Ronse Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Ronse

Flag	Coat of arms

Ronse

Location in Belgium

Country

Flemish Community

Arrondissement

Oudenaarde

Area

• Total

34.48 km² (13.31 sq mi)

Population

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• Total

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Postal codes

9600

Area codes

055

Website

www.ronse.be

Ronse (pronounced like 'ron-suh' in Dutch) is a city in Belgium. It is located in the East Flanders province, which is part of the Flemish Region. The city of Ronse is the only part of its municipality.

History of Ronse
Sights to See in Ronse
Fun Festivities in Ronse
Sports in Ronse
Famous People Born in Ronse
Industry in Ronse
Twin Cities
Images for kids
See also

History of Ronse

From Early Settlements to the 14th Century

People have lived in the hills around Ronse for a very long time, even during the Paleolithic (Old Stone Age). Later, in the Neolithic (New Stone Age), farmers and people who raised cattle settled here. We also know that people lived here during Roman times from old building pieces found.

The city of Ronse started to grow around the 7th century. This was when Saint Amand built a church and a monastery. In the 9th century, Ronse and its monastery were given to the Inde Monastery near Aachen. Around this time, the relics (special remains) of Saint Hermes arrived in Ronse.

During these early times, Viking attacks were a problem. The monks had to leave Ronse more than once. The monastery was even burned down by the Normans in 880. The relics were found again in 940. They were placed in a Romanesque-style crypt (an underground room) in 1083. The church of Saint Hermes was built on top of this crypt and officially opened in 1129.

A special journey, called a pilgrimage, was made to honor Saint Hermes. People believed he could cure mental illnesses. This pilgrimage helped the local economy. In 1240, the Lord of Ronse gave the town all the rights of a city. A few years later, the economy was doing very well. The Inde Monastery then sold all its belongings in Ronse.

Until the French Revolution, Ronse had a special area called the Ronse Franchise. This area was managed by the religious leaders of Saint Hermes. It had its own laws and taxes, completely separate from the main town.

Ronse in the Renaissance and Old Regime

On March 26, 1478, French soldiers attacked and burned Ronse. But the city quickly recovered. This was thanks to its growing economy, which was based on making and preparing linen cloth. By the mid-16th century, Ronse became an important center for Calvinism in the Spanish Netherlands (which is now Belgium).

However, religious problems in that century caused many weavers and fullers (people who clean and thicken cloth) to leave. They found new homes in Holland, England, and Germany. A big fire on July 21, 1559, destroyed the city again.

In the early 17th century, Ronse started to rebuild during a more peaceful time. This was when the archdukes Ferdinand and Isabella ruled. During this period, one of the most beautiful castles in the Southern Netherlands was built. It was for John VIII of Nassau-Siegen, who became the baron of Ronse in 1629. This castle was later taken down in 1823.

The Bubonic plague in 1635–1636 almost emptied the city. Even though the King of Spain did not want it, Ronse was part of France from 1680 to 1700. Later, during the Austrian period, another huge fire on March 31, 1719, burned most of the city to ashes. But the people of Ronse worked hard. The city became strong again, with its trade and businesses still focused on the textile industry.

Ronse After the French Revolution

The Fleurus Victory on June 26, 1794, allowed France to take over Belgium. Ronse lost many of its properties and soon faced money problems. In 1796, the old city government was replaced with a new municipality. French laws were used until Belgium joined the Netherlands in 1815.

In 1798, a conflict called the "farmers' war" happened. This was a reaction to France forcing people to join the army. Many people died. In 1799, Ronse had about 10,000 people, but one-third of them were very poor.

By 1840, in the new Kingdom of Belgium, more than 55% of Ronse's people worked in the textile industry. But a few years later, new machines caused a big economic problem. Many people left Ronse to work in textile factories in Northern France or to do farm work in other areas.

From the 1870s, Ronse's textile industry grew well. It slowed down during World War I but then picked up again. However, after World War II, especially in the 1960s, this industry started to decline. Today, Ronse is mostly a center for shopping and a place for tourists to visit.

Sights to See in Ronse

The basilica of Saint Hermes is famous for its 13th-century Romanesque crypt. This is an old underground room.
You can visit a folklore museum and a textile museum.
The city's railway station is one of the oldest in Europe.
There is an Art Nouveau house called the Villa Carpentier. It was built by Victor Horta.
The hills around Ronse offer great views of the city.

Fun Festivities in Ronse

The "Bommels" fest happens in January. It is the first carnival of the year in Belgium. This festival has been celebrated since the Middle Ages.
The "Fiertel" also dates back to the Middle Ages. It takes place on Trinity Sunday. During this event, the reliquary (a container for relics) of Saint Hermes is carried around the city. This procession is 32 kilometers long. Thousands of walkers and cyclists join in to cheer.

Sports in Ronse

The GP Mario De Clercq is a cyclo-cross competition held in October.
The Tour of Flanders, a famous road cycling race, passes through Ronse every year. It includes hills like the Oude Kruisberg and, since 2014, the Kanarieberg.
Ronse was once home to the football club K.S.K. Ronse.