Drongen
Encyclopedia
Drongen is a submunicipality of the city of Ghent
(Arrondissement of Ghent, East Flanders
, Flanders
, Belgium
).
Drongen is divided into three parishes: Drongen, Luchteren
and Baarle.
Drongen is known for its early medieval monastery, founded in the 7th century by the monk Amandus, the Missionary of the Leie and Schelde. Destroyed by the Normans
in 853, the monastery was rebuilt by the counts of Flanders. The monastery was the victim of the religious wars following the Reformation
, and in 1578 it was once again destroyed by Calvinists
. In 1638 the abbey church was rebuilt and between 1638 and 1698 the monastery was restored. After a fire in 1727, the church tower was restored once again in 1734, with a distinctive appearance. In 1797 the French
occupied and sold the abbey. In 1804 Lieven Bauwens
used the monastery as a textile plant. The current monastery and abbey church date from 1859 and remain in use as a spiritual centre dedicated to the teachings of Ignatius of Loyola
.
Ghent
Ghent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of...
(Arrondissement of Ghent, East Flanders
East Flanders
East Flanders is a province of Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium. It borders on the Netherlands and in Belgium on the provinces of Antwerp, Flemish Brabant , of Hainaut and of West Flanders...
, Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
, Belgium
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...
).
Drongen is divided into three parishes: Drongen, Luchteren
Luchteren
Luchteren is the most rural parish of Drongen, which is itself a submunicipality of Ghent, East Flanders, Flanders, Belgium.Most shops and other important features are located in the main streets Beekstraat, Antoon Catriestraat, Boskeetstraat and Gavergrachtstraat, the last one holding the small...
and Baarle.
Drongen is known for its early medieval monastery, founded in the 7th century by the monk Amandus, the Missionary of the Leie and Schelde. Destroyed by the Normans
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
in 853, the monastery was rebuilt by the counts of Flanders. The monastery was the victim of the religious wars following the Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
, and in 1578 it was once again destroyed by Calvinists
Calvinism
Calvinism is a Protestant theological system and an approach to the Christian life...
. In 1638 the abbey church was rebuilt and between 1638 and 1698 the monastery was restored. After a fire in 1727, the church tower was restored once again in 1734, with a distinctive appearance. In 1797 the French
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
occupied and sold the abbey. In 1804 Lieven Bauwens
Lieven Bauwens
Lieven Bauwens was a Belgian entrepreneur and industrial spy who was sent to Great Britain at a young age and brought a spinning mule and skilled workers to the European continent....
used the monastery as a textile plant. The current monastery and abbey church date from 1859 and remain in use as a spiritual centre dedicated to the teachings of Ignatius of Loyola
Ignatius of Loyola
Ignatius of Loyola was a Spanish knight from a Basque noble family, hermit, priest since 1537, and theologian, who founded the Society of Jesus and was its first Superior General. Ignatius emerged as a religious leader during the Counter-Reformation...
.