Tielt
Encyclopedia
Tielt is a Belgian
municipality in the province
of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Tielt proper and the towns of Aarsele
, Kanegem, and Schuiferskapelle.
of the Wulfing dynasty in 880, who built Rikiwulfinga-haim, which survives as the Rijkegem-kouter today. The first written mention of Tiletum, however, dates from 1105. In 1245, Margaret of Constantinople, Countess of Flanders
gave the city its charter
and decided to found a hospital here. A few years later, a market place and cloth hall were built as well. Like neighbouring Roeselare
, Tielt was made part of the Kortrijk
province of Flanders. In the 13th and 14th century, the economy of most Flemish
cities was based on the cloth industry, while the rural areas lived on the products of agriculture.
In 1393, Philip the Bold
decided to hold an annual fair in Tielt, which resulted in the city becoming the booming centre of the flax
industry until the end of the 16th century. The following decades, however, were hard on Tielt as it went through two major fires and a couple of epidemics, including the plague
. Tielt also went through a severe famine at the end of the 17th century. From about 1700 until the Belgian Revolution
of 1830, the city prospered again, this time as a regional center for the construction industry.
During World War I
, the city became the headquarters for the German
army. The bombing of the Second World War
was a lot more destructive. Most of the city centre had to be rebuilt. Today Tielt is a typical province town, which offers commercial, medical and educational services to the surrounding region.
with:
Groß-Gerau
, Germany
Bruneck
, Italy
Brignoles
, France
Szamotuły, Poland
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
municipality in the province
Provinces of Belgium
Belgium is divided into three regions, two of them are subdivided into five provinces each.The division into provinces is fixed by Article 5 of the Belgian Constitution...
of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Tielt proper and the towns of Aarsele
Aarsele
Aarsele is a village in the Belgium Belgian province of West Flanders and a subdivision of the city of Tielt.-History:The earliest written reference to Aarsele dates from 1038 when it appears as Arcela, a Germanic word joining arda and sali .In earlier times Aarsele was under the rule of the...
, Kanegem, and Schuiferskapelle.
History
Some traces of Gallo-Roman occupation have been found in this area. The area was invaded by the Viking RikiwulfRikiwulf
Rikiwulf was a member of the Wulfing dynasty, mentioned in the Beowulf saga. In 880 AD, he sailed with his Viking warriors from Ghent up the river Lys in Flanders, and settled in succession Rikiwulfinga-haim near Tielt , Rekkem near Menin, and Richebourg, Reclinghem, Racquinghem and...
of the Wulfing dynasty in 880, who built Rikiwulfinga-haim, which survives as the Rijkegem-kouter today. The first written mention of Tiletum, however, dates from 1105. In 1245, Margaret of Constantinople, Countess of Flanders
Margaret II, Countess of Flanders
Margaret, called of Constantinople was countess of Flanders from 1244 to 1278 and also, countess of Hainaut from 1244 to 1253 and again from 1257 until her death.-History and Family:...
gave the city its charter
Charter
A charter is the grant of authority or rights, stating that the granter formally recognizes the prerogative of the recipient to exercise the rights specified...
and decided to found a hospital here. A few years later, a market place and cloth hall were built as well. Like neighbouring Roeselare
Roeselare
Roeselare is a Belgian city and municipality in the Flemish province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Roeselare proper and the towns of Beveren, Oekene and Rumbeke....
, Tielt was made part of the Kortrijk
Kortrijk
Kortrijk ; , ; ) is a Belgian city and municipality located in the Flemish province West Flanders...
province of Flanders. In the 13th and 14th century, the economy of most Flemish
Flemish Region
The Flemish Region is one of the three official regions of the Kingdom of Belgium—alongside the Walloon Region and the Brussels-Capital Region. Colloquially, it is usually simply referred to as Flanders, of which it is the institutional iteration within the context of the Belgian political system...
cities was based on the cloth industry, while the rural areas lived on the products of agriculture.
In 1393, Philip the Bold
Philip II, Duke of Burgundy
Philip the Bold , also Philip II, Duke of Burgundy , was the fourth and youngest son of King John II of France and his wife, Bonne of Luxembourg. By his marriage to Margaret III, Countess of Flanders, he also became Count Philip II of Flanders, Count Philip IV of Artois and Count-Palatine Philip IV...
decided to hold an annual fair in Tielt, which resulted in the city becoming the booming centre of the flax
Flax
Flax is a member of the genus Linum in the family Linaceae. It is native to the region extending from the eastern Mediterranean to India and was probably first domesticated in the Fertile Crescent...
industry until the end of the 16th century. The following decades, however, were hard on Tielt as it went through two major fires and a couple of epidemics, including the plague
Bubonic plague
Plague is a deadly infectious disease that is caused by the enterobacteria Yersinia pestis, named after the French-Swiss bacteriologist Alexandre Yersin. Primarily carried by rodents and spread to humans via fleas, the disease is notorious throughout history, due to the unrivaled scale of death...
. Tielt also went through a severe famine at the end of the 17th century. From about 1700 until the Belgian Revolution
Belgian Revolution
The Belgian Revolution was the conflict which led to the secession of the Southern provinces from the United Kingdom of the Netherlands and established an independent Kingdom of Belgium....
of 1830, the city prospered again, this time as a regional center for the construction industry.
During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, the city became the headquarters for the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
army. The bombing of the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
was a lot more destructive. Most of the city centre had to be rebuilt. Today Tielt is a typical province town, which offers commercial, medical and educational services to the surrounding region.
Sights
- The BelfryBelfries of Belgium and FranceThe Belfries of Belgium and France is a group of 56 historical buildings designated by UNESCO as World Heritage Site, in recognition of an architectural manifestation of emerging civic independence in historic Flanders and neighbouring regions from feudal and religious influences, leading to a...
(Hallentoren), Cloth Hall, and Aldermen’s Chamber are classified by UNESCOUNESCOThe United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
as a World Heritage SiteWorld Heritage SiteA UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
. - The city also houses some interesting churches such as Saint-Peter’s.
- From Tielt, there are several strolling and biking paths that allow the visitor to discover the region and see some of the windmills that still dot the landscape.
Festivities
Every year, on the first week-end of July, the city celebrates the Europafeesten (feast of Europe). This is the occasion for a braderie (a street clearance sale), street theatre, a blues festival, fireworks, and of course, expanded café terraces for further merriment.People born in Tielt
- Josse RavesteynJosse RavesteynJosse Ravesteyn, also spelled Ravestein , was a Flemish Roman Catholic theologian.-Biography:Born about 1506, at Tielt, a small town in Flanders, hence often called Tiletanus ). He studied philosophy at the Collège du Lys, in the University of Leuven, and in 1525 graduated fourth...
, 16th-century theologian - Godfried Danneels, cardinal in the Roman Catholic Church
- Briek Schotte, two-time World Champion cycling
Twin towns — Sister cities
Tielt is twinnedTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with:
Groß-Gerau
Groß-Gerau
Groß-Gerau is the district seat of the Groß-Gerau district, lying in the southern Frankfurt Rhein-Main Region in Hesse, Germany, and serving as a hub for the surrounding area.-Location:...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Bruneck
Bruneck
Bruneck is the largest town in the Puster Valley in the Italian province of South Tyrol. Bruneck lies at the confluence of the Ahr with the Rienz Bruneck is the largest town in the Puster Valley in the Italian province of South Tyrol. Bruneck lies at the confluence of the Ahr with the Rienz...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
Brignoles
Brignoles
Brignoles is a commune in the Var department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.It was the summer residence of the counts of Provence...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
Szamotuły, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
External links
- Official website - Information available in DutchDutch languageDutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
and limited information available in EnglishEnglish languageEnglish is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...