Sint-Truiden

Sint-Truiden
	Sint-Truiden
	Sint-Truiden
State :	Belgium
Region :	Flanders
Province :	Limburg
District :	Hasselt
Coordinates :	50 ° 49 ′ N , 5 ° 11 ′ E Coordinates: 50 ° 49 ′ N , 5 ° 11 ′ E
Area :	106.90 km²
Residents:	40,590 (Jan 1, 2019)
Population density:	380 inhabitants per km²
Post Code:	3800 to 3806
Prefix:	0032 - 11/12
Mayor:	Veerle Heeren
; Local government address :	Kazernestraat 13 ; 3800 Sint-Truiden
Website:	www.sint-truiden.be

Sint-Truiden ( Limburgish : Sintruin , French Saint-Trond ) is one of the largest cities in the Belgian province of Limburg . It is located around 15 kilometers southwest of Hasselt in the fertile Haspengau region and has 40,590 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2019). A resident of Sint-Truiden is called a Truienaar .

City structure

Structure of the urban area: Aalst, Brustem, Duras, Engelmanshoven, Gelinden, Gorsem, Groot-Gelmen, Halmaal, Kerkom-bij-Sint-Truiden, Ordingen, Runkelen, Velm, Wilderen, Zepperen

history

Around the middle of the 7th century St. Trudo a monastery on a small hill in the middle of today's city. A settlement soon arose around the monastery, which was popularized by the many pilgrims who came to the tomb of St. Trudo flocked, accumulated great wealth. Abbot Adelardus had a large abbey church and several smaller churches built in the 11th century . He had the place surrounded by a wooden palisade and the gates reinforced. In 1129 a stone wall replaced the palisade. Sint-Truiden owed its growth to a town to the profitable cloth trade. Wealthy merchants established trade connections in many cities in the Holy Roman Empire , England and northern France . Economic and social affairs were regulated by the city's 13 guilds , which later also acquired rights of participation in the city government. Sint-Truiden initially belonged to the diocese of Metz , from 1227 to the prince diocese of Liège .

From the end of the 15th century, the economic development of Sint-Truiden stagnated, a situation that lasted until the late 19th century. In 1794 French troops occupied the diocese of Liège. Sint-Truiden passed into French possession. The monastery was closed three years later. In 1815, Sint-Truiden fell to the United Netherlands . It has belonged to Belgium since 1830, with interruptions due to the German occupation in the two world wars .

Attractions

The Sint Agnes beguinage dates back to 1258. The existing houses date from the 17th and 18th centuries and are supplemented by a Gothic church, inside of which a historical organ and wall paintings can be seen. The facility has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site "Flemish Beguinages" since 1998 .

The town hall with the belfry on the historic market square dates from the beginning of the 17th century, the lower parts from the 13th century. The building has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site " Belfries in Belgium and France " since 1999 .

The late Gothic Church of Our Lady ( Lievenvrouwenkerk ) has a neo-Gothic church tower (1847-1852).

The Grote Markt of Sint-Truiden is one of the largest marketplaces in the country.

The mighty church tower of Abdij Abbey from the 7th century stands at the north end of the market. The Benedictine abbey was founded by St. Trudo.

To the west of the market square is the tower of the Sint-Maartenkerk , built in 1550 , a jewel of the early Renaissance . The church itself was built in the 19th century in the neo-Romanesque style.

The Minderbroederskerk , built in 1731, stands on the south side of the market and connects to the former Ursuline monastery complex . The church is 100 m long, 16 m wide and 26 m high. The rococo interior is particularly noteworthy .

Outside in Kortenbos is the baroque Basilica of the Assumption from the 17th century