Tielt
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Tielt (; ) is a Belgian
city A city is a human settlement of a substantial size. The term "city" has different meanings around the world and in some places the settlement can be very small. Even where the term is limited to larger settlements, there is no universally agree ...
and
municipality A municipality is usually a single administrative division having municipal corporation, corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality' ...
in the province of
West Flanders West Flanders is the westernmost province of the Flemish Region, in Belgium. It is the only coastal Belgian province, facing the North Sea to the northwest. It has land borders with the Dutch province of Zeeland to the northeast, the Flemis ...
. The municipality comprises the town of Tielt proper and the villages of Aarsele, Kanegem, and Schuiferskapelle.


History

Some traces of Gallo-Roman occupation have been found in this area. The region was invaded by the Viking Rikiwulf of the Wulfing 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, Bishop of Tournai, awarded the right of presentment for the parish church to the chapter of St Salvator in Harelbeke. 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 ...
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 (; ; ) 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 name of the city is derived from two ...
, Tielt was made part of the
Kortrijk Kortrijk ( , ; or ''Kortrik''; ), sometimes known in English as Courtrai or Courtray ( ), is a Belgian City status in Belgium, city and Municipalities in Belgium, municipality in the Flemish Region, Flemish Provinces of Belgium, province of We ...
province of
Flanders Flanders ( or ; ) is the Dutch language, Dutch-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, la ...
. 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 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. In 2022, France produced 75% of t ...
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. 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 or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
, the city became the headquarters for the German army. The bombing of the
Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
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, textile manufacturer * Mistubishi Chemical Advanced Materials * Balta Tielt Media: * Lannoo, publishing group


Sights

*The Belfry (''Hallentoren''), Cloth Hall, and Aldermen's Chamber are classified by
UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO ) is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) with the aim of promoting world peace and International secur ...
as a
World Heritage Site World Heritage Sites are landmarks and areas with legal protection under an treaty, international treaty administered by UNESCO for having cultural, historical, or scientific significance. The sites are judged to contain "cultural and natural ...
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, originally de Neckere a 15th-century barber and valet to Louis XI, known in France as Olivier le Mauvais * Josse Ravesteyn, 16th-century theologian * Godfried Danneels, cardinal in the Roman Catholic Church * Briek Schotte, two-time World Champion cyclist * Gianni Meersman, professional road racing cyclist * Enzo Ide, racing driver * Kurt Martens, professor and canon lawyer


International relations


Twin towns — Sister cities

Tielt is twinned with:


References


External links


Official website
- Information available in Dutch and limited information available in English {{Authority control Municipalities of West Flanders World Heritage Sites in Belgium