Bovekerke
Encyclopedia
Bovekerke is a village in the Belgian
province of West-Flanders, and since 1971 it’s a “deelgemeente
” of the municipality of Koekelare
. Besides the chief town of Koekelare proper, Bovekerke also borders the villages Vladslo
(part of Diksmuide
) and Werken
(part of Kortemark
).
Bovekerke has about 1000 inhabitants. The Roman Catholic parish
and church are named after Saint Gertrude
. The Saint Gertrude church, with three naves, is built in brick in 1848. Only the octagonal church is left from the late roman church. This tower dates from the 12th century and might be the oldest building in Koekelare, and is a protected monument. During World War I
, the tower was used as an observation tower, and the church was used as a hospital.
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...
province of West-Flanders, and since 1971 it’s a “deelgemeente
Deelgemeente
A deelgemeente is a subdivision of a gemeente in Belgium and the Netherlands.-Belgium:...
” of the municipality of Koekelare
Koekelare
Koekelare is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the towns of Bovekerke, Koekelare proper and Zande. On January 1, 2006 Koekelare had a total population of 8,291...
. Besides the chief town of Koekelare proper, Bovekerke also borders the villages Vladslo
Vladslo
Vladslo German war cemetery is about three kilometres north east of Vladslo, near Diksmuide, Belgium. Established during World War I, the cemetery holds 3,233 wartime burials. In 1956, burials from many smaller surrounding cemeteries were concentrated in Vladslo, and it now contains the remains of...
(part of Diksmuide
Diksmuide
Diksmuide is a Belgian city and municipality in the Flemish province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Diksmuide proper and the former communes of Beerst, Esen, Kaaskerke, Keiem, Lampernisse, Leke, Nieuwkapelle, Oostkerke, Oudekapelle, Pervijze, Sint-Jacobs-Kapelle,...
) and Werken
Werken
Werken is a town in Kortemark, a part of Belgium.See also: West Flanders-External links:*...
(part of Kortemark
Kortemark
Kortemark is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the towns of Handzame, Kortemark Werken and Zarren. On January 1, 2006 Kortemark had a total population of 11,976...
).
Bovekerke has about 1000 inhabitants. The Roman Catholic parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
and church are named after Saint Gertrude
Gertrude of Nivelles
Saint Gertrude of Nivelles was abbess of the Benedictine monastery of Nivelles, in present-day Belgium.She was a daughter of Pepin I of Landen and Saint Itta, and a younger sister of Saint Begga, Abbess of Andenne, Saint Bavo and Grimoald I.One day, when she was about ten years of age, her father...
. The Saint Gertrude church, with three naves, is built in brick in 1848. Only the octagonal church is left from the late roman church. This tower dates from the 12th century and might be the oldest building in Koekelare, and is a protected monument. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, the tower was used as an observation tower, and the church was used as a hospital.