and the town disputes with Aachen (Aix-la-Chapelle) the honour of being the birthplace of Charlemagne. Now an important northeastern industrial suburb of Lige, Herstal has collieries, an electrical equipment plant, and Belgium's national weapons factory. Motorcycles, jet engines, and guns and other small arms also are manufactured there. Pop. (1997 est.) 36,626.