Moorsel
Encyclopedia
Moorsel is a village in the Denderstreek
in the province East Flanders
in Belgium
, a deelgemeente
of the city of Aalst
. The village belongs to a league of neighboring villages, which call themselves the Faluintjesgemeenten. Moorsel is the largest of the four villages with approximately 4,600 inhabitants.
. Approximately one-third of the territory, called Moorsel-proper, was controlled by a local landlord. His housings included a medieval moat, which is still visible in the landscape. The feudal title was elevated to a barony in 1661.
The other part of the village (Moorsel-kapittel) was owned by the chapter of Dendermonde
, probably from 868 on. One of the largest landowners in the region was the Abbey of Affligem
, who possessed the church and the parish of Moorsel. Abbot Karl de Croy
, Bishop of Tournai, built a water castle
at Moorsel in 1546.
Only after the French Revolution
the feudal parts of the village (Moorsel-proper and Moorsel-kapittel), as well as the ecclesiastical influence of Affligem, were abolished.
. According the Life of St. Gudula, she visited daily the church of Moorsel, two miles away from her home. The 14th century structure was built with sandstone
from Meldert, one of the Faluintjesgemeenten.
The parish church is dedicated to St. Martin. The Romanesque
substructure dates from the 12th century. According local tradition, it is based on the foundations of a the 7th century St. Salvator church, which Saint Gudula daily visited. The church counts three altars in baroque style, constructed by Jacob Ulner. Another curiosity is the renaissance castle, which is still preserved in its original condition. The castle is constructed was intended as a summer residence for the Karl de Croy, Abbot of the Abbey of Affligem and later on Bishop of Tournai.
was granted 26 March 1914. The heraldic blazon
can be described as follows:
A shield of Argent with a bend of Gules, standing next to the left of the Virgin Mary, who is holding in her right hand a scepter, and bearing in her left arm the Child Jesus, both covered with a flowing mantle, their heads crowned and aureoled, all in Argent.
Denderstreek
The Denderstreek or Denderland is a region in the heart of Belgium. It is named after the river Dender. Though the river stretches over three provinces, Hainaut, East Flanders and Flemish Brabant, the region called after the river is situated in East-Flanders. The Dutch word streek means region....
in the province 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...
in 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...
, a deelgemeente
Deelgemeente
A deelgemeente is a subdivision of a gemeente in Belgium and the Netherlands.-Belgium:...
of the city of Aalst
Aalst, Belgium
Aalst is a city and municipality on the Dender River, 19 miles northwest from Brussels. It is located in the Flemish province of East Flanders in the Denderstreek. The municipality comprises the city of Aalst itself and the villages of Baardegem, Erembodegem, Gijzegem, Herdersem, Hofstade,...
. The village belongs to a league of neighboring villages, which call themselves the Faluintjesgemeenten. Moorsel is the largest of the four villages with approximately 4,600 inhabitants.
Name
Today's accepted spelling "Moorsel" dates merely from the 18th century. Other spellings, such as Morcella, are older, dating back to 1114. The name itself is a combination of moor, "marsh", and sele or sall, "dwelling": a moor dwelling.History
Historical records about the village of Moorsel date back from the early Middle AgesMiddle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
. Approximately one-third of the territory, called Moorsel-proper, was controlled by a local landlord. His housings included a medieval moat, which is still visible in the landscape. The feudal title was elevated to a barony in 1661.
The other part of the village (Moorsel-kapittel) was owned by the chapter of Dendermonde
Dendermonde
Dendermonde is a Belgian city and municipality located in the Flemish province of East Flanders in the Denderstreek. The municipality comprises the city of Dendermonde proper and the towns of Appels, Baasrode, Grembergen, Mespelare, Oudegem, Schoonaarde, and Sint-Gillis-bij-Dendermonde...
, probably from 868 on. One of the largest landowners in the region was the Abbey of Affligem
Affligem Abbey
Affligem Abbey is a Benedictine monastery in the municipality of Affligem, Flemish Brabant, Belgium, twelve miles to the north-west of Brussels...
, who possessed the church and the parish of Moorsel. Abbot Karl de Croy
Charles de Croÿ
Charles de Croÿ was a bishop of the See of Tournai in present-day Belgium from 1524 until 1564.Charles was born in 1506 as a member of the House of Croÿ. He was a nephew of William de Croÿ, Lord of Chièvres and a brother of William de Croÿ, Archbishop of Toledo . He matriculated at the University...
, Bishop of Tournai, built a water castle
Water castle
A water castle is a castle or stately home whose site is entirely surrounded by moats or natural waterbodies. Topographically water castles are a type of lowland castle.There is a further distinction between:...
at Moorsel in 1546.
Only after the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
the feudal parts of the village (Moorsel-proper and Moorsel-kapittel), as well as the ecclesiastical influence of Affligem, were abolished.
Landmarks
Moorsel is home to a chapel dedicated to Saint GudulaGudula
Saint Gudula was born in the pagus of Brabant . According to her 11th-century biography , written in Lobbes Abbey between 1048 and 1051, she was the daughter of a duke of Lotharingia called Witger and Amalberga of Maubeuge...
. According the Life of St. Gudula, she visited daily the church of Moorsel, two miles away from her home. The 14th century structure was built with sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
from Meldert, one of the Faluintjesgemeenten.
The parish church is dedicated to St. Martin. The Romanesque
Romanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
substructure dates from the 12th century. According local tradition, it is based on the foundations of a the 7th century St. Salvator church, which Saint Gudula daily visited. The church counts three altars in baroque style, constructed by Jacob Ulner. Another curiosity is the renaissance castle, which is still preserved in its original condition. The castle is constructed was intended as a summer residence for the Karl de Croy, Abbot of the Abbey of Affligem and later on Bishop of Tournai.
Coat of arms
The village's coat of armsCoat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
was granted 26 March 1914. The heraldic blazon
Blazon
In heraldry and heraldic vexillology, a blazon is a formal description of a coat of arms, flag or similar emblem, from which the reader can reconstruct the appropriate image...
can be described as follows:
A shield of Argent with a bend of Gules, standing next to the left of the Virgin Mary, who is holding in her right hand a scepter, and bearing in her left arm the Child Jesus, both covered with a flowing mantle, their heads crowned and aureoled, all in Argent.