Everything about Tongeren totally explained
Tongeren (
French:
Tongres,
German:
Tongern) is a
city and
municipality located in the
province of
Limburg,
Flemish region,
Belgium. Tongeren is the oldest town in
Belgium. Known as
Atuatuca Tungrorum to the
Romans, it was the administrative centre of the district
Tungri under their rule.
History
Atuatuca Tungrorum
Before the Roman conquests, this area was inhabited by the
Eburones, a
Belgic tribe. During
Julius Caesar’s campaigns in this area in the
1st century BC,
Ambiorix, an Eburonian chief, incited his people to rise up against Caesar and proceeded to kill an entire Roman
legion near a place called Atuatuca (a legion under Julius Caesar). This victory was understandably short lived and the entire Eburones tribe decimated, while the
Tungri, more friendly to the Romans, took their place. The Roman camp grew into a sizeable settlement known as
Atuatuca Tungrorum. Located on the important road linking
Cologne to
Bavay via the relay of
Liberchies, and surrounded by the fertile lands of the
Hesbaye region, the settlement quickly became one of the largest
Gallo-Roman administrative and military towns in the
1st century. Atuatuca Tungrorum suffered through a destructive fire during the
Batavian siege in
70. In the
2nd century, it erected its first defensive wall, portions of which can still be seen today. Typical Roman buildings were built in town, while
villas and graves (
tumuli) dotted the surrounding area. Soon after the
4th-century Germanic invasions, the city became the center of a Christian diocese – one of the earliest in the
Low Countries – under the influence of Saint
Servatius,
bishop of Tongeren, then bishop of
Maastricht.
Middle Ages
The
Merovingian period between the
5th and the
8th century isn't well documented. The building of a new church and the foundation of a chapter of
canons took place in
Carolingian times, at the very place where the old bishops’ houses stood, and where the basilica still stands today. The construction of the current basilica started at the beginning of the
13th century in the prevalent
Gothic style of that period. Other buildings were added to the religious core of the city, including new commercial areas, hospitals and artisans quarters. The 13th century also saw the building of the medieval defensive wall, several new churches and cloisters, and the beguinage. The city became one of the “bonnes villes” (or principal cities) of the
Prince-Bishopric of Liège.
17th century until now
In
1677, the city was nearly entirely burnt to the ground by
Louis XIV’s troops, a catastrophe from which Tongeren never completely recovered. The rebirth of the city dates from after
1830. Today, Tongeren enjoys its great heritage from the past. It is also the judicial capital of the Limburg province.
Places of interest
- The Béguinage, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998 (photographs:(External Link
), (External Link))
- The Belfry, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999
- The Tongeren Basilica (Onze-Lieve-Vrouwe Basiliek), where recent excavations have produced some of the richest archaeological finds in Flanders (photographs:(External Link), (External Link))
- The Gallo-Roman museum, which houses Celtic gold, Roman glassware, Merovingian filigree work, and the dodecahedron, an unusual Gallo-Roman object found during excavations
- The original Roman wall, dating from the 2nd century, still visible on more than 1,500 meters.
- Some of the medieval defensive towers, also still visible today
Events
The Kroningsfeesten (“Coronation Celebrations”) are organized every seven years in commemoration of the crowning of the miraculous statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary by Bishop Doutreloux in 1890. This religious procession, one of the largest and most impressive in Belgium, will take place for the seventeenth time in 2009.
A well-attended antiques fair takes place every Sunday.
Famous inhabitants
Ambiorix, prince of the Eburones and rebel leader against the Roman invaders; although his statue stands on the central square of Tongeren, it's unknown where he lived exactly and disputed as to whether he ever really existed, since Julius Caesar's own commentarii de bello gallico is the only source to ever include him (1st century BC)
Saint Servatius, bishop of Tongeren, introduced Christianity in the Netherlands (4th century)
Saint Helier, ascetic hermit and patron saint of Jersey (6th century)
Radulph of Rivo, historian and liturgist (d. 1403)
Honoré Gabriel Riqueti, comte de Mirabeau, French politician (1749-1791)
Valentinus Paquay, Roman Catholic beatified priest, also known as "het heilig Paterke van Hasselt" (the holy priest [diminutive] of Hasselt) (1828-1905)
Philippe Boesmans, composer (b. 1936)
Robert Cailliau, co-inventor of the World Wide Web, together with Tim Berners-Lee (b. 1947)
Patrick Dewael, politician, former Minister President of Flanders, and mayor (b. 1955)
International Relations
Twin city
: Kalisz
Partner city:
: RomeFurther Information
Get more info on 'Tongeren'.
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