Tielt (; french: Thielt) is a
Belgian
Belgian may refer to:
* Something of, or related to, Belgium
* Belgians, people from Belgium or of Belgian descent
* Languages of Belgium, languages spoken in Belgium, such as Dutch, French, and German
*Ancient Belgian language, an extinct languag ...
city
A city is a human settlement of notable size.Goodall, B. (1987) ''The Penguin Dictionary of Human Geography''. London: Penguin.Kuper, A. and Kuper, J., eds (1996) ''The Social Science Encyclopedia''. 2nd edition. London: Routledge. It can be def ...
and
municipality
A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate.
The term ''municipality'' may also mean the go ...
in the
province
A province is almost always an administrative division within a country or sovereign state, state. The term derives from the ancient Roman ''Roman province, provincia'', which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire ...
of
West Flanders
)
, settlement_type = Province of Belgium
, image_flag = Flag of West Flanders.svg
, flag_size =
, image_shield = Wapen van West-Vlaanderen.svg
, shield_size =
, image_map ...
. The municipality comprises the town of Tielt proper and the villages of
Aarsele Aarsele is a village in the 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'' (= meadow) and ''sa ...
, Kanegem, and Schuiferskapelle.
History
![Stadhuis Tielt (DSCF0061)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/55/Stadhuis_Tielt_%28DSCF0061%29.jpg)
Some traces of
Gallo-Roman
Gallo-Roman culture was a consequence of the Romanization of Gauls under the rule of the Roman Empire. It was characterized by the Gaulish adoption or adaptation of Roman culture, language, morals and way of life in a uniquely Gaulish context ...
occupation have been found in this area. The region was invaded by the Viking
Rikiwulf Rikiwulf ("The rich and powerful wolf" or "The Ruler of the wolves") was probably a member of the legendary Scandinavian Wulfing dynasty. In the ninth century, he sailed with his Viking warriors down the river Lys in Flanders, and settled inter ali ...
of the
Wulfing
The Wulfings, Wylfings or YlfingsWord initial ''w'' was lost before rounded vowels in Proto-Norse, e.g. ''wulf'' corresponds to ''ulf'', and ''Wulfing''/''Wylfing'' corresponds to ''Ylfing'', because the ''i'' in the second syllable causes an umla ...
dynasty in 880 AD, who built Rikiwulfinga-haim, which survives as the Rijkegem-kouter today. The first written mention of ''Tiletum'', dates from 1105, when
Baldric of Noyon Baldric of Noyon was the forty-second bishop of Tournai (1099–1112).F. Hennebert, "Baldéric", ''Biographie Nationale de Belgique''vol. 1(Brussels, 1866), 659-661. A chronicle of Arras and Cambrai has mistakenly been attributed to him. His survi ...
,
Bishop of Tournai
The Diocese of Tournai is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in Belgium. The diocese was formed in 1146, upon the dissolution of the Diocese of Noyon & Tournai, which had existed since the 7th Century. It is ...
, awarded the
right of presentment for the parish church to the chapter of St Salvator in
Harelbeke
Harelbeke (; vls, Oarlbeke) is a city and municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Harelbeke proper and the towns of Bavikhove and Hulste. On January 1, 2019, Harelbeke had a total pop ...
.
[K. Maddens, "Schenking van het altaar van Tielt aan het Sint-Salvatorskapittel van Harelbeke, 1105", in ''Doorheen de nationale geschiedenis'' (Brussels, 1980), pp. 15-17.] In 1245,
Margaret of Constantinople, Countess of Flanders gave the city its
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. It is implicit that the granter retains superiority (or sovereignty), and that the rec ...
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 (; french: Roulers, ; West Flemish: ''Roeseloare'') 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.
The ...
, Tielt was made part of the
Kortrijk
Kortrijk ( , ; vls, Kortryk or ''Kortrik''; french: Courtrai ; la, Cortoriacum), sometimes known in English as Courtrai or Courtray ( ), is a Belgian City status in Belgium, city and Municipalities in Belgium, municipality in the Flemish Regio ...
province of
Flanders
Flanders (, ; Dutch: ''Vlaanderen'' ) is the Flemish-speaking northern portion of Belgium and one of the communities, regions and language areas of Belgium. However, there are several overlapping definitions, including ones related to culture, ...
. In the 13th and 14th century, the economy of most
Flemish
Flemish (''Vlaams'') is a Low Franconian dialect cluster of the Dutch language. It is sometimes referred to as Flemish Dutch (), Belgian Dutch ( ), or Southern Dutch (). Flemish is native to Flanders, a historical region in northern Belgium; ...
cities was based on the cloth industry, while the rural areas lived on the products of agriculture.
In 1393,
Philip the Bold
Philip II the Bold (; ; 17 January 1342 – 27 April 1404) was Duke of Burgundy and '' jure uxoris'' Count of Flanders, Artois and Burgundy. He was the fourth and youngest son of King John II of France and Bonne of Luxembourg.
Philip II was ...
decided to hold an annual fair in Tielt, which resulted in the city becoming the booming centre of the
flax
Flax, also known as common flax or linseed, is a flowering plant, ''Linum usitatissimum'', in the family Linaceae. It is cultivated as a food and fiber crop in regions of the world with temperate climates. Textiles made from flax are known in ...
industry until the end of the 16th century. The following decades, however, were hard on Tielt as it suffered two major fires and a couple of epidemics, including the
plague
Plague or The Plague may refer to:
Agriculture, fauna, and medicine
*Plague (disease), a disease caused by ''Yersinia pestis''
* An epidemic of infectious disease (medical or agricultural)
* A pandemic caused by such a disease
* A swarm of pe ...
. 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
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
, the city became the headquarters for the
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
** Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ge ...
army. The bombing of the
Second World War
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
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.
Economy
Industries:
*
Seyntex Seyntex is a Belgian textile manufacturing company. The company's headquarters are in Tielt, Belgium.
History
The company was founded in Oostrozebeke, Belgium, in 1908 by Arthur Seynaeve as a flax-weaving mill. The company expanded into weaving, ...
, textile manufacturer
* Quadrant Plastics Manufacturer
* Balta Tielt
Media:
*
Lannoo
Uitgeverij Lannoo Groep is a Belgian publishing group, based in Tielt, with assets in Belgium and the Netherlands. Its Belgian subsidiary is Uitgeverij Lannoo. Its Dutch subsidiary is LannooMeulenhoff. Over the years Lannoo evolved from Catholic ...
, publishing group
Sights
![Belforttielt 28-10-2008 17-45-13](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/27/Belforttielt_28-10-2008_17-45-13.JPG)
*The
Belfry (''Hallentoren''), Cloth Hall, and Aldermen's Chamber are classified by
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...
as a
World Heritage Site
A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for h ...
because of their architecture and civic importance in the Middle Ages, Renaissance, and Baroque periods.
*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 expanded café terraces for further merriment.
People born in Tielt
*
Olivier Le Daim
Olivier le Daim (born Olivier de Neckere; c. 1428 – May 21, 1484) was a French favourite courtier and close advisor of Louis XI of France.
Life
He was born of humble parentage at Tielt in Flanders. His original surname was "de Neckere", tha ...
, originally de Neckere a 15th-century barber and valet to
Louis XI
Louis XI (3 July 1423 – 30 August 1483), called "Louis the Prudent" (french: le Prudent), was King of France from 1461 to 1483. He succeeded his father, Charles VII.
Louis entered into open rebellion against his father in a short-lived revol ...
, known in France as Olivier le Mauvais
*
Josse Ravesteyn Josse Ravesteyn, also spelled Ravestein (ca. 1506–1570), was a Flemish Roman Catholic theologian.
Biography
Born about 1506, at Tielt, a small town in Flanders, hence often called ''Tiletanus (Jodacus)''). He studied philosophy at the Collè ...
, 16th-century theologian
*
Godfried Danneels
Godfried Maria Jules Danneels (4 June 1933 – 14 March 2019) was a Belgian cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the Metropolitan Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels and the chairman of the episcopal conference of his native country ...
, cardinal in the Roman Catholic Church
*
Briek Schotte, two-time World Champion cyclist
*
Gianni Meersman
Gianni Meersman (born 5 December 1985) is a Belgian former professional track and road bicycle racer, who rode professionally between 2007 and 2016 for the , , and teams. He currently works as a directeur sportif for the team.
After stage 3 ...
, professional road racing cyclist
International relations
Twin towns — Sister cities
Tielt is
twinned with:
References
External links
Official website - Information available in
Dutch
Dutch commonly refers to:
* Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands
* Dutch people ()
* Dutch language ()
Dutch may also refer to:
Places
* Dutch, West Virginia, a community in the United States
* Pennsylvania Dutch Country
People E ...
and limited information available in
English
English usually refers to:
* English language
* English people
English may also refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England
** English national ide ...
{{Authority control
Municipalities of West Flanders
World Heritage Sites in Belgium