Tongeren
Geography
Country	Belgium
Region	Flemish Region
Community	Flemish Community
Province	Limburg
Arrondissement	Tongeren
Coordinates	50°47′N 05°28′E / 50.783, 5.467Coordinates: 50°47′N 05°28′E / 50.783, 5.467
Area	87. Wikipedia talkFeatured lists for an explanation of this and other inclusion tags below -->This list of countries, arranged alphabetically The Kingdom of Belgium is a Country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters as well as those Belgium is a federal state comprising three communities, three regions, and four language areas. The Flemish Region ( Dutch: Vlaams Gewest) is one of the three official regions of the Kingdom of Belgium alongside the Walloon Region Belgium is a federal state comprising three communities, three regions, and four language areas. The term Flemish Community has two distinct though related meanings Culturally and sociologically it refers to Flemish organizations media social and cultural Belgium is divided into three regions two of them are subdivided into five Provinces each The federalized country Belgium geographically consists of 3 regions of which only Flemish Region and Walloon Region are subdivided into 5 provinces The Arrondissement of Tongeren (Arrondissement Tongeren Arrondissement de Tongres is one of the three administrative arrondissements in the Province of A geographic coordinate system enables every location on the Earth to be specified in three coordinates using mainly a spherical coordinate system. A geographic coordinate system enables every location on the Earth to be specified in three coordinates using mainly a spherical coordinate system. Area is a Quantity expressing the two- Dimensional size of a defined part of a Surface, typically a region bounded by a closed Curve. 56 km²
Population (Source: NIS)
Population – Males – Females - Density	29,687 (January 1, 2006) 48. Square Kilometre ( US spelling square kilometer) symbol km2, is a decimal multiple of the SI unit of In Biology a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular Species; in Sociology Statistics Belgium is the main official statistical institution in Belgium offering a large choice of figures In Biology a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular Species; in Sociology Population density (in agriculture standing stock and Standing crop) is a measurement of Population per unit area or unit volume New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. 98% 51. 02% 339 inhab. /km²
Age distribution 0–19 years 20–64 years 65+ years	(01/01/2006) 19,90% 61,20% %
Economy
Unemployment rate	10. Square Kilometre ( US spelling square kilometer) symbol km2, is a decimal multiple of the SI unit of A population pyramid, also called age-sex pyramid and age structure diagram, is a graphical illustration that shows the distribution of various age groups in a Unemployment occurs when a person is available to work and currently seeking work but the person is without work. 77% (January 1, 2006)
Mean annual income	12,759 €/pers. New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. (2003)
Government
Mayor	Patrick Dewael, acting mayor Carmen Willems (both VLD)
Governing parties	Patrick Dewael, acting mayor Carmen Willems (both VLD)
Other information
Postal codes	3700
Area codes	012
Web address	www.tongeren.be

Tongeren (French: Tongres, German: Tongern) is a city and municipality located in the province of Limburg, Flemish region, Belgium. A mayor (from the Latin māior, meaning "greater" is a modern title used in many countries for the highest ranking officer in a municipal government Patrick Yvonne Hugo Dewael, (born 13 October 1955) in Lier Belgium is a liberal Belgian politician The Vlaamse Liberalen en Democraten or OpenVLD ( Flemish Liberals and Democrats) is a Flemish liberal party, created in 1992 A coalition is an alliance among individuals during which they cooperate in joint action, each in their own Self-interest. Patrick Yvonne Hugo Dewael, (born 13 October 1955) in Lier Belgium is a liberal Belgian politician The Vlaamse Liberalen en Democraten or OpenVLD ( Flemish Liberals and Democrats) is a Flemish liberal party, created in 1992 Belgian postal codes are numeric and consist of 4 numbers although the last one is often zero A telephone numbering plan is a plan for allocating Telephone number ranges to countries regions areas and exchanges and to non-fixed telephone networks A website (alternatively web site or Web site, a back-construction from the Proper noun World Wide Web) is a collection of Web pages French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people The German language (de ''Deutsch'') is a West Germanic language and one of the world's major languages. A city is an Urban area with a large Population and a particular Administrative, Legal, or Historical status The Arrondissement of Tongeren (Arrondissement Tongeren Arrondissement de Tongres is one of the three administrative arrondissements in the Province of Belgium is divided into three regions two of them are subdivided into five Provinces each Flanders (Vlaanderen Flandre Flandern is a geographical region located in parts of present day Belgium, France, and the Netherlands. The Kingdom of Belgium is a Country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters as well as those Tongeren is the oldest town in Belgium. The Kingdom of Belgium is a Country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters as well as those Known as Atuatuca Tungrorum to the Romans, it was the administrative centre of the district Tungri under their rule. Ancient Rome was a Civilization that grew out of a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 10th century BC The Tungri were a tribe of Gaul and Germania. In a casual aside in Germania Tacitus remarks that Germani was

History

Atuatuca Tungrorum

Ambiorix

Before the Roman conquests, this area was inhabited by the Eburones, a Belgic tribe. Ambiorix was together with Catuvolcus, prince of the Eburones, leader of a Belgic tribe of north-eastern Gaul ( Gallia Belgica) where The Eburones ( Greek:, Strabo) were a people of Germanic descent that lived in the upper north of Gallia largely between the Rhine and the The Belgae were a group of tribes living in northern Gaul in the 1st century BC and later also attested in Britain. During Julius Caesar’s campaigns in this area in the 1st century BC, Ambiorix, an Eburonian chief, incited his people to rise up against Caesar and proceeded to kill an entire Roman legion near a place called Atuatuca (a legion under Julius Caesar). The 1st century BC started the first day of 100 BC and ended the last day of 1 BC. Ambiorix was together with Catuvolcus, prince of the Eburones, leader of a Belgic tribe of north-eastern Gaul ( Gallia Belgica) where For other uses see Legion The Roman Legion (from Latin legio "military levy Conscription," This victory was understandably short lived and the entire Eburones tribe decimated, while the Tungri, more friendly to the Romans, took their place. The Tungri were a tribe of Gaul and Germania. In a casual aside in Germania Tacitus remarks that Germani was The Roman camp grew into a sizeable settlement known as Atuatuca Tungrorum. Located on the important road linking Cologne to Bavay via the relay of Liberchies, and surrounded by the fertile lands of the Hesbaye region, the settlement quickly became one of the largest Gallo-Roman administrative and military towns in the 1st century. Bagacumjpg|thumb|Bagacum]] Bavay is a town and commune of northern France in the département of Nord, 15 m Liberchies is a Belgian village situated along the previous Roman highway Bavay - Tongeren where a vicus was discovered Hesbaye (Latinized as Hesbania in medieval documents modern French Hesbaye, modern Dutch Haspengouw) is the region in the south of the Belgian Limburg This article covers the culture of Romanized areas of Gaul. For the political history of the brief "Gallic Empire" of the 3rd century see Gallic Empire The 1st century was the Century that lasted from 1 to 100 according the Julian calendar. Atuatuca Tungrorum suffered through a destructive fire during the Batavian siege in 70. The Batavians ( Latin Batavi) were a Germanic tribe originally part of the Chatti, reported by Tacitus to Year 70 was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Julian calendar. In the 2nd century, it erected its first defensive wall, portions of which can still be seen today. The 2nd century is the period from 101 to 200 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian / Common Era. Typical Roman buildings were built in town, while villas and graves (tumuli) dotted the surrounding area. A villa was originally an Upper-class Country house, though since its origins in Roman times the idea and function of a villa has evolved considerably A tumulus (plural tumuli) is a Mound of earth and stones raised over a grave or graves Soon after the 4th-century Germanic invasions, the city became the center of a Christian diocese – one of the earliest in the Low Countries – under the influence of Saint Servatius, bishop of Tongeren, then bishop of Maastricht. As a means of recording the passage of Time, the 4th century (per the Julian calendar and Anno Domini / Common era) was that Century The Germanic peoples are a historical group of Indo-European -speaking peoples originating in Northern Europe and identified by their use of the Germanic The Low Countries, the historical region of de Nederlanden, are the countries on low-lying land around the delta of the Rhine, Scheldt Saint Servatius ( Dutch: Sint Servaas; French: Saint Servais) (traditionally died 384 was Bishop of Tongeren &mdashRoman The Bishopric of Liège or Prince-Bishopric of Liège was a state of the Holy Roman Empire in the Low Countries in present Belgium Maastricht ( Dutch; Limburgish and city dialect Mestreech; French: Maestricht or Maëstricht; Spanish:

Middle Ages

Basilica

The Merovingian period between the 5th and the 8th century is not well documented. The Merovingians (also Merovings) were a Salian Frankish dynasty that came to rule the Franks in a region (known as Francia in Latin The 5th century is the period from 401 to 500 in accordance with the Julian calendar in Anno Domini / Common Era. The 8th century is the period from 701 to 800 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian / Common Era. The building of a new church and the foundation of a chapter of canons took place in Carolingian times, at the very place where the old bishops’ houses stood, and where the basilica still stands today. A canon (from the Latin canonicus, itself derived from the Greek κανωνικος 'relating to a rule' is a priest who is a member of certain bodies of the The Carolingian dynasty (known variously as the Carlovingians, Carolings, or Karlings) was a Frankish noble family with its origins in the The construction of the current basilica started at the beginning of the 13th century in the prevalent Gothic style of that period. See also Gothic art Gothic architecture is a style of Architecture which flourished during the high and late medieval period. Other buildings were added to the religious core of the city, including new commercial areas, hospitals and artisans quarters. The 13th century also saw the building of the medieval defensive wall, several new churches and cloisters, and the beguinage. The city became one of the “bonnes villes” (or principal cities) of the Prince-Bishopric of Liège. The Bishopric of Liège or Prince-Bishopric of Liège was a state of the Holy Roman Empire in the Low Countries in present Belgium

17th century until now

In 1677, the city was nearly entirely burnt to the ground by Louis XIV’s troops, a catastrophe from which Tongeren never completely recovered. Early years Birth and ancestry Louis XIV was born in the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye on September 5 1638 and bore the Heir apparent The rebirth of the city dates from after 1830. For the game see 1830 (board game. Year 1830 ( MDCCCXXX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display Today, Tongeren enjoys its great heritage from the past. It is also the judicial capital of the Limburg province.

Places of interest

The Dodecahedron

Púmpkëskal (Pump-chat, púmpkë=pump [diminutive], kal=chat)

• The Béguinage, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998 (photographs:[1], [2])
• The Belfry, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999
• The Tongeren Basilica (Onze-Lieve-Vrouwe Basiliek), where recent excavations have produced some of the richest archaeological finds in Flanders (photographs:[3], [4])
• The Gallo-Roman museum, which houses Celtic gold, Roman glassware, Merovingian filigree work, and the dodecahedron, an unusual Gallo-Roman object found during excavations
• The original Roman wall, dating from the 2nd century, still visible on more than 1,500 meters. A dodecahedron is any Polyhedron with twelve faces but usually a regular dodecahedron is meant a Platonic solid composed of twelve regular Pentagonal A Béguinage is a collection of small buildings used by Beguines which were several lay sisterhoods of the Roman Catholic Church, founded in the 13th century United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization ( UNESCO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established on November 16 A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a site (such as a Forest, Mountain, Lake, Desert, Monument, Building, complex An unequalled ensemble of fifty-six Belfries of Belgium and France is designated by UNESCO as World Heritage Site, in recognition Flanders (Vlaanderen Flandre Flandern is a geographical region located in parts of present day Belgium, France, and the Netherlands. This article covers the culture of Romanized areas of Gaul. For the political history of the brief "Gallic Empire" of the 3rd century see Gallic Empire Celts (ˈkɛlts or /ˈsɛlts/, see Names of the Celts The Merovingians (also Merovings) were a Salian Frankish dynasty that came to rule the Franks in a region (known as Francia in Latin Filigree (formerly written filigrann or filigrane; also known as telkari, the name given in Anatolia, meaning "wire work" A dodecahedron is any Polyhedron with twelve faces but usually a regular dodecahedron is meant a Platonic solid composed of twelve regular Pentagonal This article covers the culture of Romanized areas of Gaul. For the political history of the brief "Gallic Empire" of the 3rd century see Gallic Empire The 2nd century is the period from 101 to 200 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian / Common Era.
• Some of the medieval defensive towers, also still visible today

Events

• The Kroningsfeesten (“Coronation Celebrations”) are organized every seven years in commemoration of the crowning of the miraculous statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary by Bishop Doutreloux in 1890. This ecumenical article is about general Christian views on and veneration of the Virgin Mary Year 1890 ( MDCCCXC) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common This religious procession, one of the largest and most impressive in Belgium, will take place for the seventeenth time in 2009. A procession (via Middle English processioun, French procession, derived from Latin processio, itself from procedere, to go forth advance
• A well-attended antiques fair takes place every Sunday.

Famous inhabitants

• Ambiorix, prince of the Eburones and rebel leader against the Roman invaders; although his statue stands on the central square of Tongeren, it is unknown where he lived exactly and disputed as to whether he ever really existed, since Julius Caesar's own commentarii de bello gallico is the only source to ever include him (1st century BC)
• Saint Servatius, bishop of Tongeren, introduced Christianity in the Netherlands (4th century)
• Saint Helier, ascetic hermit and patron saint of Jersey (6th century)
• Radulph of Rivo, historian and liturgist (d. Ambiorix was together with Catuvolcus, prince of the Eburones, leader of a Belgic tribe of north-eastern Gaul ( Gallia Belgica) where The Eburones ( Greek:, Strabo) were a people of Germanic descent that lived in the upper north of Gallia largely between the Rhine and the Commentarii de Bello Gallico is Julius Caesar 's third-person account of his nine years of war in Gaul. The 1st century BC started the first day of 100 BC and ended the last day of 1 BC. Saint Servatius ( Dutch: Sint Servaas; French: Saint Servais) (traditionally died 384 was Bishop of Tongeren &mdashRoman Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings The Netherlands ( Dutch:, ˈnedərlɑnt is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands the Netherlands As a means of recording the passage of Time, the 4th century (per the Julian calendar and Anno Domini / Common era) was that Century Saint Helier, a 6th century ascetic Hermit, is Patron saint of Jersey in the Channel Islands, and in particular of the town and Parish A hermit (from the Greek ἔρημος erēmos, signifying " Desert " "uninhabited" hence "desert-dweller" adjective "eremitic" The patron saint of a particular group of people is a Saint who would protect and 'love' the group and its members The Bailiwick of Jersey ( Jèrriais: Jèrri) is a British Crown dependency off the coast of Normandy, France. The 6th century is the period from 501 to 600 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian / Common Era. Radulph of Rivo ( Radulph of Tongres, Radulph van der Beeke, Raoul de Tongres, Radulphus de Rivo) (probably his birth name since rivus See also History An historian is an individual who studies and writes about History, and is regarded as an Authority on it A liturgy is the customary public worship done by a specific religious group according to their particular traditions 1403)
• Honoré Gabriel Riqueti, comte de Mirabeau, French politician (1749-1791)
• Valentinus Paquay, Roman Catholic beatified priest, also known as "het heilig Paterke van Hasselt" (the holy priest [diminutive] of Hasselt) (1828-1905)
• Philippe Boesmans, composer (b. Honoré Gabriel Riqueti Comte de Mirabeau ( March 9, 1749 &ndash April 2, 1791) was a French writer popular orator and statesman Valentinus Paquay ( Tongeren, 17 November 1828 — Hasselt, 1 january 1905) born Joannes Ludovicus ( Jan Beatification (from Latin beatus, blessed via Greek μακάριος makarios) is a recognition accorded by the Catholic church A priest or priestess is a person having the authority or power to administer religious rites in particular rites of sacrifice to and propitiation of a deity or deities Philippe Boesmans (born 17 May, 1936) is a Belgian Composer. He was born in Tongeren, studied at the Conservatory in Liège 1936)
• Robert Cailliau, co-inventor of the World Wide Web, together with Tim Berners-Lee (b. Robert Cailliau (born 26 January 1947) is a Belgian Computer scientist who together with Sir Tim Berners-Lee, developed The World Wide Web (commonly shortened to the Web) is a system of interlinked Hypertext documents accessed via the Internet. Sir Timothy John Berners-Lee OM KBE FRS FREng FRSA (born 8 June 1955 is an English computer scientist who is credited 1947)
• Patrick Dewael, politician, former Minister President of Flanders, and mayor (b. Patrick Yvonne Hugo Dewael, (born 13 October 1955) in Lier Belgium is a liberal Belgian politician The Minister-President of Flanders is the Head of government of the Flemish region and community which is a federal state of Belgium. A mayor (from the Latin māior, meaning "greater" is a modern title used in many countries for the highest ranking officer in a municipal government 1955)

International Relations

Twin city

•  Poland: Kalisz

Partner city:

•  Italy: Rome

External links

• Official website - Only available in Dutch
• Roman Tongeren
• Gallo-Roman museum