The
cartographical exhibition
However,
the region of Voeren does not only have a unique landscape, it also
has a complex history. The far-ancestors of the inhabitants of Voeren
used to make arrow points out of flint- maybe even a surprise for Fred
Flintstone- and the Romans used to know this region, which is situated
near Tongeren en Aken, quite well.
The cartographic/historical exhibition clearly shows the other occupiers,
rulers and governors of the region up to the present.
Discover the history of the region of Voeren and become a real puzzle
expert!
| Voeren,
a historic jigsaw puzzle!
Far
ancestors
Already in the Mesolithic, some 120 000 years ago,
Neanderthals were at work here: they operated different silex
workshops, such as in Hoogbos (’s Gravensvoeren), Roodbos
(Remersdaal) and in Rulen (Sint-Pieters-Voeren).
Roman
villas
But the Romans also had a fine nose for beautiful
and especially fertile settlements. |
photo G. Sweron
|
We
can situate two former Roman villas here, including the one of
Steenbos (exposed in 1840).
The present Steenbos chapel has been constructed with materials
from that villa that have been reused. Really worth seeing!
Among
Frank and Carolines
Voeren was first mentioned in 878 as a Carolingian
crown property, probably with a royal house in the centre, and
when the Carolingian Empire fell apart in several small principalities
some time later, Voeren had everything to become a county, except
for … a fortified castle, which was in fact essential. Within
the county of Dalhem, Voeren did hold the most important courthouse. |
photo G. Sweron
|
The
Battle of Woeringen, June 5 1288: a milestone
Duke Jan I of Brabant defeated a Gelders-Limburg
coalition at Woeringen. Consequence: the German sphere of influence
was forced back and the “Landen van Overmaze” (to
the east of the river the Maas), including the region of Voeren,
orientated towards the Dutch-speaking region in the west.
Already in 1242 knight Daniël van Voeren gave Sint-Pieters-Voeren
to the German Knighthood and thus this region was put under the
direct authority of the German Empire. A remarkable fact within
Voeren! |
15th
– 16th – 17th century: turbulent times resulting in
the separation of the Netherlands!
In the 15th and 16th century, the inhabitants of
Voeren became Burgundians, but during the Eighty Years’
War (1568 – 1648) little was left of this “Burgundy
lifestyle”…The long-lasting religious war tore the
Netherlands apart. The North became a republic under the authority
of the State-General whereas the southern Netherlands including
the region of Voeren, remained a part of Spain. This situation
was registered in the Treaty of Münster in 1648. A legendary
date… the northern boarder of the present country Belgium
was then already formed and Voeren was separated from its northern
hinterland. |
photo G. Sweron
|
From
Austria, over France and the Netherlands , to Belgium
In the 18th century, Voeren experiences an Austrian
time period. After that, as from 1792, a French occupation and
shortly afterwards (1815) a Dutch rule. It wasn’t until
1839 that Voeren definitely came to belong to Belgium, as part
of the French-speaking province of Liege (=department of the “Ourthe”
under the French and the province of Luik (Liege) under the Dutch)
in spite of the fact that the villages of Voeren were Dutch-speaking.
The core of the Belgian problems in Voeren ...
|
Up
to the new language laws of 1932, the life of the inhabitants
of Voeren quietly went on. At home and on the street the common
language was the Limburg dialect but the administrative staff,
the small upper layer of the population and the bosses used to
speak French. When the language count in 1930 showed that the
largest part of the population of Voeren spoke Dutch, a number
of departments were transferred to the province of Limburg as
from 1932. But Flanders was still a long way…and the post-war
anti-Flemish atmosphere (after 1945) roused the frenchifying process.
Limburg,
Flanders
Brussels
was tinkering with the new language law and as a result the six
villages of Voeren were being transferred to the Flemish province
of Limburg in 1963 and the six villages of Limburg of the valley
of the Jeker…to Liege! The inhabitant of Voeren, historically
linked to Limburg, thus got the Flemish identity and this didn’t
happen without a struggle. He was the victim of national contrasts
and community difficulties and a frustration reaction from the
falling superpower Liege. The many years’ administration
of the party “Retour à Liege”, led to constant
conflicts with the Flemish followers, the provincial and the regional
authorities. The year 2000 was a turning point: the Limburg-minded
party “Interest Group Voeren” gained power. Finally
a serious administration for the Limburg-Flemish Voeren became
possible. |
Click
on this link for opening hours and rates
|
