Nivelles

Nivelles Nivele (Walloon) Nijvel (Dutch)
Municipality
Flag Coat of arms
Location of Nivelles
Nivelles Location in Belgium Location of Nivelles in Walloon Brabant Region		Wallonia
Province	Walloon Brabant
Arrondissement	Nivelles
Government
• Mayor	Pierre Huart (MR)
• Governing party/ies	MR-Ecolo
Area
• Total	60.83 km2 (23.49 sq mi)
Population  (2018-01-01)[1]
• Total	28,521
• Density	470/km2 (1,200/sq mi)
Postal codes	1400, 1401, 1402, 1404
NIS code	25072
Area codes	067
Website	www.nivelles.be

Nivelles (French pronunciation:

Starting in 4,000 BC, the Nivelles region was gradually turned into agricultural land by the Danubian settlers. Most of their ancestral Rubanean civilization was destroyed by the Roman invaders during the first century AD. In turn, most of the Roman constructions, including villas, were destroyed during the Germanic invasions of the 3rd century.

In the 7th century, the territory was part of the

In the 13th century, the city that grew around the church became part of the Duchy of Brabant. The population was mainly artisans and guild members, who did not hesitate to fight the abbesses and the dukes to obtain their rights. These rights were finally granted by Joanna, Duchess of Brabant in the 14th century. In 1647, an important uprising by the thread manufacturers resulted in many of the city's entrepreneurs leaving for France, leading to the city's economic decline. The wars of the 17th century between France and the Spanish Netherlands made the situation worse as Nivelles went through successive sieges and military occupations. The Austrian and French regimes of the 18th century brought religious and administrative reforms to the city.

1830 to the present day

In 1830, Nivelles was one of the first cities to send patriotic troops to Brussels to fight in the Belgian Revolution. The following years were marked by the growth of heavy industry, including metallurgy and railway construction. The bombing of the city during World War I brought some damage to buildings, but greater devastation occurred during World War II on 14 May 1940, when almost the entire city centre was destroyed, leaving only the walls of the collegiate church standing. The rebuilding of the church was completed in 1984, but remains can be seen of wall fragments on the south side of the collegiate.

Main sights

• The
  Carolingian (9th century) periods have been found under the church. The Romanesque crypt
  is one of the largest of its kind in Europe.
• The two-meter-tall statue that strikes the hours in one of the towers (French: jacquemart) is affectionately known as "Jean de Nivelles". Jean dates from around 1400.
• The
  Recollets
  convent and its church date from the 16th century.
• Nivelles also has an archaeological museum, which complements the visit at Saint Gertrude.
• The "Dodaine" park provides a welcome green space on the southern side of the town.

• 
  Nave of Saint Gertrude
• 
  Jean de Nivelles
• 
  Palace of Justice

Folklore

• Like Ath, Nivelles boasts a collection of processional giants, one of which, Goliath, dates from 1365. The Goliath family (husband, wife and son) is usually accompanied by an odd collection of giant animals, including a lion, a camel, a unicorn, and a dragon.
• Originating in the 13th century, the well-attended Saint-Gertrude religious procession is held annually.
• The
  Binche Carnival, that of Nivelles includes the famous Gilles
  .
• The city's gastronomic specialty is the tarte al d'jote, a type of quiche including local cheese, onions, greens, eggs and butter.
• Nivelles is also known for its 49-bell carillon and its four named canons.

Sports

In 1972 and 1974, the Belgian Grand Prix was hosted at the Nivelles-Baulers circuit. Emerson Fittipaldi won the race both times. The circuit ultimately proved unpopular and has since been demolished.

In September 2007, Nivelles jointly hosted the

• St Wilfretrudis of Nivelles
  – Abbess and niece of Gertrude (7th century)
• Merovingian
  kings (7th century)
• Gertrude of Nivelles, Pippin's daughter and abbess of the Nivelles monastery (626–659)
• Johann Tserclaes, Holy Roman Empire general in the Thirty Years' War
  (1559–1632)
• Louis-Joseph Seutin, doctor and surgeon (1793–1862)
• Jules Louis Guillery
  , lawyer and politician (1824–1902)
• Henri Delmotte, novelist (1822–1884)
• Didier Theys, racing driver (b. 1956)
• André Lotterer, racing driver (b. 1981)

Twin city

•  France: Saintes

See also

• Brabant killers

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nivelles.

• Official town website, in French.