- Thuin
Infobox Belgium Municipality
name=Thuin
picture=Thuin JPG01.jpg
picture-
map-
arms=
region=BE-REG-WAL
community=BE-FR
province=BE-PROV-HT
arrondissement=Thuin
nis=56078
pyramid-date=
0-19=
20-64=
65=
foreigners=
foreigners-date=
mayor=Paul Furlan (PS)
majority=PS, MR
postal-codes=6530-6534, 6536
telephone-area=071
web= [http://www.thuin.be/ www.thuin.be]
lat_deg=50
lat_min=20
lon_deg=04
lon_min=17Thuin is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut. The Thuin
municipality includes the old communes ofLeers-et-Fosteau ,Biesme-sous-Thuin ,Ragnies ,Biercée ,Gozée ,Donstiennes , andThuillies .History
Origins
This area was already used as a burial place in
Gallo-Roman times, around the 2nd and 3rd century. The earliest name of the settlement, "Thudinium Castellum", referring to a Roman fortification, is found on a 9th century offering in theLobbes abbey, which lists various neighbouring towns and relatedtithe duties. The village was a possession of the abbey of Lobbes and, together with the abbey, became part of theBishopric of Liège in 888. The neighbouringAulne Abbey , reputedly founded in the 7th century byLandelin , a repentant robber, was also made part of the Bishopric of Liège.A century later,
Prince-Bishop Notger had adefensive wall built in Thuin, which then became the westernmost of the 23 "bonnes villes" (or principal cities) of the bishopric.The frontiers of the Bishopric of Liège
In the following centuries, several battles took place in this frontier area. In 1048,
Adalbert, Duke of Lorraine was killed at the Battle of Thuin byGodfrey III, Duke of Lower Lorraine . Many more battles followed between theCounty of Hainaut and the Bishopric of Liège, with Thuin caught in between. Despite the stronger defensive walls that were built in the 12th century and in the 15th century, Thuin was besieged several times. The Aulne Abbey, which had been given toSaint Bernard of Clairvaux in 1147 fared better and was even expanded several times in the 16th and 18th century. In 1654, the Spanish army under the Prince of Condé tried in vain to take Thuin. The good fortunes of the city were attributed to the intercession ofSaint Roch , who is still commemorated in the annual St-Roch procession. Several 17th century buildings, including the belfry, can still be seen today in the upper city. In 1675, the troops ofLouis XIV took and occupied Thuin until theTreaty of Nijmegen in 1678. Like its neighbourCharleroi , Thuin went in turn toSpain andAustria .After the French Revolution
On
May 10 ,1794 , during theFrench Revolutionary Wars , General Marceau expelled the Austrians and Thuin was again part ofFrance . The Aulne Abbey was burned to the ground. In 1829, on the eve of theBelgian Revolution ,William II of the Netherlands was welcomed in Thuin, to no avail. The last major heavy fighting around Thuin occurred onAugust 23 ,1914 , at the onset ofWorld War I , when the French army found itself nearly surrounded by the German army.ights
*The belfry, dating from the 17th century, has been named a
World Heritage Site byUNESCO . A splendid view on the Thuin area can be seen from the top.
*Thuin is the location of theASVi museum , specialising in the history of the BelgianVicinal tramway system. This includes a museumtram way that runs through the streets of the town.
*The charming “hanging gardens” on the southern flank of the Thuin hill can be visited on foot, following a path enhanced by several explanation signs.
*The 7th-centuryAulne Abbey , now in ruins, and its green setting are well worth a visit.
*The neighbouring village of Ragnies, also mentioned in the Lobbes offering, has been named one of the most beautiful villages of Wallonia.
*The "Château du Fosteau " dates from the 14th and 15th century. Its French gardens and pond are a haven of calm, while the interior of the castle harbours a permanent exhibit of ancient furniture and a small pharmacy museum.Festivities
*Every third Saturday of May, the town commemorates the help it received from Saint Roch during its fight against the Spanish army in 1654. The parade, as much a military march as a religious procession, was banned in the 18th century, but was reinstated in 1866 after Saint Roch delivered the city again, this time from an epidemic of cholera. The tradition has continued until today, interrupted only by the two world wars.
People born in Thuin
*
Roger Foulon , writer (20th century)Twin cities
*ITA:
Torgnon
*FRA:Bletterans in the département of Juraee also
*
Fédération Cynologique Internationale External links
* [http://www.thuin.be Official website] (in French)
* [http://www.thudinie.be.tf Le Centre d’Histoire et d’Art de Thudinie] includes several historic references on the Thuin area (in French)
* [http://www.saintrochthuin.be Official site of the Saint Roch procession] (in French)
* [http://pontificaux.ibelgique.com Other Saint Roch site] (in French)
* [http://www.tcthuin.be Official site of the Tennis Club of Thuin] (in French)
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