Ath
Encyclopedia
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
municipality located in the Walloon province
Provinces of Belgium
Belgium is divided into three regions, two of them are subdivided into five provinces each.The division into provinces is fixed by Article 5 of the Belgian Constitution...
of Hainaut. The Ath municipality
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
includes the old communes of Lanquesaint, Irchonwelz, Ormeignies
Ormeignies
The village of Ormeignies has an ancient history. Farmers in Neolithic time were settled there, as far back as 4000 BC.The village church, dedicated to Saint Ursmer and built from stone and brick c.1780, is a good example of neo-classical architecture.-The farm of the Grande Rosière:The Rosiere...
, Bouvignies
Bouvignies
-References:*...
, Ostiches, Rebaix, Maffle, Arbre, Houtaing, Ligne, Mainvault, Moulbaix, Villers-Notre-Dame, Villers-Saint-Amand, Ghislenghien
Ghislenghien
Ghislenghien is a small town in Belgium near Ath. On July 30, 2004 a high-pressure gas pipeline explosion killed 24 people....
, Isières, Meslin-l'Evêque, and Gibecq.
Ath is known as the "City of Giants" after the "Ducasse" festivities which take place every year on the fourth weekend in August. Huge figures representing Goliath, Samson
Samson
Samson, Shimshon ; Shamshoun or Sampson is the third to last of the Judges of the ancient Israelites mentioned in the Tanakh ....
, and other allegoric figures are paraded through the streets, and Goliath's wedding and his famous fight with David
David
David was the second king of the united Kingdom of Israel according to the Hebrew Bible and, according to the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, an ancestor of Jesus Christ through both Saint Joseph and Mary...
are re-enacted.
Before 1500
The archeological record proves the existence of several Gallo-Roman settlements in the Ath area. The origin of the city of Ath, however, dates from around 1160, when Baldwin IV, Count of HainautBaldwin IV, Count of Hainaut
Baldwin IV was count of Hainaut from 1120 to his death. He was the son of Baldwin III, Count of Hainaut, and Yolande de Wassenberg.-History:...
, bought some territory from his liegeman, Gilles de Trazegnies. A few years later, Baldwin built the Burbant Tower – which can still be seen today – to protect his new acquisition. The new city was soon given privileges and started attracting dwellers around its newly built (1325) market hall on the Grand-Place.
Ath was the setting of the "Peace of Ath", signed on June 4, 1357 to end the question of the Brabant
Duchy of Brabant
The Duchy of Brabant was a historical region in the Low Countries. Its territory consisted essentially of the three modern-day Belgian provinces of Flemish Brabant, Walloon Brabant and Antwerp, the Brussels-Capital Region and most of the present-day Dutch province of North Brabant.The Flag of...
succession. By then, the weekly Ath market, which took place – and still takes place – on Thursdays, had started attracting sellers from a much larger region. The production of linen, cloth, hide, and luxury items such as gold ware, cabinets, and sculptures was growing fast. The population growth necessitated the building of a second wall, which was completed at the end of the 14th century. In 1416, the city built a school for the study of Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
, which Justus Lipsius
Justus Lipsius
Justus Lipsius was a Southern-Netherlandish philologist and humanist. Lipsius wrote a series of works designed to revive ancient Stoicism in a form that would be compatible with Christianity. The most famous of these is De Constantia...
attended. The city counted then about 5,000 people.
From 1501 until now
In 1667, Ath was conquered in a single day by the army of Louis XIV and became the first FrenchFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
city in the Spanish Netherlands. Soon after, Vauban
Vauban
Sébastien Le Prestre, Seigneur de Vauban and later Marquis de Vauban , commonly referred to as Vauban, was a Marshal of France and the foremost military engineer of his age, famed for his skill in both designing fortifications and breaking through them...
built new fortifications, which included no less than eight bastions. The city suffered again at the hands of the French army in 1745. At the end of the 18th century, Ath counted about 7,300 inhabitants but the population count decreased in the first half of the 19th century.
In 1824, the Dutch
Dutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
under King William I
William I of the Netherlands
William I Frederick, born Willem Frederik Prins van Oranje-Nassau , was a Prince of Orange and the first King of the Netherlands and Grand Duke of Luxembourg....
, built the Féron fort, and the city gained strategic value again. The final dismantlement of the fortifications a few years later freed much-needed land for the activities of a growing population. A new growth period took place between 1850 and 1914 thanks to the forestry, agricultural (breweries, mills) and textile industries.
In the 20th century, most of these industries went into decline and were replaced by commercial, administrative and educational activities. In the last 30 years, several neighbourhoods were revitalized and developed, and the city's monuments renovated or restored.
July 30, 2004 explosions
Central European Time
Central European Time , used in most parts of the European Union, is a standard time that is 1 hour ahead of Coordinated Universal Time . The time offset from UTC can be written as +01:00...
, workers constructing a new factory for abrasive
Abrasive
An abrasive is a material, often a mineral, that is used to shape or finish a workpiece through rubbing which leads to part of the workpiece being worn away...
s firm Diamant Boart
Diamant Boart
Diamant Boart S.A. is a world-leading manufacturer and distributor of diamond tools and related equipment for the construction and stone market. The company was founded in 1937....
(a subsidiary
Subsidiary
A subsidiary company, subsidiary, or daughter company is a company that is completely or partly owned and wholly controlled by another company that owns more than half of the subsidiary's stock. The subsidiary can be a company, corporation, or limited liability company. In some cases it is a...
of the Electrolux Group
Electrolux
The Electrolux Group is a Swedish appliance maker.As of 2010 the 2nd largest home appliance manufacturer in the world after Whirlpool, its products sell under a variety of brand names including its own and are primarily major appliances and vacuum cleaners...
http://www.diamant-boart.com/, http://www.electrolux.com/node684.asp) reported a strong smell of gas
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
. It is believed the gas was escaping from a high-pressure underground pipeline
Pipeline transport
Pipeline transport is the transportation of goods through a pipe. Most commonly, liquids and gases are sent, but pneumatic tubes that transport solid capsules using compressed air are also used....
conveying natural gas from Zeebrugge
Zeebrugge
Zeebrugge is a village on the coast of Belgium and a subdivision of Bruges, for which it is the modern port. Zeebrugge serves as both the international port of Bruges-Zeebrugge and a seafront resort with hotels, cafés, a marina and a beach.-Location:...
to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, operated by gas transportation company Fluxys
Fluxys
Fluxys is a Belgium-based company, mainly acting as a natural gas operator. In 2004, it employed around 850 people and its infrastructure comprised about 3,700 km of pipelines and a terminal in Zeebrugge, Belgium...
. Firefighter
Firefighter
Firefighters are rescuers extensively trained primarily to put out hazardous fires that threaten civilian populations and property, to rescue people from car incidents, collapsed and burning buildings and other such situations...
s were soon on the scene and were attempting to clear the area when at least two explosions occurred at around 9:00am. The strongest of these demolished the partly built Diamant Boart structure, and fires were started in several other buildings. The official death-toll has risen to 23, with over 120 injured. Five volunteer firemen and one police officer were among the dead.
The cause of the leak has not yet been ascertained. After the explosion, damages by a construction machine were discovered on the exploded part of the pipeline and the adjacent parts. Probably these were the result of construction works a few weeks before the explosion. The pipeline probably ruptured completely on July 30, 2004 when operator Fluxys raised the pressure.
Sights
- The 12th century Burbant tower was built by Baldwin IV, Count of HainautBaldwin IV, Count of HainautBaldwin IV was count of Hainaut from 1120 to his death. He was the son of Baldwin III, Count of Hainaut, and Yolande de Wassenberg.-History:...
and named after the neighbouring Landgraviat of BrabantBrabant (landgraviat)The Landgraviat of Brabant must be distinguished from the Duchy of Brabant. The Duchy of Brabant was initially a feudal elevation of the landgraviat, but its name was applied to the entire country under the control of the Dukes of Brabant, from the 13th century on.This imperial fief was assigned to...
. - The city hall dates from the 17th century.
- The church of Saint Julien, rebuilt after a fire in the 19th century, still keeps a GothicGothic architectureGothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
tower and apsidal chapel, as well as a famous 16th century carillonCarillonA carillon is a musical instrument that is typically housed in a free-standing bell tower, or the belfry of a church or other municipal building. The instrument consists of at least 23 cast bronze, cup-shaped bells, which are played serially to play a melody, or sounded together to play a chord...
. - The church of Saint Martin and the exterior oak calvaryCalvaryCalvary or Golgotha was the site, outside of ancient Jerusalem’s early first century walls, at which the crucifixion of Jesus is said to have occurred. Calvary and Golgotha are the English names for the site used in Western Christianity...
both date from the 16th century.
Festivities
- The “Ducasse” originated from a yearly procession developed in the 15th century (first mentioned in 1399) as a celebration of the consecration of the local Saint Julien church. This procession illustrated stories from the Old TestamentOld TestamentThe Old Testament, of which Christians hold different views, is a Christian term for the religious writings of ancient Israel held sacred and inspired by Christians which overlaps with the 24-book canon of the Masoretic Text of Judaism...
, New TestamentNew TestamentThe New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
, Golden LegendGolden LegendThe Golden Legend is a collection of hagiographies by Jacobus de Voragine that became a late medieval bestseller. More than a thousand manuscripts of the text have survived, compared to twenty or so of its nearest rivals...
, and Carolingian cycle. Today, the “Ducasse” is a very popular celebration that includes various festivities and lasts several days spanning the end of August and beginning of September. The highlight is the cortege of giants (in FrenchFrench languageFrench is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
: Cortège des géants), with DavidDavidDavid was the second king of the united Kingdom of Israel according to the Hebrew Bible and, according to the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, an ancestor of Jesus Christ through both Saint Joseph and Mary...
and Goliath as the most famous characters. The ducasse is listed among the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of HumanityMasterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of HumanityThe Proclamation of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity was made by the Director-General of UNESCO starting in 2001 to raise awareness on intangible cultural heritage and encourage local communities to protect them and the local people who sustain these forms of cultural...
.
People born in Ath
- Arnold CaussinArnold CaussinArnold Caussin born 1510. Musician, composer of the Renaissance. Student in the University of Cracow , registered as "Arnoldus Caussin de Ath ex Hanoniensi Comitatu, Iusquin [des Prés] magnus musicus discipulus". He was a pupil of Josquin des Prez....
, born about 1510. Musician, composer. Student in the University of Cracow in 1526. - Michael BaiusMichael BaiusMichael Baius was a Belgian theologian. He came up with the school of thought Baianism.He was born at Meslin L'Eveque near Ath in Hainaut as Michel De Bay. Educated at the Catholic University of Leuven, he studied philosophy and theology with distinguished success, and was rewarded by a series of...
, theologian - Julien-Joseph DucorronJulien-Joseph DucorronJulien-Joseph Ducorron, a Belgian landscape painter, was born at Ath in 1770. At the age of thirty-two, he devoted himself to the art of painting under the direction of Ommeganck, and made marvellous progress as a landscape painter, obtaining several gold medals. He was afterwards director of the...
, painter (1770-1848) - Eugène DefacqzEugène DefacqzHenri-Eugene-Marie Defacqz was a Belgian liberal politician and a magistrate.-Education:He started his education at the college of Ath and completed high school in Dijon, under the direction of the famous Joseph Jacotot , his uncle by marriage...
, politician (1797–1871) - Jean TaisnerJean TaisnerJean Taisner was a priest. In 1572, Taisner published from the press of Johann Birkmann of Cologne a work entitled Opusculum perpetua memoria dignissimum, de natura magnetis et ejus effectibus, Item de motu continuo...
, priest and scientist (16th century) - Louis HennepinLouis HennepinFather Louis Hennepin, O.F.M. baptized Antoine, was a Catholic priest and missionary of the Franciscan Recollect order and an explorer of the interior of North America....
, Catholic priest and missionary, and explorer of the interior of North AmericaNorth AmericaNorth America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
(17th century). - Fanny HeldyFanny HeldyFanny Heldy was a lyric soprano opera singer.Born Marguerite Virginie Emma Clémentine Deceuninck in Ath , Hainaut, Belgium. she graduated from the Liége Conservatoire. Heldy made her professional debut as a substitute in the premiere of Ivan the Terrible, by Raoul Gunsbourg...
, opera soprano (19th century) - Joseph Jules DescampsJoseph Jules DescampsJules Joseph Descamps was a Belgian liberal politician. He was a member of the Belgian parliament and President of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives from 22 March 1881 until 17 May 1884.-Source:*...
, politician (1820–1892). - Ernest F. Cambier, Belgian colonial pioneer (1844–1921)
- Henri VernesHenri VernesCharles-Henri-Jean Dewisme , better known by his pen name Henri Vernes, is a well-known author of action and science-fiction novels, of which has he published over 200 titles...
, novelist (20th century) - Guy SpitaelsGuy SpitaelsGuy G. A. Gh. Spitaels is a Belgian politician of the Socialist Party. He graduated in 1957 in political and social sciences at the Universite Catholique de Louvain ....
, politician (20th century) - Olivier Dupuis, politician (20th century)
- Pierre DescampsPierre DescampsPierre Paul Louis Albert César Descamps was a Belgian politician and burgomaster for the PLP. Descamps was a licentiate in philosophy and literature and an industrialist. He was burgomaster of Aubechies and Belœil and senator for the PLP. Descamps was President of the PVV-PLP in 1969-1972.-Source:*...
, politician (20th century)
- Julian the HospitallerJulian the HospitallerJulian the Hospitaller, also known as Julian the Poor, was a legendary Roman Catholic saint. His story is today believed by scholars to be fully legendary.-History:There are three main theories of his origin:...
, legendary saint, was according to one tradition born in Ath
External links
- Cercle Royal d'Histoire et d'Archéologie d'Ath et de la Région et Musées Athois, an exhaustive list of references on the history of the Ath region, in FrenchFrench languageFrench is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
. - Official site of the city, in FrenchFrench languageFrench is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
, DutchDutch languageDutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
, and EnglishEnglish languageEnglish is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
. - The Ducasse of Ath, in FrenchFrench languageFrench is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
. - Awarded "EDEN - European Destinations of Excellence" non traditional tourist destination 2008