Wervik

Infobox Belgium Municipality
name=Wervik
picture=
picture-



map-

arms=Schild Wervik.jpg

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region=BE-REG-FLE
community=BE-NL
province=BE-PROV-WV
arrondissement=Ypres
nis=33029
pyramid-date=
0-19=
20-64=
65=
foreigners=
foreigners-date=
mayor= Johnny Goos (sp.a)
majority= sp.a, CD&V
postal-codes=8940
telephone-area=056
web= [http://www.wervik.be/ www.wervik.be]
lat_deg=50
lat_min=47
lon_deg=03
lon_min=02

Wervik is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Wervik and the town of Geluwe. On January 1 2006 Wervik had a total population of 17,607. The total area is 43.61 km² which gives a population density of 404 inhabitants per km². The area is famous for its excellent tobacco and has a tobacco museum. The town is separated from its French counterpart Wervicq-Sud by the river Lys.

History

Wervik has a history that dates back to the Roman era. According to popular belief, a small temple dedicated to Mars was built on what nowadays is called Saint Maarten's Square (St-Maartensplein in Dutch). In the Middle Ages Wervik was an important centre for textiles. After the cities of Ypres, Bruges and Ghent began to decline in importance, Wervik became more prominent. In 1382 the city was destroyed and slowly lost its influence. In the war between the Seventeen Provinces and Spain, the whole village was set on fire and the population fled. In 1713 the town was split in the Northern part, which kept its original name under the Austrians and now lies in Belgium, and the Southern part, which became Wervicq-Sud under French control and now lies in France.

ights

St-Medardus church

The Saint-Medardus church is an massive gothic church.

National tobacco museum

The region of Wervik is know for its tobacco farms.

Famous people who were born in Wervik

*Yves Leterme, Prime Minister of Belgium
*Wim Delvoye, artist
*Ronny Coutteure, actor
*Joseph Demuysere, cyclist, winner of Milan-Sanremo

External links

* [http://www.wervik.be Official website (in Dutch)]