Seraing
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Seraing
Serè (Walloon) | |
---|---|
Area | |
• Total | 35.25 km2 (13.61 sq mi) |
Population (2018-01-01)[1] | |
• Total | 64,270 |
• Density | 1,800/km2 (4,700/sq mi) |
Postal codes | 4100, 4101, 4102 |
NIS code | 62096 |
Area codes | 04 |
Website | www.seraing.be |
Seraing (French pronunciation: [səʁɛ̃] ⓘ; Walloon: Serè) is a city and municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Liège, Belgium.
The municipality consists of the following districts:
regions.In addition to its steel factories, Seraing is home to the
History
Lotharingia 956–959
Duchy of Lower Lorraine959–985
Prince-Bishopric of Liège 985–1789
Republic of Liège 1789–1791
Prince-Bishopric of Liège 1791–1795
French Republic 1795–1804
French Empire 1804–1815
Kingdom of the Netherlands 1815–1830
Kingdom of Belgium 1830–present
Antiquity and Middle Ages
Several skeletons, potshards, weapons, and jewels were discovered here, dating from the 5th and 6th century, attesting to Seraing being inhabited in
Industrial development
The name of the town changed several times throughout its history, with the current spelling only being set in the 18th century. At around that time, various factors combined to attract industrial investors to Seraing: the advent of the Industrial Revolution, the proximity of the river Meuse, and the discovery of coal at Ougrée. The first ironworks were founded there in 1809. John Cockerill and his brother James revolutionized the steel industry by using blast furnaces and coke instead of traditional charcoal. These inventions would be the basis for his new company, John Cockerill & Cie established in Seraing in 1817. Over the next decades, many more metallurgical plants and foundries were built in this area, which became an integral part of Wallonia's industrial backbone, the sillon industriel. Glassworkers found the proximity of a cheap source of coal attractive. The Val Saint Lambert started its operations in 1826.
Seraing was the first location in Belgium where the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints built in Belgium. Work began on the building in 1927 and completed before the end of 1930.[2]
Recent developments
In the 2012 Tour de France, Seraing acted as the finish of Stage 1.
Politics and administration
List of mayors
- 1977-1988: Guy Mathot PS)
- 1988-1993: Gaston Onkelinx (PS)
- 1994-2000: Jacques Vandebosch (PS)
- 2000-2005: Guy Mathot (PS)
- 2005-2006: Jacques Vandebosch (PS)
- 2006-2018: Alain Mathot (PS)
- 2018-2023: Francis Bekaert (PS)
- 2023- : Déborah Géradon (PS)
Sights
- The Val Saint Lambert site includes the old Val-Saint-Lambert Abbey and the crystal manufacture, where glass workers still blow, carve, and etch the world-famous pieces of art. The neighbouring castle houses a glass museum.
- The Cockerill castle used to be the summer residence of the Napoleon, a powder magazine, and the personal property of William I of the Netherlands, who ceded it to the Cockerill family in 1817.
- Besides the Cockerill castle, the historic centre of the city also includes the city hall and the main church, which harbours 12th-century baptismal fonts.
- The forested region south of Seraing offers a multitude of strolls and hikes.
Folklore
- According to an old local legend, witches (Walloon: macrales) abound in the Seraing area. The macrales have been resurrected in the year 2000 and are now a regular staple of the local folklore.
- Like many other towns in Wallonia, Seraing has its own giant puppet: Li Rayeû d’class.
- Seraing also counts a number of colourful associations, including a coopers’ brotherhood, whose goal is to revive the wineries of the Val Saint Lambert abbey, and the “Gay Boulet” brotherhood, whose mission is to popularize Boulets à la Liégeoise, a local recipe.
Notable people
- entrepreneur and founder of the Cockerill-Sambresteel company (1790–1840)
- Eugenio Barsanti, Italian inventor of the internal combustion engine (1821–1864)
- Leo Anton Karl de Ball, astronomer (1853–1916)
- Julien Lahaut, communist (1884–1950)
- Louis-Clément Picalausa, Scout novelist (1898–1969)
- Charles Lecocq (poet) , (1901–1922)
- General Federation of Belgian Labourand leader of the 60-61 General Strike) (1911–1962)
- football goalkeeper(b. 1947)
- filmmakers(b. 1951 and 1954, resp.)
- Laurette Onkelinx, politician (b. 1958)
- football goalkeeper(b. 1959)
- Gilbert Bodart, football coach (b. 1962)
- Marc Tarabella, politician (b. 1963)
- Fabrizio Cassol, saxophone and aulochrome player (b. 1964)
- Marc Laho, opera singer (b. 1965)
- Alain Mathot , politician (b. 1972)
- striker(b. 1973)
- Viktor Klonaridis, football player (b. 1992)
- John Wartique, racing driver (b. 1990)
International relations
Twin towns—Sister cities
Seraing is
See also
- Liège Science Park
- The Deux jours, une nuit
References
- ^ "Wettelijke Bevolking per gemeente op 1 januari 2018". Statbel. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
- ^ Jenson, Andrew. Encyclopedic History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (Salt Lake City: Deseret News Press, 1941) p. 269