Watou is a village in the Belgian 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 ...

and a district of the town of

Poperinge Poperinge (; , ; ) is a City status in Belgium, city and Municipalities of Belgium, municipality located in the Belgium, Belgian province of West Flanders, Flemish Region, and has a history going back to medieval times. The municipality comprises ...

. The village has a population of 1,900. It lies on the border with

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

. The hamlet Abele is part of Watou. Poperinge is situated on the border with the hamlet of .

Art

Every summer, from June until September, the Watou Arts Festival takes place in this village close to the French border. Poets, visual artists and upcoming talent settle in and create high level art throughout the village. Watou offers special locations as exhibition spaces, like a former monastery, an old farmhouse, school or the cellar of a brewery. The interaction between surprising spaces with sublime contemporary art and

poetry Poetry (from the Greek language, Greek word ''poiesis'', "making") is a form of literature, literary art that uses aesthetics, aesthetic and often rhythmic qualities of language to evoke meaning (linguistics), meanings in addition to, or in ...

provides each year a unique art experience.

Other

St. Bernardus Brewery and are located in Watou. The dates partly from the 12th century. The Watou church and cemetery is located next to Watouplein, the square in the center of the village. 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 ...

, Watou and its surroundings were a quiet resting area behind the lines. No armed conflicts took place here, so

Watou Churchyard Watou Churchyard (Kerkhof van Watou) is a municipal cemetery in the Belgian village of Watou. The churchyard is adjacent to Sint-Bavokerk British War Graves On the north side next to the church there are 12 British war graves commemorating ...

only saw a few war burials between April 1915 (

Second Battle of Ypres The Second Battle of Ypres was fought from 22 April – 25 May 1915, during the First World War, for control of the tactically-important high ground to the east and the south of the Flanders, Flemish town of Ypres, in western Belgium. The ...

) and the

Armistice of 11 November 1918 The Armistice of 11 November 1918 was the armistice signed in a railroad car, in the Compiègne Forest near the town of Compiègne, that ended fighting on land, at sea, and in the air in World War I between the Entente and their las ...

Beers brewed in Watou

File:Hommelbier.jpg, from the File:Kapittel bier.jpg,

References

External links

* {{coord, 50, 52, N, 2, 37, E, display=title, region:BE_type:city_source:GNS-enwiki Populated places in West Flanders Poperinge

Art

Other

See also

Beers brewed in Watou

References

External links