Tielt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tielt
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Belfry of Tielt and town hall
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 Tielt
Location in Belgium
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| Country | Belgium | ||
| Community | Flemish Community | ||
| Region | Flemish Region | ||
| Province | West Flanders | ||
| Arrondissement | Tielt | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 68.50 km2 (26.45 sq mi) | ||
| Population
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| • Total | Lua error in Module:Wd at line 1,575: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | ||
| Postal codes |
8700
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| Area codes | 051 | ||
| Website | www.tielt.be | ||
Tielt is a city and a group of villages in Belgium. It is located in the West Flanders province. The name Tielt is pronounced "tilt" in Dutch.
The municipality of Tielt includes the main town of Tielt. It also has the smaller villages of Aarsele, Kanegem, and Schuiferskapelle.
Contents
History of Tielt
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People have lived in the Tielt area for a very long time. We know this because some signs of Gallo-Roman life have been found here. The Gallo-Romans were a mix of ancient Gauls and Romans.
In the year 880 AD, a Viking leader named Rikiwulf came to the area. He built a settlement called Rikiwulfinga-haim. Today, this place is known as Rijkegem-kouter.
Early Mentions and City Rights
The first time Tielt was written about was in 1105. A bishop named Baldric of Noyon gave the right to choose the local church leader to a group in Harelbeke.
In 1245, Margaret of Constantinople gave Tielt its city rights. This meant Tielt could govern itself more. She also decided to build a hospital in the city. Soon after, a market square and a special building for cloth trading were built.
Tielt became part of the Kortrijk region in Flanders. In the 1200s and 1300s, many cities in Flanders made money from making cloth. The areas outside the cities mostly grew food.
Growth and Challenges
In 1393, Philip the Bold, a powerful duke, decided that Tielt would hold a big yearly fair. This helped Tielt become a very busy center for making flax products. Flax is a plant used to make linen cloth. This industry was very important until the late 1500s.
However, the next few years were tough for Tielt. The city had two big fires. It also suffered from several sicknesses, including the Bubonic plague. At the end of the 1600s, Tielt also faced a serious time of hunger.
From about 1700 until 1830, Tielt grew strong again. This time, it was a center for building houses and other structures. The year 1830 was when Belgium became an independent country.
Tielt in Modern Times
During World War I, Tielt was an important place for the German army. It was their main base in the area.
The bombings in World War II caused much more damage. Most of the city center had to be rebuilt.
Today, Tielt is a typical town in the province. It offers shops, medical care, and schools for the people living nearby.
Tielt's Economy
Tielt has several important businesses.
Key Industries
- Seyntex: This company makes different kinds of textiles, which are fabrics and cloths.
- Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials: This company works with special materials.
- Balta Tielt: This company is known for making carpets.
Media and Publishing
- Lannoo: This is a large group that publishes books and other materials.
Places to See in Tielt
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- The Belfry (Hallentoren): This is a tall bell tower. It is part of the Cloth Hall and the Aldermen's Chamber. These buildings are so special that UNESCO has named them a World Heritage Site. This means they are important for everyone in the world to protect. They show amazing architecture from the Middle Ages and later times.
- Churches: Tielt has some interesting churches, like Saint-Peter's Church.
- Walking and Biking Paths: You can explore the area around Tielt on many paths. You might even see some old windmills still standing in the countryside.
Fun Events in Tielt
Every year, on the first weekend of July, Tielt celebrates the Europafeesten. This means "Feast of Europe."
During this festival, there is a big street sale called a braderie. You can also enjoy street theater and a blues music festival. There are fireworks and many outdoor cafes where people can have fun.
Famous People from Tielt
Many interesting people were born in Tielt:
- Olivier Le Daim: He was a barber and helper to a king in the 1400s.
- Josse Ravesteyn: He was a religious scholar in the 1500s.
- Godfried Danneels: He was a very high-ranking leader in the Roman Catholic Church.
- Briek Schotte: He was a famous cyclist who won the World Champion title two times.
- Gianni Meersman: He is a professional road racing cyclist.
- Enzo Ide: He is a racing car driver.
- Kurt Martens: He is a professor and an expert in church law.
Tielt's Sister Cities
Tielt has special friendships with other cities around the world. These are called "twin towns" or "sister cities."
See also
In Spanish: Tielt para niños
