The best traffic-free bike rides around Terdeghem

The Sint-Ackaarsbos in Houtkerke. In the local dialect and on old maps, this forest is also often called the Sint-Achaarsbosch. The name refers to Saint Acharius (Saint-Accaire), a 7th-century bishop who was venerated in this region (the old diocese of Tournai-Noyon). The name of the village itself literally means "the church in the wood (forest)". The Sint-Ackaarsbos is one of the last remnants of the large forests that formerly covered this part of the French Westhoek.

it stings

nicest cafe in poperinge

Top

It was from Steenvoorde that the Beeldenstorm spread rapidly throughout the Netherlands. In the church, you can still see a bell from the Laurentius Monastery. The Beeldenstorm began here with the shattering of all the statues and furnishings of this monastery. No trace remains of the monastery itself, located a few kilometers from Steenvoorde. Only a place name, Gallicized to Saint-Laurent, now a rest stop along the Lille-Dunkirk motorway, remains as a reminder. The church itself has a turbulent history. After falling victim to the Beeldenstorm in 1566, it burned down in 1576, was destroyed by the French in 1644, and was rebuilt in late Gothic style between 1660 and 1664. The tower dates from 1712, and the brick spire was built in 1890 and 1891. In May 1940, the church was again severely damaged. In 1950 it was restored.

At the beginning of the 14th century, Flanders as a whole enjoyed a flourishing cloth industry. The major centers of Ghent, Bruges, and Ypres wanted to protect their own markets. An initial privilege had already been granted for Ypres on October 28, 1322, but it was insufficient. Louis I, Count of Flanders, amended this privilege for Ypres on February 7, 1324. "From then on, no cloth was to be woven, sheared, or dyed within a three-hour radius of Ypres; failure to comply resulted in a fine of 50 pounds and the confiscation of the looms." This proved very unfortunate for Poperinge, which is only 12 km from Ypres. The people of Poperinge resisted this privilege by continuing to produce cloth or engage in other activities related to the cloth industry. According to several "clever" cloth weavers, it was more than a three-hour walk from Poperinge to Ypres. This led to a fierce battle between Poperinge and Ypres. The three Flemish cities launched an army to silence the people of Poperinge. This occurred in May 1341. Both sides lost their leaders in the battle: Jacob Bets at Poperinge and Jan de Houtkerke at Ypres. Poperinge was powerless against the overwhelming force. From then on, cloth would no longer be woven in Poperinge. What was forbidden, however, did happen: cloth production continued in Poperinge. A lawsuit followed, which was lost. This left the feud between Poperinge and Ypres far from over. The people of Poperinge sought a playful way to take revenge. They used the weapon of mockery. The Guild of the Stone was founded in Poperinge (1372), led by Master Ghybe. To this day, a kind of rivalry between Poperinge and Ypres still remains. Hops were grown as an alternative to the defunct cloth trade. Who? Master Ghybe is something of the Don Quixote of Poperinge. He sat backward on a donkey with an 83-pound boulder on a cushion in front of him. He carried pots and pans as armor. He was armed with a ladle and a spit. Along with his followers, dressed like him, he participated in processions and parades. Ghybe wasn't chosen at random; he was the symbol of the three major cities: Ghent, Ypres (Ieper), and Bruges. His donkey represents Flanders, which was poorly governed. The boulder he carried is the symbol of the people of Poperinge. They are also called "keikop" (stone head). Source: Wikipedia

Lucien De Gheus used bronze and bluestone for this artwork. Master Ghybe is a fictional, folkloric figure from the Belgian town of Poperinge. The figure dates back to the Middle Ages and symbolizes the competition in the cloth industry between the towns of Poperinge and Ypres. Master Ghybe mocks Ypres, Poperinge's main competitor.

St. John's Church was founded in the 13th century and is primarily known as a place of pilgrimage in honor of Our Lady of St. John. In 1479, through her intercession, a miracle occurred, which led to the annual Marian Procession. The white stone Calvary is a replica of the original wooden statues, which can now be seen in the winter chapel.