Districts of Flanders

Bruges District:
Beernem
Blankenberge
Brugge/Bruges
Damme
Jabbeke
Knokke-Heist
Oostkamp
Torhout
Zedelgem
Zuienkerke

Kortrijk District:
Anzegem
Avelgem
Kortrijk/Courtrai
Deerlijk
Harelbeke
Kuurne
Lendelede
Menen
Spiere-Helkijn
Waregem
Wevelgem
Zwevegem
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History of Flanders

In 862, Baldwin Bras-de-Fer [Iron Arm], a son-in-law of Emperor Charles II, became the first count of Flanders. In the divisions (9th cent.) of the Carolingian empire, Flanders became a fief of the French crown, but its powerful counts enjoyed virtual independence. They extended (11th cent.) their domains to the east; these additions, being held in fief to the Holy Roman Empire, became known as Imperial Flanders, in contrast to Crown Flanders, held from the French kings. In the 12th cent. the direct line of counts died out, and in 1191 the counts of Hainaut (with which Flanders previously had been briefly united) also became counts of Flanders.

The struggle for the succession to Flanders in the 12th cent. resulted in the loss of Artois and other districts and towns in W and S Flanders to the French crown. At the same time, the Flemish cities—among which Ghent, Bruges, Ypres, and Kortrijk were foremost—gained vast privileges and liberties (see commune). Their prosperity and the prosperity of Flanders as a whole depended on the growing cloth industry, which had been introduced in the 10th cent., and on the transit trade at such major ports as Bruges (later superseded by Antwerp) and Ghent. By the 13th cent. the Flemish cloth industry was the foremost in Europe, and it has still retained much of its importance.

Flanders had a turbulent history in the 13th and 14th cent. due to social, economic, and political tensions. One result of the intensive industrialization of the cities was a struggle between the guild workers and the patricians. This struggle was reflected in the political rivalry of the Leliaerts (supporters of the French kings, named for the fleur-de-lis on the French arms), who were backed by the patricians, and the Clauwaerts (supporters of the counts of Flanders, named for the lion’s claws in the counts’ shield), who represented the lower classes. In addition, there was a long-standing rivalry among the cities, which often led to open warfare.
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Bruges the Capital City of West Flanders

Bruges (Dutch: Brugge (a name probably signifying landing stage)) is the historic capital of the province of West Flanders, Flanders being one of the three regions of Belgium.

The municipality comprises the city of Bruges proper and the towns of Assebroek 1971, Dudzele 1971, Koolkerke 1971, Lissewege 1971, Sint-Andries 1971, Sint-Jozef 1971, Sint-Kruis 1971, Sint-Michiels 1971, Sint-Pieters 1899, Zeebrugge 1901, and Zwankendamme 1899. On July 1, 2005, Bruges had a total population of 117,172. The total area is 138.40 km² which gives a population density of 847 inhabitants per km². (Males 56.788 Females 60.384)

History of Bruges

Bruges has a long tradition of international port activity. The oldest trade settlement of Bruges and the early medieval port were accessible from the sea until around 1050. A storm flood in 1134 reshaped the Flemish coastal plain: a deep channel appeared, the Zwin, which at the time reached as far as present day Damme. The city remained linked to the sea until the fifteenth century via a canal from the Zwin to Bruges. But Bruges had to use a number of outports, such as Damme and Sluys. It remains so connected, but its main seaport nowadays is, as its name implies, Zeebrugge.

Facts About West Flanders

Capital Bruges
Area 3,125 km²
Population 1,130,040
Density 362 / km²

West Flanders

West Flanders (Dutch: West-Vlaanderen) is the westernmost province of Flanders and of Belgium. It borders on (clockwise from the North) the Netherlands, the Belgian provinces of East Flanders (Oost-Vlaanderen) and Hainaut (Henegouwen), France and the North Sea. Its capital is Bruges (Brugge). It has a surface area of 3151 km² and is divided into eight administrative districts (arrondissementen) which contain 64 municipalities.

The whole Belgian North Sea coast, an important destination for tourism in Belgium, is in West Flanders. There is a tram line along the whole coast: De Panne - Ostend (Oostende) - Knokke-Heist.

West-Vlaanderen , French Flandre Occidentale the westernmost province of Belgium. It extends inland from the North Sea coast and is bounded by France on the west and south and by Hainaut, East Flanders, and The Netherlands on the east. It is divided into eight administrative arrondissements—Veurne, Ostend, Brugge, Tielt, Roeselare, Kortrijk, Ypres, and Diksmuide. It was once part of the old county of Flanders.

Drained by the Yser and Leie (Lys) rivers, the province can be geographically divided into maritime West Flanders and the interior plain. The former comprises the coastal area and the polders (or land reclaimed from the sea). Maritime West Flanders’ straight, unembayed 42-mile (68-km) coastline has broad sandy beaches backed by a rampart of sand dunes that reach as high as 100 feet (30 metres) and are 1 mile (1.6 km) wide in places. Planted marram grass and conifers help to stabilize the sand. This line of dunes is broken only at the mouth of the Yser River at Ostend, near Zeebrugge, and at the mud-covered inlet of the former Zwijn estuary. Behind the dunes lies a flat plain, the Flemish polders, which are seamed with drainage channels and which extend for 6–10 miles (10–16 km) inland.
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Attractions of Namur

Fortified centre. The citadel, overlooking the town and the Meuse river.

Please note: the walk up to the fortified centre . A walk though the paths and streets that lead up to the centre will allow you to relax into the individual atmosphere of this town. Please be aware however that the walk can be long and at times steep. It is thus not appropriate for very young children, the weak or fragile. A car is a viable alternative.

Parfumerie Guy Delforge
Route Merveilleuse, 60
5000 – Namur
http://www.delforge.com
info@delforge.com

Parfumerie Delforge. The view from the entrance is perhaps something you might expect to see more in Provence than Belgium! Enter through the officer mess and discover the source of the essential oils! The visit takes you 30ft below ground and back to the 17 th century. It’s dark and cool down there – conditions essential to keep the oils properties intact.
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Wallonia the Capital City of Namur

Wallonia (French: Wallonie) or the Walloon Region (French: Région Wallonne) is the predominantly French-speaking region that constitutes one of the three federal regions of Belgium, with its capital at Namur. Its official languages are French and German.

Demographics and language

The Walloon Region occupies the southern part of Belgium. It has a surface area of 16844 km² (55.18% of Belgium) and comprises the following provinces:
Hainaut
Liege
Luxembourg
Namur
Walloon Brabant
Charleroi

Its major cities and towns include Liège, Namur, Charleroi, Mons, Tournai, Arlon, Bastogne, Wavre, Verviers, Dinant and Eupen.
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Notable inhabitants

Félicien Rops (1833-1898), artist
Henri Michaux (1899-1984), poet, writer and painter born in Namur
François Bovesse
Nicolas Bosret, author of Li bia bouquet
Benoît Poelvoorde, actor

Culture and sights

Namur has taken on a new role as the capital of the federal region of Wallonia. Its location at the head of the Ardennes has also made it a popular tourist centre, with a casino located in its southern district on the left bank of the Meuse.

The town’s most prominent sight is the citadel, now demilitarised and open to the public. It plays host to a beer festival at Easter. Namur also has a distinctive 18th century cathedral dedicated to Saint Aubain.

An odd Namurois custom is the annual Combat de l’Échasse d’Or (Fight for the Golden Stilt), held on the third Sunday in September. Two teams, the Mélans and the Avresses, dress in medieval clothes while standing on stilts and do battle in one of the town’s principal squares.

Namur possesses a distinguished university, the Facultés Universitaires Notre-Dame-de-la-Paix, founded in 1831.

Economy

Namur is an important commercial and industrial centre, producing machinery, leather goods, metals and porcelain. It is also an important railway junction situated on the north-south line between Brussels and Luxembourg City, and the east-west line between Lille and Liège. River barge traffic passes through the middle of the city along the Meuse.

History of Namur

The town began as an important trading settlement in Celtic times, straddling east-west and north-south trade routes across the Ardennes. The Romans, too, established a presence after Julius Caesar defeated the local Aduatuci tribe.

Namur came to prominence during the early Middle Ages when the Merovingians built a castle on the rocky spur overlooking the town at the confluence of the two rivers. In the 10th century it became a county in its own right. The town developed somewhat unevenly, as the counts of Namur could only build on the north bank of the Meuse - the south bank was owned by the bishops of Liège and developed more slowly into the town of Jambes (now effectively a suburb of Namur). In 1262, Namur fell into the hands of the Count of Flanders, and was purchased by Duke Philip the Good of Burgundy in 1421.

After Namur became part of the Spanish Netherlands in the 1640s, its citadel was considerably strengthened. The King Louis XIV of France invaded in 1692, capturing the town and annexing it to France. His renowned military engineer Vauban rebuilt the citadel.
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Namur

Namur (Namen in Dutch) is the capital of the region of Wallonia in southern Belgium. It is also the chief town of the province of Namur. A city having 106,767 people (2005), it stands at the confluence of the Sambre and Meuse rivers at coordinates 50°28′N 4°52′E. Namur occupies a total area of 175.69 km² which gives a population density of 607.69 inhabitants per km². The municipality of Namur straddles three different regions - Hesbaye to the north, Condroz to the south-east and Entre Sambre et Meuse to the south-west. The language spoken is French.

Namur may not be the most attractive Belgian city but it’s still a nice place to visit and an excellent base for exploring the valleys around it which are of great natural beauty.

Over the centuries Namur has been one of the main strategic points of the whole of Belgium, on account of its geographical position where the Sambre flows into the Meuse. Namur is also historical town whose foundation goes back to the Roman conquest. Unfortuantley it played a role in many wars and many of its historic buildings have been distroyed over the years.

The main attraction of the city is the Citadel, but you should also take your time to discover the picturesque old quarter of Namur. Passing through its narrow streets and passageways, you will be surprised by its rich architectural history, dating mainly from the 18th Century.

Culture

Limburg is a province of considerable cultural diversity. The language spoken there comprises numerous related dialects. Even the tiniest village has its own ensemble or brass band. Limburg’s cultural heritage abounds with local marksmanship festivals and numerous folkloric events. Many churches in Limburg are of Romanesque or Gothic origin, often with an astounding array of treasures such as sculpture, vestments. and other religious objects. The many hundreds of road-side crosses and chapels are typical features of Limburg’s countryside. The province has a wealth of museums, the most famous being the new Bonnefantenmuseum in Maastricht, the Provincial Museum of Fine Art and Archaeology. designed by the Italian architect Aldo Rossi. Heerlen boasts the Thermen Museum, built on the remains of an ancient Roman bathhouse.

The Limburg Museum in Venlo has a general collection of art and cultural objects. Distinctively regional museums can be found in towns such as Weert and Venray. The National Asparagus and Mushroom Museum, De Locht, is in Horst, and the Industrion, the Provincial Museum for Industry and Society, is located at Kerkrade. Limburg has a rich diversity of cultural and folkloric events. Among the most famous are the World Music Competitiön in Kerkrade, the Intemational Folklore Festival in Brunssum. The European Fine Art Fair (TEFAF) in Maastricht. and the Passion Plays in Tegelen.

Economy and Employment

In the mid-nineteenth century, Maastricht became the Netherlands’ first industrial city when Belgian investors paved the way for the industrial production of ceramics, glass and cement. Not long afterwards, the British inventor Robert Pope founded a light bulb factory in Venlo. Ceramics had already been produced near the town of Tegelen as far back as the Roman era, to be succeeded later by factories manufacturing vitrified clay pipes, bricks and roof tiles. In 1910, the mining industry took off in South Limburg, leading to the rapid growth of such towns as Heerlen, Kerkrade and Geleen. Until after the Second World War, Limburg was the principal supplier of coal for energy in the Netherlands.

The 1950s saw the development of Limburg’s first industrialization programmes designed to create alternative employment in rural areas. Central and South Limburg became focal areas of intensive animal husbandry (pigs, chickens and dairy cattle) and glasshouse market gardening. The surplus work force resulting from the regions’s earlier mixture of agriculture and market gardening was put to work primarily in such new industrial centres as Weert, Venray, Helden and Bergen. Limburg is currently regarded as one of Europe’s principal regions in the field of agricultural production and associated research. Various internationally-renowned institutes are located in Horst, such as a research station for mushroom cultivation, an asparagus research centre and the Meterikseveld market gardening testing fields.
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Montagne de Bueren

Those who are not afraid of some physical effort can take a walk up the 406 steps of theMontagne de Bueren: the reward will be a fantastic panoramic view over the city of Liège.

According to legend, the 600 Franchimontese soldiers climbed up the hill in 1468 to take the camp of Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy. They were lead by the Liège patriot Bueren, who wanted to encourage his fellow citizens to take up arms against Charles the Bold who had taken the city. The whole plan failed, the 600 Franchimontese were killed and the city was plundered for 7 weeks. As a matter of fact, the adventure took place on another hill of the city. The montagne de Bueren staircase was actually only built in 1880 to allow the soldiers of the garrison on top of the hill to go down to the center without having to pass through the dangerous little alleys.

If you’re still fit enough after having reached the top of the staircase, you can go a little bit higher to the terraced park from where the best panoramic photographs of Liège can be taken.

In the street at the bottom of the stairs there are two very narrow alleys leading to a very beautifull place behind the houses against the hill. In one of the alleys is a very good restaurant.