Rebecq
Rebecq (in Dutch Roosbeek , in Walloon Ribek ) is a common French-speaking of Belgium located in Walloon region in the province of the the Walloon Brabant.
The inhabitants of Rebecq speak the French and, for this reason, belong to the French Communauté of Belgium. The Wallon is practiced more only in a marginal way, primarily by the oldest section of the population. With Bierghes, village bordering on the the Flemish Brabant, certain inhabitants is of expression Néerlandophone.
Rebecq is located at a score of km in the south-west of Brussels and belonged to a calm, green and undulating area of the the Walloon Brabant which one calls the Roman Feed.
The entity of Rebecq is made up, since the fusion of the communes in 1977, of the old following communes, henceforth called “sections”: Rebecq-Kidney, Quenast and Bierghes. On this occasion, part of the territory of Holy - of which the village of Wisbecq - was transferred to the section from Bierghes.
Rebecq has as communes bordering: Tubize (the Walloon Brabant), Braine-the-Count (Hainaut), Enghien (Hainaut) and Pepingen (the Flemish Brabant).
Geography
The commune of Rebecq is located at some 27km in the south-west of Brussels.
Rebecq belongs to a primarily rural area: 75% of surface consist of arable lands and 6% of forests, wooded grounds and other natural zones. Some 19% of the surface are developed sites (residential, industrial and commercial confused).
The landscape, green and undulating, is strewn with Terrils, appelés" buts" , which forms wooded hills. To also note the presence of careers of porphyry (Quenast and Bierghes) who, by their extent, mark the landscape rebecquois also deeply.
The commune of Rebecq is crossed by the Senne, a river which takes its source with Naast (Soignies) and which is thrown in the the Scheldt after a course of a hundred kilometers through the three areas of the country. Rebecq thus forms part of the hydrographic under-basin of the Senne, itself left the catchment area of the the Scheldt. The Senne enters on the territory rebecquois on the level of the Mill of Hou (Rognon), curves in the very beautiful Valley of the Birds, crosses the village of Rebecq while passing by the falls of the site of the Mills of Arenberg, continues then to the village of Quenast to arise and set out again towards Tubize.
The entity of Rebecq is cut in its medium by the highway A8, which bears also the name of European road E429. Along this highway also the line TGV runs which connects Brussels to Paris (Thalys) and to London (Eurostar). These two axes of communication form a clear break which separates in a rather drastic way Bierghes and Wisbecq of the remainder from the entity (Rebecq, Quenast and Rognon).
It is also crossed by two principal Belgian road axes: the trunk road N7 of Hal to Turned and the trunk road N6 of Brussels to Mons.
History
Located along the course of the Seine, to 27 km of Brussels, Rebecq is a piece of rich countryside brabançonne of a long past.
The village of Rebecq returns indeed in the history at the beginning of the 9th century, more precisely on July 9th, 877, dates being reproduced on a diploma signed with the hand of Charles the Bald person.
However, the characters impossible to circumvent of the history of this village are without question the lords of Trazegnies as those of Enghien which held their feudal court to with it at the 11th century. For a long time, the Principality of Rebecq remains thus among the possessions brabançonnes lords of Enghien.
As from the 17th century, it is the family of Arenberg which acquires of the Principality of Rebecq, including the mills, pride of the entity.
In 1824, the commune of Rognon amalgamates with Rebecq, larger, more populated commune and more rich person in whom Rognon was so to speak wedged. Rebecq is called consequently Rebecq-Kidney.
At the 19th century, the Solvay family also marks her print the history of the village, in particular Ernest Solvay, creator of a process to the Ammoniac which allows the industrial production of the Sodium carbonate, known method since then under the name of Procédé Solvay. With his/her Alfred brother, Ernest Solvay thus will provide the foundations of what was going to become an empire of industrial chemistry, the company Solvay. The native house of the Frères Solvay always exists in Rebecq.
These great names of the history left all of important testimonys in the villages of the entity.
Later, in 1977, the fusion of the communes gives rise to the entity of Rebecq by including the villages of Quenast and Bierghes. On this occasion, part of Holy - of which the village of Wisbecq - is also attached to Rebecq-Kidney which finds also its original name, namely Rebecq.
Twinning
Rebecq is twinned with.
It is indeed of this small village that many Italian workers left between 1946 and 1955 to come to live and work with Quenast, a small village close to Rebecq where existed porphyry careers.
Inheritance and tourism
Mills of Arenberg
The mechanical energy produced by the falls of the Seine, in the center of Rebecq, was exploited by the means of water mills since the Moyen-âge for the grinding of cereals.
The architectural whole of the mills, composed of the large mill and the small mill, was repurchased in 1973 by the commune of Rebecq to save these monuments of industrial archeology and to make a muséal unit of it.
the large mill
Located on left bank of the river, the " grand" mill has existed for at least six hundred years. One finds on a parchment gone back to 1441 the mention of " mill to grind the grain of Rebecq". This Moulin belonged to the prerogative of the Lords of Enghien and was governed by the system of the banality. One shouted organized every six years determined the terms of the lease which the miller subscribed near the Lord. The grounds of Enghien - of which Rebecq formed part - were repurchased by the Maison of Arenberg in 1606.
In 1756, the miller of the time, Jean-François Wijvekens, asked for to the Duke of Arenberg reigning the authorization of build on Right Bank a second mill. The Duke reached his request and paid itself the construction of the building.
After the French revolution, the nobility having lost its privileges, the Duke of Arenberg put the mills of Rebecq in hiring. The large mill was destroyed by a fire in 1853. After his rebuilding which lasted at least seven years, the miller tenant of the moment arrived in end of a career and did not have a descent to continue the business. The Duke of Arenberg put then the mills on sale and Valentine-Joseph Mines, farm owner of Rebecq, bought them and placed one of its sons at their management.
In 1860, the large mill counted two paddle wheels 7,5 m in diameter as three pairs of Meule S. the lifting of the valves made it possible to actuate the interior mechanism. This mill with always used to grind barley and rye.
Towards the end of the 19th century, one installed an artificial silk factory there to replace the grinding stones. For stage with the lack of water in period of low water level, it was placed a steam engine and the chimney which is still drawn up on the site testifies to this time. The manufacture of artificial silk was success only little time and one stopped the production of it about 1910. The mill was used then as warehouse with grain and the cereal crushing intended for the animal feed. It remained in activity until 1964.
The large mill includes/understands today the room of the wheels which shelters the tourist office of Rebecq, the museum of the Porphyry - which testifies to last and this industrialist of a whole area - like three stages accommodating, throughout the year, of the exposures and other cultural events. On the side, one finds there also the library communal and the tavern of the large mill which makes it possible to taste local artisanal beers of the Brasserie Lefebvre.
the museum of Porphyry
Old photographs, journals, various Paved, tools, objects and even a truck testify, with the museum Porphyry, history of the careers (Quenast, Bierghes) before mechanization. In complement, a video film shows the exploitation and the uses current of the porphyry.
the small mill
Built in 1756, the small mill functioned thanks to a bucket wheel which was replaced by a turbine with water in 1925. It was set up to grind wheat, the installations of the large mill not allowing the grinding of this cereal. Initially, this Moulin included/understood two pairs of grinding stones and one added two others of them to him towards the end of the 19th century.
In the small mill, one can attend demonstrations of old flour-milling. Its impressive machinery, actuated by the Seine and always in activity, is arranged so as to show the stages of transformation of the grain into flour.
The appendices of the small mill include/understand old renovated stables, in buildings of the 19th century. One of these appendices shelters recently the House of the Bière. It is possible there to discover the mysteries of the manufacture of this famous beverage and, according to its tastes, to impregnate savors of local beers.
Old people's homes of Rebecq
These buildings are located in edge of Senne, opposite the mills of Arenberg.
Founded about 1302 by Marie de Rethel, lady of Enghien and widow of Walter Ier (lord of Enghien and prince de Rebecq), they comprise constructions of the 16th century, a remarkable furniture as well as a Gothic vault in tertiary of any beauty.
The vault was, for a long time, the goal of a Pèlerinage with holy Erasme for the cure of the intestinal affections. A table represents the martyrdom of Erasme Saint who is one of these saints whose legend and certainly historicity are not clearly established.
Unfortunately, most of the buildings of the site of the old Old people's homes was destroyed by a fire in 2003. Since, the site is on standby of a restoration and a reassignment of the places. It is registered on the list of safeguard of the Walloon inheritance since April 2006.
The Town square and its neighborhoods
Around the Town square, the visitor will admire the many houses whose majority of the frontages are classified. The communal House , located on the top of the place, on the left of the church, was built in 1938.
It is in the park of the communal Maison that was set up, in 1938, the Monument with the memory of Ernest and Alfred Solvay , creators of the Procédé Solvay and the industry of soda to the Ammoniaque. It should indeed be known that the Frères Solvay were born in a middle-class family from Rebecq in 1st half of the 19th century.
The Native house of the Frères Solvay is classified. It is located not far from the Town square, with number 8 of the street of the Salt makers. The name of " Sauniers" evoke the profession of the Solvay parents who were salt merchants.
The Saint-Gery church
With two steps of the communal House, draws up the néo-Romance church Saint-Gery, much larger than the churches of the surroundings (the tower culminates to 56 m).
It was built in 1867 by the provincial architect Emile Coulon to replace the old religious building which was located at the center of the place. This last dating from the 16th century was not enough any more broad to accommodate all the faithful ones.
Inside, the total restoration of paintings of the walls and the colonnades was carried out with much taste and gives again with the building, by these lines, drawings and original colors, its aspect suitable for the 19th century. With the ceiling, one can admire the frescos of the painter Charles-Henri Stiennon illustrating the apocalypse. A statue of Saint-Gery - called upon against the foot-and-mouth disease - in Granite (1467), a furnace bridge in white Marble (1601) and Baptismal font (1599) supplement this inheritance.
The Small Train of Happiness
Since 1977, the " Rail Rebecq R.R.R." Kidney; exploit a line of tourist Railroad with vapor, which connects the old station of Rebecq to the halt of Rognon.
This layout corresponds in fact to the old line 115 which was exploited in its totality between Braine-l' Alleud and Braine-the-Count. Closed down in 1961, this line is dismounted in 1964, except for the section ranging between Tubize and Quenast (goods traffic towards the Career of Quenast). It is as from this moment that is born the idea from a tourist Railroad on the part deprived of its rails between Rebecq and Rognon. The R.R.R. had been born.
Today, the RRR rolls in fact on two different lines: line 115 initially and then line 123 for the last 500 m before arriving at Kidney.
Passing along the Seine by the beautiful valley of the Birds, crossing the Five-Bridges, the line - long 7 kilometers - crosses an undulating, typical area of the the Walloon Brabant. It offers in the passing beautiful sights on the meanders of the Senne and on the surrounding countryside.
This walk is the occasion to discover a place full with charm and romanticism, very snuffed by in love ones which are in the beginning even name of " Small Train of Bonheur".
The departure of the train is done at the station of Rebecq and the circuit lasts approximately 1 hour. On certain dates departures of trains with topic are even organized.
Other centers of interest in the entity
Events
Rebecq Ladies Trophy
Each year, in August, proceeds, in the installations of Tennisland de Rebecq, the tennis tournament Rebecq Ladies Trophy .
This test represents an important female tennistic demonstration in Belgium, since it is one of the rare tests Belgian of the world professional circuit with attribution of points W.T.A.
Each year, since its creation, the test accommodates more than one hundred of players coming of more than twenty country. Many players having taken part in LADIES TROPHY of Rebecq thus could take seat in signal 100 world.
Musical meetings of Summer
Each year, in August, the Festival Arenberg proposes its Musical Rencontres of Summer within the framework of the Large Mill.
The program selected and presented by artists of value, preferentially Belgians or residing in Belgium, aims with the passing of years at emphasizing various facets of the musical art, primarily in the field of the traditional one, the jazz and the musics of the world.
Within the framework of the Large Mill, pride of Rebecq, this event touches a public of accustomed and a new public each time. It allows accustomed concerts to hear, close to on their premises, a repertory varied with very an artistic high level. At the conclusion of each concert, a reception makes it possible to meet the artists musicians.
The concerts of Sunday morning aim at a family public, and are more particularly accessible to the children in order to familiarize them with various musical expressions.
Festivals and folklore
Carnival
The Carnaval of Rebecq takes place second Sunday before Easter. The procession leaves towards 15:00 Quenast to arrive on the Town square of Rebecq towards 20:00. A burning of the bumps follows then.
Annual stock sale and secondhand trade
Large a Annual stock sale/Brocante is held the last weekend of June in the main street and on the Town square, spaces made pedestrian for the occasion.
Festivals of Wallonia
The Fêtes of Wallonia are an significant event of the entity of Rebecq. They extend over the first 3 weeks from September.
Each village of the entity in turn proposes its day or its weekend of festivities. Among emblématiques, let us quote the harvest festival with Wisbecq or Rognon celebrates it Saw with Rognon.
The Fêtes of Wallonia are enclosed in beauty in the center of Rebecq the 3rd weekend of September. Free concerts, secondhand trade/annual stock sale, village fair, exposures, stands of tasting of products of the soil, demonstrations of local folklore follow one another during the two days.
Artists living Rebecq
-
Wilfred Burie, Painter
- Fred Audrit, artist plastics technician, screener
- Frederic Kruczynski, Sculptor and professor
Economy
The economic main activities of the entity are primarily in the wholesale and of detail, manufacturing industry and the construction industry. The mining is also present because of the careers of Quenast and Bierghes.
On the level of the average revenue per tax declaration and commune, Rebecq shares the unhappy privilege - with Tubize and Hélécine - to post less the good performance of the province of the the Walloon Brabant.
Policy
College échevinal 2006-2012
! Name!! Political party!! Function!! In load of!! Competences |- |Dimitri Legasse||Communal action|| Burgomaster || Budget, Tallies of life and Bien-être || Town and country planning, mobility, town planning, environment, river, agriculture, public cleanliness, maintenance and embellishment of public spaces |----- |Marino Marchetti||Communal action|| 1 {{er}} Alderman || Civil statue, Trade, Inheritance and Tourism || Population, ceremonies, craft industry, fairs & markets, seniors, folklore, associations patriotic and cemeteries |- |Leon Kyquemberg||Communal action|| Alderman || Industry and Road works || Less valid people, repair of the roads, draining and great subsidized work |----- |Jean-Paul Denimal||Communal action|| Alderman || Sports and Finances || Leisures, infrastructures of district and general administration |- |Patricia Venturelli||Communal action|| Échevine || Teaching and Childhood || Twinning, reception out-of-school, equal opportunity, prevention, integration of the people of foreign origins and solidarity North-South |----- |Giovanna Ghisu-Canu||Communal action|| Échevine || Culture and Youth || Arts center, library, museums and new technologies |- |Gilbert Legasse||Communal action|| Alderman || Presidency of the CPAS, Employment and Housing || Local agency for employment and early childhood |}
Political scene
Three political trainings (alphabetically) active and are represented at the Town council:
-
communal Action (AC)
- ECOLOGIST Rebecq (ECOLOGIST)
- communal Agreement (EC)
External bonds
- Official site of the commune
- Maison of tourism of the Novel Feed: Rebecq
- Twinning of Monghidoro (Italy) and Rebecq
- Presentation of the tourist inheritance of Rebecq
| Random links: | Technical university of Graz | Hutting | Ghislain Dufour | Cruel Goodbye World | Jean-Christophe Bailly |