Kortrijk 275947 226172539 2008-07-17T04:00:47Z CarsracBot 6929011 robot Adding: [[simple:Kortrijk]] :'' For the Dutch village, see [[Kortrijk (Netherlands)]] {{Infobox Belgium Municipality |name=Kortrijk |picture=broeltorens.jpg |picture-legend=Broel towers in Kortrijk |map=KortrijkLocation.png |map-legend=Location of Kortrijk in [[West-Flanders]] |arms=Armoiries_Courtrai.png |flag=Flag of Courtray.svg |region={{BE-REG-FLE}} |community={{BE-NL}} |province={{BE-PROV-WV}} |arrondissement=[[Arrondissement of Kortrijk|Kortrijk]] |nis=34022 |pyramid-date=01/01/2006 |0-19=21.83 |20-64=57.71 |65=20.47 |foreigners=3.73 |foreigners-date=01/07/2005 |mayor=[[Stefaan De Clerck]] ([[CD&V]]) |majority=[[CD&V]], [[VLD]] |postal-codes=8500, 8501, 8510, 8511 |telephone-area=056 |web=[http://www.kortrijk.be/ www.kortrijk.be] |lat_deg=50 |lat_min=50 |lon_deg=03 |lon_min=16 }} '''Kortrijk''' (official name in [[Dutch language|Dutch]]; [[French language|French]]: ''Courtrai''; [[Latin]]: ''Cortoriacum'') is a [[Belgium|Belgian]] [[city]] and [[Municipalities in Belgium|municipality]] located in the [[Flemish Region|Flemish]] [[Provinces of Belgium|province]] [[West Flanders]]. The wider municipality comprises the city of Kortrijk proper and the towns of [[Aalbeke]], [[Bellegem]], [[Bissegem]], [[Heule]], [[Kooigem]], [[Marke (Belgium)|Marke]], and [[Rollegem]]. With 73,657 inhabitants Kortrijk is the [[List of Belgian municipalities by population|seventh largest]] city in the [[Flemish region]]. The city is situated on the [[River Lys]], 42 km (26 miles) southwest of [[Ghent]] and 25 km (15 miles) northeast of [[Lille]] in [[France]]. Both Kortrijk and Lille are part of the same transnational [[Eurodistrict]] [[Largest urban areas of the European Union|urban area]] with around 1,700,000 inhabitants. The [[arrondissement of Kortrijk]] is both a judicial and an administrative [[Arrondissements of Belgium|arrondissement]]. ==History== ===Origins to the 13th century=== ''[[Cortoriacum]]'' was founded by the [[Ancient Rome|Romans]] at an important crossroads near the [[Lys River]] ([[Dutch language|Dutch]]: ''[[Leie]]''), then developed as a typical [[Gallo-Roman]] [[vicus]]. It was situated on the roman crossroads of [[Tongeren]]-[[Cassel, France|Cassel]] and [[Tournai]]-[[Oudenburg]]. In the 9th century, [[Baldwin II, Count of Flanders]] established fortifications against the [[Vikings]]. The town gained its city [[charter]] in 1190 from [[Philip, Count of Flanders|Philip of Alsace]]. The population growth required new [[defensive walls]], part of which can still be seen today (the [[Broeltorens]]). In the 13th century, the battles between [[Infante Fernando, Count of Flanders|Fernando of Portugal, Count of Flanders]] and his first cousin, King [[Louis VIII of France]], led to the destruction of the city. The Counts of Flanders had it rebuilt soon after. From that time, Kortrijk gained great importance as a centre of [[linen]] production. ===Battle of the Golden Spurs=== In 1302, the population of [[Bruges]] started a successful uprising against the [[France|French]], who had annexed [[Flanders (county)|Flanders]] a couple of years earlier. On [[May 18]], the French population in that city was murdered, an event that could not go unpunished. The famous ensuing [[Battle of the Golden Spurs]] ([[Dutch language|Dutch]]: ''Guldensporenslag'') between the [[Flemings|Flemish]] people, mostly commoners and farmers, and [[Philip IV of France|Philip the Fair]]’s knights took place near Kortrijk on [[July 11]], resulting in a massive victory for Flanders. This date is now remembered as a national holiday by the whole [[Flemish community]]. Following a new uprising by the Flemish in 1323, but this time against their own [[Louis I, Count of Flanders|Count Louis I]], the French invaded again. These Flemish acquisitions were consolidated by the French at the [[Battle of Cassel (1328)]]. Louis I’s son, [[Louis II of Flanders|Louis II]], then [[Philip van Artevelde]] briefly regained the city in 1381 but lost it again the following year at the [[Battle of Roosebeke]], resulting in a new wave of plundering and destruction. ===15th century until now=== Most of the 15th century was prosperous under the [[Dukes of Burgundy]], until the death of [[Mary of Burgundy]] in 1482, which ushered in renewed fighting with France. The 16th century was marked by the uprising of the [[Netherlands]] in 1539, by [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles V]]’s heavy-handed reprisal to it, and later by the confrontations engendered by the [[Reformation]]. [[Louis XIV]]’s reign saw Kortrijk occupied by the French five times in sixty years and its former fortifications razed to the ground. The [[Treaty of Utrecht]] finally gave the whole area to [[Austria]]. After the [[French Revolution]] and the [[Napoleon]]ic era, the [[textile]] industry, based on [[flax]], and the general economy of the city could finally prosper again. Kortrijk was heavily bombed in the summer of 1917, but even more damaged by the allied bombing in 1944. Most of the city that we see today was rebuilt after the war. ==Sights== [[Image:Kortrijk Hotel de ville.jpg|thumb|left|City hall|230px]] [[Image:Kortrijk grote markt.jpg|thumb|right|Central Kortrijk from the main square, with Saint Martin church in background|250px]] [[Image:Kortrijk Begijnhof Grootjuffrow.jpg|thumb|right|Beguinage|250px]] *On the main square, the [[façade]] of the late-[[Gothic architecture|Gothic]], early [[Renaissance]] city hall is adorned with the statues of the [[Count of Flanders|Counts of Flanders]]. *The nearby [[Belfries of Belgium and France|belfry]] is surmounted by a statue of [[Mercury (mythology)|Mercury]], god of the merchants. The belfry is classified by [[UNESCO]] as a [[World Heritage Site]].<ref name=Belfry> {{cite web |title=Belfries of Belgium and France |author=UNESCO |url=http://whc.unesco.org/pg.cfm?cid=31&id_site=943 |accessdate=2008-01-26}}</ref> *The Saint-Martin church dates from the 13th century but was mostly rebuilt after a fire in the 15th century. It now houses a 48-bell [[carillon]]. *The [[beguinage]] is one of the quaintest sites in the city, taking visitors back to the 17th century. It too, was listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. <ref name=Beguinage> {{cite web |title=Flemish Béguinages |author=UNESCO |url=http://whc.unesco.org/pg.cfm?cid=31&id_site=855 |accessdate=2008-01-26}}</ref> *The church of Our Lady (''Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk'') was where the golden spurs taken from the battlefield in 1302 were hung. It now houses a famous [[Anthony van Dyck|van Dyck]] painting. *Other reminders of Kortrijk's medieval history are the Our Lady Hospital (''Onze-Lieve-Vrouwehospitaal''), and the near-identical [[broeltorens|Broel towers]] with the small bridge in between that spans the river. *Several museums dot the city, including a fine art and archeological museum, Kortrijk 1302: a historic museum, as well as a [[flax]] museum in honour of the plant that once was the main driver of Kortrijk’s economy. ==Economy== The city is historically connected with the [[flax]] and the textile industry, and still today the textile industry remains important in the region. Major companies headquartered in Kortrijk include [[Barco]] and [[Bekaert]]. ==Education== Kortrijk serves as an educational centre in south West-Flanders, attracting students from the entire region. There are 55 schools in Kortrijk, on 72 different locations throughout the city, with an estimated 21.000 students. <ref> http://www.duurzamemobiliteit.be/duurzamemobiliteit/schoolbuurt/157-DSY.html </ref> The [[KULCK|KULAK]], a campus of the [[Katholieke Universiteit Leuven|Catholic University of Leuven]], is located in on the south edge of the city. Other institutes of higher education include the [[KATHO]] and HOWEST [[university college]]s. ==Transport== Kortrijk lies at the intersection of three highways. The Belgian highway A19 and [[European roads]] [[European route E17|E17]] and E403. These highways can be reached from the ringroad R8 around the city. The Kortrijk train station has hourly direct connections to many Belgian cities including [[Ghent]], [[Bruges]], [[Ypres]], [[Oudenaarde]], [[Brussels]] and [[Antwerp]]. It also has a direct connection with the neighbouring French city of [[Gare de Lille-Flandres|Lille]]. The city has a small airport known as [[Kortrijk-Wevelgem International Airport]], which is mainly used for business travel. The [[River Lys]] is used for goods transport and is currently upgraded for ships of {{DWT|1350|metric|first=yes}}, which causes important public works in the city-center. ==Sport== Kortrijk has three official football clubs. The most famous of them is [[K.V. Kortrijk]], which will play in the [[Belgian First Division]] in the 2008-2009 season, after having won the championship in the [[Belgian second division]] during the 2007-2008 season. The second club [[SV Kortrijk]] plays in the [[Belgian Provincial leagues|second provincial division]]. The third club, Wikings Kortrijk, only has youth teams. KZK Kortrijk is arguably the best [[waterpolo]] team in Belgium, having won the Belgian championship nine times. In the 2007-2008 season they won both the championship and the Belgian cup. ==Notable citizens== *[[Hendrik Beyaert]], [[architect]] *[[Francis Bonaert]], architect *[[John II of Brienne, Count of Eu]] *[[Hendrik Conscience]], [[writer]] *[[Greg LeMond]], 3-time Tour de France Winner *[[Carl Colpaert]], director movie industries *[[Laurence Courtois]], [[tennis]] player *[[Edmée Daenen]], pop artist *[[Stefaan De Clerck]], [[politician]] and [[mayor]] of Kortrijk, former Minister of Justice *[[Carl de Keyzer]], [[photographer]] *[[Pierre de La Rue]], [[Renaissance]] [[composer]] *[[Ann Demeulemeester]], [[fashion designer]] *[[Sophie de Schaepdrijver]], historian *[[Stijn Devolder]], road bicycle racer *[[Ernest Gambart]], art publisher and dealer *[[Guido Gezelle]], [[poet]] *[[Robert Gillon]] (1884-1972), lawyer, politician *[[Piet Goddaer]], singer-composer, mostly under the name:[[Ozark Henry]] *[[Paul Goethals]] (1832-1901), first [[Archbishop]] of [[Calcutta]] *The members of electro rock band [[Goose (band)|Goose]] *[[Gilles Joye]], [[Franco-Flemish school|Franco-Flemish]] composer of the [[Renaissance]] *[[Xavier Malisse]], [[tennis]] player *[[Isidore of Saint Joseph]] (1881-1916), [[Passionist]] brother, [[beatified]] by Pope John Paul II in 1984 *[[Morris (comics)|Morris]], creator of [[Lucky Luke]] *[[Jan Palfijn|Jan Palfyn]] (1650-1730), [[Physician|doctor]], [[surgeon]] and inventor of the [[forceps]] *[[Louis Robbe]] (1806-1887), [[painter]] *[[Roelant Savery]] (1576-1639), painter *[[Stijn Streuvels]] (1871-1969), writer *[[Jacobus Vaet]], [[Franco-Flemish school|Franco-Flemish]] composer of the [[Renaissance]] *[[Gella Vandecaveye]], [[judoka]], former world champion and Olympic silver medalist *[[Guido van Gheluwe]] (b. 1926), founder of the [[Orde van den Prince]] *[[Vincent Van Quickenborne]] (b. 1973), current [[Leterme I Government|minister of enterprise]] and member of the Kortrijk city council. *[[Emmanuel Vierin]] (1869-1954), [[painter]] *[[George Washington (inventor)|George Washington]], [[inventor]] ==Town twinning== Kortrijk participates in [[town twinning]] to encourage good international relations. * {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Frascati]], [[Italy]] * {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Bad Godesberg]], [[Germany]] (1964) * {{flagicon|UK}} [[Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead|Windsor and Maidenhead]], [[United Kingdom]] * {{flagicon|France}} [[Saint-Cloud]], [[France]] * {{flagicon|Pakistan}} [[Lahore]], [[Pakistan]] * {{flagicon|USA}} [[Greenville, South Carolina]], [[United States|USA]] ==External links== {{commonscat|Kortrijk}} *[http://www.kortrijk.be Official website] - Information available in [[Dutch language|Dutch]], [[French language|French]], [[English language|English]] and [[German language|German]] *[http://www.kortrijkairport.be Kortrijk airport] ==References== {{Reflist}} {{West_Flanders}} [[Category:Kortrijk| ]] [[Category:Cities and towns in Flanders]] [[Category:Cities and towns in Belgium]] [[Category:Municipalities of West Flanders]] [[br:Kortrijk]] [[bg:Кортрейк]] [[ca:Kortrijk]] [[de:Kortrijk]] [[es:Courtrai]] [[eo:Kortrejko]] [[fr:Courtrai]] [[it:Courtrai]] [[he:קורטרייק]] [[la:Cortoriacum]] [[nl:Kortrijk]] [[no:Kortrijk]] [[nds:Kortrijk]] [[pl:Kortrijk]] [[pt:Kortrijk]] [[ro:Kortrijk]] [[ru:Кортрейк]] [[simple:Kortrijk]] [[fi:Kortrijk]] [[tr:Kortrijk]] [[vo:Kortrijk]] [[vls:Kortryk]]