Erwetegem is a village and ''

deelgemeente A (, literally ''sub-municipality''), or section (), is a subdivision of a municipality in Belgium and, until March 2014, in the Netherlands as well. Belgium Each municipality in Belgium that existed as a separate entity on 1 January 1961 bu ...

'' (sub-municipality) belonging to the municipality of

Zottegem Zottegem (, Sotteghem and Sottegem in older English and French language sources) is a city and municipality located in Belgium and more particularly in Flanders, in the province of East Flanders. The municipality comprises the town of Zottegem pr ...

. It is located in the

Denderstreek The Denderstreek or Denderland is a region in Belgium. It is named after the river Dender. Though the river stretches over three provinces, Hainaut (province), Hainaut, East Flanders and Flemish Brabant, the region called after the river is situa ...

and in the

Flemish Ardennes The Flemish Ardennes (Dutch language, Dutch: ''Vlaamse Ardennen'') is an informal name given to a hilly region in the south of the province of East Flanders, Belgium. Highest summit is the Hotondberg (151 m). Main characteristics of the region ar ...

, the hilly southern part of the province of

East Flanders East Flanders ( ; ; ; ) is a Provinces of Belgium, province of Belgium. It borders (clockwise from the North) the Netherlands, Dutch province of Zeeland and the Belgian provinces of Antwerp (province), Antwerp, Flemish Brabant, Hainaut (provinc ...

Belgium Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. Situated in a coastal lowland region known as the Low Countries, it is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeas ...

. Erwetegem used to be an independent municipality until 1970.

History

The village was first mentioned in 1116 as Herwetengem. Saint Peter's Abbey in Ghent and the used to have many possessions in Erwetegem. Erwetegem used to be an independent ''

heerlijkheid A ''heerlijkheid'' (a Dutch language, Dutch word; pl. ''heerlijkheden''; also called ''heerschap''; Latin: ''Dominium'') was a landed estate that served as the lowest administrative and Judiciary, judicial unit in rural areas in the Dutch-speaking ...

'' until the 13th century when it became part of the ''heerlijkheid'' of Zottegem. The St Pieters Banden Church was first mentioned in 1162. The current church dates from dates 1779 and is a three aisled brick and sandstone stone. In 2022, stones fell off the tower even though the church had been restored several decades ago. Near the church there is a memorial for the military and cilivian casualties during World War I and II. The highest point in Zottegem used to contain a

grist mill A gristmill (also: grist mill, corn mill, flour mill, feed mill or feedmill) grinds cereal grain into flour and Wheat middlings, middlings. The term can refer to either the grinding mechanism or the building that holds it. Grist is grain that h ...

from 1728. On 9 November 1914, the Germans arrived in Erwetegem and discovered that you could see all the way to

Ghent Ghent ( ; ; historically known as ''Gaunt'' in English) is a City status in Belgium, city and a Municipalities of Belgium, municipality in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is the capital and largest city of the Provinces of Belgium, province ...

from the windmill. Therefore, the windmill was blown up with dynamite to prevent it being used as observation point. The monastery of the

Dominican Sisters The Order of Preachers (, abbreviated OP), commonly known as the Dominican Order, is a Catholic mendicant order of pontifical right that was founded in France by a Castilian priest named Dominic de Guzmán. It was approved by Pope Honorius II ...

was built in 1906, and used to contain a school and orphanage. During World War II, it was used as temporary refuge for weakened Jewish girls. After the war, it became a

sanatorium A sanatorium (from Latin '' sānāre'' 'to heal'), also sanitarium or sanitorium, is a historic name for a specialised hospital for the treatment of specific diseases, related ailments, and convalescence. Sanatoriums are often in a health ...

for weakened children. The monastery was sold in 1991, and contains several organisations as well as a training and congress centre. Erwetegem was an independent municipality until 1970, when it was merged into

Gallery

File:Pastorie met dienstgebouw, Erwetegemstraat, Erwetegem 01.jpg, Clergy house File:Klooster Erwetegem (historische prentbriefkaart).jpg, Former monastery Erwetegem File:Erwetegemstraat 43 - 108433 - onroerenderfgoed.jpg, House in Erwetegem File:Zottegem Erwetegem Emmerstraat 20 Gekandelaarde lindes (2) - 193087 - onroerenderfgoed.jpg, Tilia trees

References

External links

* {{Authority control Zottegem Populated places in East Flanders