Tournai
Geography
Country	Belgium
Region	Wallonia
Community	French Community
Province	Hainaut
Arrondissement	Tournai
Coordinates	50°36′N 3°23′E / 50.6, 3.383Coordinates: 50°36′N 3°23′E / 50.6, 3.383
Area	213. 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. Wallonia, or Wallonie, (Wallonie Wallonien Wallonië Waloneye is the Meridional part of Belgium belonging to the Romance linguistic field Belgium is a federal state comprising three communities, three regions, and four language areas. The French Community of Belgium (Communauté française de Belgique Franse Gemeenschap van België Französische Gemeinschaft Belgiens is one of the three official communities Belgium is divided into three regions two of them are subdivided into five Provinces each Hainaut ( French; English traditionally Hainault, Dutch: Henegouwen, German: Hennegau, Walloon 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 Tournai (Arrondissement de Tournai Arrondissement Doornik is one of the seven administrative arrondissements in the Province of Hainaut 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. 75 km²
Population (Source: NIS)
Population – Males – Females - Density	67,534 (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. 69% 51. 31% 316 inhab. /km²
Economy
Unemployment rate	18. Square Kilometre ( US spelling square kilometer) symbol km2, is a decimal multiple of the SI unit of Unemployment occurs when a person is available to work and currently seeking work but the person is without work. 17% (January 1, 2006)
Mean annual income	11,964 €/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	Christian Massy (PS)
Governing parties	PS-cdH
Other information
Postal codes	7500-7548
Area codes	069
Web address	www.tournai.be

Tournai (in Dutch Doornik, in Latin: Tornacum) is a Walloon city and municipality of Belgium located 85 kilometres southwest of Brussels, on the river Scheldt, in the province of Hainaut. 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 The Socialist Party (Parti Socialiste PS is a Francophone Social democratic political party in Belgium. A coalition is an alliance among individuals during which they cooperate in joint action, each in their own Self-interest. The Socialist Party (Parti Socialiste PS is a Francophone Social democratic political party in Belgium. The Humanist Democratic Centre ( French: Centre démocrate humaniste or cdH) is a Belgian Francophone Christian democratic 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 Dutch ( is a West Germanic language spoken by around 24 million people 22 million of which are from the Netherlands, Belgium and Suriname Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. The Walloon Region, commonly called Wallonia, is one of the three Regions of Belgium. A city is an Urban area with a large Population and a particular Administrative, Legal, or Historical status Belgium comprises 589 municipalities ( Dutch: gemeenten, French: communes, German: Gemeinde) grouped into five 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 Brussels (Bruxelles pronounced; Brussel pronounced) officially the Brussels Capital-Region, is The Scheldt (Dutch Schelde, French Escaut, Latin Scaldis) is a 350 km[http //www Hainaut ( French; English traditionally Hainault, Dutch: Henegouwen, German: Hennegau, Walloon

It (along with Tongeren) is the oldest city in Belgium and it has played an important role in the country's cultural history. Tongeren ( French: Tongres, German: Tongern) is a City and municipality located in the province of Limburg

Geography

Tournai is located in the lowlands of Belgium, at the southern limit of the Flemish plain, in the basin of the Scheldt. Administratively, the town is part of the Province of Hainaut, itself part of the Walloon Region of the country. The Walloon Region, commonly called Wallonia, is one of the three Regions of Belgium. It is also a commune that is part of the French-speaking Community of Belgium. The French Community of Belgium (Communauté française de Belgique Franse Gemeenschap van België Französische Gemeinschaft Belgiens is one of the three official communities Tournai has its own arrondissements, both administrative and judicial. The federalized country Belgium geographically consists of 3 regions of which only Flemish Region and Walloon Region are subdivided into 5 provinces

Its area of 213. 75 km² makes it the largest commune in size in Belgium; it is also the largest in population in Western Hainaut. The municipality of Tournai consists of the former municipalities of Ere, Saint-Maur, Orcq, Esplechin, Froyennes, Froidmont, Willemeau, Ramegnies-Chin, Templeuve, Chercq, Blandain, Hertain, Lamain, Marquain, Gaurain-Ramecroix, Havinnes, Beclers, Thimougies, Barry, Maulde, Vaulx, Vezon, Kain, Melles, Quartes, Rumillies, Mont-Saint-Aubert, Mourcourt and Warchin. Maulde is a Town and commune in the Nord département of northern France.

Geology

Rocks from the Tournai area date from the Carboniferous Period and have been used to define the Tournaisian Age, a subdivision of the Carboniferous lasting from 359 to 345 million years ago. The Carboniferous is a geologic period and system that extends from the end of the Devonian period about 359 Tournai stone is a dark limestone which takes a polish and was used particularly in the Romanesque period for sculpted items such as baptismal fonts. It is also hard enough to have been used locally for pavements and kerb-stones. It is sometimes called Tournai marble, though this is geologically inaccurate.

History

Tournai in the northeast of France
in Europe by the end of the 10th C.

Tournai existed already in Roman times and came into the possession of the Salian Franks in 432. 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 Salians redirects here for the eleventh-century dynasty see Salian dynasty, for Roman priests see Salii. Under kings Childeric and Clovis, Tournai was the capital of the Frankish empire. In the year 486, Clovis moved the center of power to Paris. Paris (ˈpærɨs in English; in French) is the Capital of France and the country's largest city In turn, a native son of Tournai, Eleutherius, became bishop of the newly created bishopric of Tournai, extending over most of the area west of the Scheldt. The Scheldt (Dutch Schelde, French Escaut, Latin Scaldis) is a 350 km[http //www Later Charles the Bald, first king of Western Francia and still to become Holy Roman Emperor, would make it the County of Flanders (862). Charles the Bald ( 13 June 823 – 6 October 877) Holy Roman Emperor (875–877 as Charles II) and King of West Francia West Francia or the West Frankish Kingdom was a short-lived kingdom encompassing the lands of the western part of the Carolingian Empire that came under the undisputed The Holy Roman Emperor (Römischer Kaiser or Römisch-Deutscher Kaiser Romanorum Imperator was the elected monarch ruling over the many varying numbers of states The County of Flanders was a historical region in the Low Countries. Events By Place Asia Rurik gains control of Novgorod. Fan Chuo finishes his Manchu ( Book

After the partition of the Frankish empire by the Treaties of Verdun (843) and of Meerssen (870), Tournai remained in the western part of the empire, which in 987 became France. In the Treaty of Verdun of 843 the three surviving sons of Louis the Pious, Charlemagne 's grandsons divided his territories the Carolingian The Treaty of Meerssen or Mersen in 870 was an agreement of the division of the Carolingian Empire by the surviving sons of Louis I, Charles Events By Place Europe Hugh Capet, Count of Paris, is crowned King of France. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. First being part of the County of Flanders, the city soon became attractive for wealthy merchants. Its drive for independence from the local rulers succeeded in 1187, and the city was henceforth directly subordinated to the French Crown.

During the 15th century, the city's textile trade boomed and it became an important supplier of wall carpets. It was conquered in 1513 by the English king Henry VIII, making it the only Belgian city ever to have been ruled by England. Henry VIII (28 June 1491 &ndash 28 January 1547 was King of England and Lord of Ireland, later King of Ireland and claimant to the Kingdom of It was also represented in the Parliament of England. Tournai was a former Constituency of the Parliament of England. The Parliament of England was the Legislature of the Kingdom of England. The city was handed back to French rule in 1519.

In 1521, Emperor Charles V added the city to his possessions in the Low Countries, leading to a period of religious strife and economic decline. Charles V (24 February 1500 &ndash 21 September 1558 was The Low Countries, the historical region of de Nederlanden, are the countries on low-lying land around the delta of the Rhine, Scheldt During the 16th century, Tournai was a bulwark of Calvinism, but eventually it was conquered by the Spanish governor of the Low Countries, the Duke of Parma, following a prolonged siege in 1581. Calvinism (sometimes called the Reformed tradition, the Reformed faith, or Reformed theology) is a theological system and an approach to the Alexander Farnese ( Italian: Alessandro Farnese, Spanish: Alejandro Farnesio, ( August 27 1545 &ndash After the fall of the city, its Protestant inhabitants were given one year to sell their possessions and emigrate, a policy that was at the time considered relatively humane, since very often religious opponents were simply massacred.

One century later, in 1668, the city briefly returned to France under Louis XIV in the Treaty of Aachen. 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 After the end of the War of Spanish Succession in 1713, the former Spanish Netherlands, including Tournai, became Austrian through the Treaty of Utrecht. In the War of the Spanish Succession (1701–1714 several European powers combined to stop French succession to the Spanish throne and what would likely have been a resulting The Southern Netherlands (Zuidelijke Nederlanden Países Bajos del Sur Pays-Bas du sud were a part of the Low Countries controlled by Spain ( Spanish The Southern Netherlands (Zuidelijke Nederlanden Países Bajos del Sur Pays-Bas du sud were a part of the Low Countries controlled by Spain ( Spanish The Treaty of Utrecht that established the Peace of Utrecht, rather than a single document comprised a series of individual peace treaties signed in the Dutch From 1815 on, following the Napoleonic Wars, Tournai formed part of the United Netherlands and after 1830 of newly independent Belgium. The Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815 involved Napoleon's French Empire and a shifting set of European allies and opposing coalitions United Kingdom of the Netherlands (or Kingdom of the United Netherlands) (1815 - 1830 (1839 (Verenigd Koninkrijk der Nederlanden Royaume-Uni des Pays-Bas was the unofficial

Tourist Attractions

Tournai is considered to be one of the most important cultural sites in Belgium. The mixed Romanesque- and Gothic-style cathedral of Notre Dame de Tournai and the belfry, the oldest in Belgium, have been designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Regional characteristics of Romanesque architecture|Romanesque art Romanesque architecture is the term that is used to describe the architecture of Middle Ages Europe which See also Gothic art Gothic architecture is a style of Architecture which flourished during the high and late medieval period. This article is about the history and organisation of the cathedral Our Lady of Flanders' Cathedral of Tournai is one of the most important architectural monuments in Belgium. The belfry (beffroi of Tournai, Belgium, is a freestanding bell tower of medieval origin 72 meters in height with a 256-step stair 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 Inside the cathedral, the Châsse de Notre-Dame flamande, a beautifully ornated 12th-century reliquary, gives witness to Tournai's wealth in the Middle Ages. A reliquary (also referred to as a Shrine or by the French term Chasse) is a container for Relics These may be the physical Other places of interest are the 13th-century Scheldt bridge (Pont-des-Trous) and the main square (Grand'Place), as well as several old city gates, historic warehouses, and a variety of museums. The Scheldt (Dutch Schelde, French Escaut, Latin Scaldis) is a 350 km[http //www

Culture

A Flemish town

Tournai is a French-speaking town of Belgium. The local language is tournaisien, a Picard dialect similar to that of other communes of Hainaut and Northern France. Picard is a Language closely related to French, and as such is one of the larger group of Romance languages.

Tournai belongs to Romance Flanders, like Lille, Douai, Tourcoing, and Mouscron. Romance Flanders or Gallicant Flanders is the part of the county of Flanders where people speak Romance languages (then called "Walloon" like Lille (lil Rijsel is a city in northern France. It is the principal city of the Lille Métropole, the fourth-largest Metropolitan area in the country Douai ( Dutch: Dowaai) is a town and commune in the north of France in the département of Nord Tourcoing is a city and commune in the Nord department and Nord-Pas de Calais region of France. Mouscron (Moeskroen is a Walloon City and municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut. Those towns, bilingual or not, are part of the Flemish cultural area and therefore possess several Flemish characteristics in their artistic heritage (architecture, painting, sculpture. . . ). The city of Tournai was one of the greatest cultural and economic centers of Flanders. Some traces can still be seen today:

• The gothic choir of Our Lady's Cathedral is a precursory element of the Scaldian (meaning from the Scheldt area), typically Flemish, Gothic art. Our Lady of Flanders' Cathedral of Tournai is one of the most important architectural monuments in Belgium. The Scheldt (Dutch Schelde, French Escaut, Latin Scaldis) is a 350 km[http //www See also Gothic art Gothic architecture is a style of Architecture which flourished during the high and late medieval period.
• The bishopric of Tournai was the religious capital of Flanders during more than a millennium (from 496 to 1559).
• The tapestries and draperies of Tournai belong to the great Flemish school of tapestry and Tournai was part of the Hanseatic League of London, which also included the draper towns of Flanders. Tapestry is a form of Textile art. It is woven by hand on a vertical Loom. The Hanseatic League (also known as the Hansa) was an alliance of trading cities and their Guilds that established and maintained trade
• The Saint-Brice church of Tournai, dedicated to Saint Britius, is one of the first examples of the hallekerk style, so typical of the Flemish countryside. Brice redirects here for other uses see Bricius (disambiguation Saint Bricius of Tours, also Brice, Britius, Criccius
• Some of the great Flemish Primitives are from Tournai: Robert Campin, Roger van der Weyden, Jacques Daret. Early Netherlandish painting is the work of those painters who were active in the Low Countries during the 15th and early 16th century Northern renaissance Robert Campin (c 1375 &ndash 26 April 1444) now usually identified with the artist known as the Master of Flémalle, is usually considered the first Rogier van der Weyden, also known as Rogier de le Pasture (1399/1400 &ndash June 18, 1464) is with Jan van Eyck, considered one of the Jacques Daret (c 1404 - c 1470 was an Early Netherlandish painter born in Tournai (now in Belgium) where he would spend much of his life

Although Tournai is in the Flemish cultural area, it also possesses some treasures of the Mosan style. Mosan art or Rheno-Mosan art is a regional style of Romanesque art from the valleys of the Meuse and Rhine, in present-day Belgium Indeed, the two most beautiful shrines of the Cathedral, commissioned by the Bishop of Tournai, were made in the region of Liège by the artist Nicholas of Verdun: the shrines of Saint-Eleutherius and of Our Lady of Flanders (13th century). The Bishopric of Liège or Prince-Bishopric of Liège was a state of the Holy Roman Empire in the Low Countries in present Belgium Nicholas of Verdun (1130 &ndash 1205 was a French artist one of the most famous Goldsmiths and Enamellists of the Middle Ages, a major figure Those shrines testify to the opulence of the towns of Tournai and Liège during the Middle-Ages. The shrine of Our Lady of Flanders has been called one of the seven wonders of Belgium.

Festivities

• The "Great Procession" (in French: Grande Procession) has taken place every year since 1092, with the single exception of the year 1566, when the iconoclasts considerably damaged the religious symbols of the city. 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 This historic procession unfolds in the streets every second Sunday of September. A procession (via Middle English processioun, French procession, derived from Latin processio, itself from procedere, to go forth advance
• The first Monday after January 6 is known as "Lost Monday" (in French: Lundi perdu) or "Perjury Monday" (Lundi parjuré). Events 1066 - Harold Godwinson is crowned King of England. 1205 - Philip of Swabia becomes King 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 This tradition dates from more than 700 years ago. The wealthier city inhabitants used to prepare fastuous family dinners and elect a king. Today, the family dinners have expanded to wider groups and a rabbit dish is often served.

People born in Tournai

• Gilles Li Muisis, French chronicler and poet (13th century)
• Roger van der Weyden, Flemish painter (15th century)
• Jacques Daret, Flemish painter (15th century)
• Pierre de La Rue, Franco-Femish composer (15th century)
• Perkin Warbeck, impostor and pretender to the throne of England (15th century)
• Charles Blount, 5th Baron Mountjoy, courtier and patron of learning (16th century)
• Donat Casterman, publisher (18th century)
• Piat Sauvage, painter (19th century)
• Louis Gallait, painter (19th century)
• Jean-Baptiste Moëns, philatelist (19th century)
• Jules Bara, statesman (19th century)
• Georges Rodenbach, Symbolist poet and novelist (19th century)
• Hélène Dutrieu, cycle racer, stunt driver and aviator (19th century and 20th century)
• Marc Quaghebeur, writer (20th century)
• Xaveer De Geyter, architect (20th century)

Gallery

Belfry of Tournai	The cathedral of Notre Dame de Tournai	The "Pont des Trous" bridge over the Scheldt	Eglise Saint-Jacques
Eglise Sainte-Marie-Madeleine	Eglise Saint-Nicolas	Eglise Saint-Brice	Eglise Saint-Piat
Eglise Saint-Quentin	Eglise Sainte-Marguerite	Cloth hall	Town hall and park
Town hall	a 17th-century house	Grand Place

External links

• UNESCO World Heritage Site Citation
• Official site — The city's site, available in French, English and Dutch. Gilles Li Muisis, or Le Muiset (c 1272 - October 15, 1352) was a French chronicler and poet This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Rogier van der Weyden, also known as Rogier de le Pasture (1399/1400 &ndash June 18, 1464) is with Jan van Eyck, considered one of the Flemish painting flourished from the early 15th century until the 17th century Jacques Daret (c 1404 - c 1470 was an Early Netherlandish painter born in Tournai (now in Belgium) where he would spend much of his life Flemish painting flourished from the early 15th century until the 17th century Pierre de La Rue (c 1452 &ndash November 20, 1518) called Piersson, was a Franco-Flemish composer and singer of the Renaissance In Music, the Franco-Flemish School refers somewhat imprecisely to the style of polyphonic Vocal music composition in Europe in the 15th Perkin Warbeck (1474 &ndash 23 November 1499) was a Pretender to the English throne during the reign of King Henry VII of England England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Charles Blount fifth Baron Mountjoy (1516–1544 was a courtier and patron of learning Casterman is a publisher of Franco-Belgian comics, specializing in Comic books and Children's literature. The 18th century lasted from 1701 to 1800 in the Gregorian calendar, in accordance with the Anno Domini / Common Era numbering system The 19th century of the Common Era began on January 1, 1801 and ended on December 31, 1900, according to the Gregorian calendar Louis Gallait (born May 9 or May 10, 1810 in Tournai, Hainaut ( Belgium) died November 20, 1887 in The 19th century of the Common Era began on January 1, 1801 and ended on December 31, 1900, according to the Gregorian calendar Jean-Baptiste Philippe Constant Moens ( 27 May 1833 &ndash 28 April 1908) was a Belgian Philatelist recognized as the first The 19th century of the Common Era began on January 1, 1801 and ended on December 31, 1900, according to the Gregorian calendar Jules Bara ( August 23 1835 &ndash June 26 1900) was a Belgian statesman and liberal politician The 19th century of the Common Era began on January 1, 1801 and ended on December 31, 1900, according to the Gregorian calendar Georges Raymond Constantin Rodenbach (July 16 1855 in Tournai, Belgium – December 25 1898 in Paris) was a Belgian Symbolist poet and novelist Symbolism was a late nineteenth-century Art movement of French and Belgian origin in poetry and other arts The 19th century of the Common Era began on January 1, 1801 and ended on December 31, 1900, according to the Gregorian calendar Hélène Dutrieu ( 10 July 1877 &ndash 26 June 1961) was a cycling world champion Stunt cyclist stunt motorcyclist Track cycling is a Bicycle racing Sport usually held on specially-built banked tracks or Velodromes (but many events are held at older velodromes where the A stunt is an unusual and difficult physical feat or any act requiring a special skill performed for artistic purposes in TV, Theatre, or cinema The 19th century of the Common Era began on January 1, 1801 and ended on December 31, 1900, according to the Gregorian calendar The twentieth century of the Common Era began on Marc Quaghebeur ( Tournai, 1947) is a Belgian writer 1979: Le Cycle de la morte: L'Herbe seule 1983: Chiennelures The twentieth century of the Common Era began on Xaveer De Geyter (born 1957 is a Belgian Architect. De Geyter was born in Doornik, Belgium The twentieth century of the Common Era began on The belfry (beffroi of Tournai, Belgium, is a freestanding bell tower of medieval origin 72 meters in height with a 256-step stair Our Lady of Flanders' Cathedral of Tournai is one of the most important architectural monuments in Belgium. 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 English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States Dutch ( is a West Germanic language spoken by around 24 million people 22 million of which are from the Netherlands, Belgium and Suriname
• Tournai City.net — Online directory for this city.
• Joan of Arc's letter to Tournai — English translation (by Allen Williamson) of this letter dictated by Joan of Arc on June 25, 1429. Joan of Arc (c 1412 Joan asserted that she had visions from God that told her to recover her homeland from English domination late in the Hundred Years' Events 524 - Battle of Vézeronce, the Franks defeat the Burgundians
• Apis Tornacensis — database and bibliography about history.
• Medieval Tournai An Academic Resource Center
• Société Royale d'Histoire et d'Archéologie de Tournai, an exhaustive list of references on the history of the Tournai region, in French. 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