Roulers

Etymology

The name “Roulers” derives from two Germanic radicals: " roes" (snap ring) and " laar" (extent). Thus Roulers means: “extended from snap rings”.

History of the city

In 822, the name Roulers is known and as of the 10th century, there are already industry and trade. In 1250, the city obtains a charter and privileges.

Many historical buildings, for example a small castle (Belfort) and a big room of the sales in the place of the market (1260), disappeared following several catastrophes. With the Middle Ages, it was very difficult to defend the city because there was not, or very little, of fortifications.

Under Maximilien Ier the city was devastated by the Austrian army (in 1488 and 1492), then at the time of the religious wars by the fury iconoclast (on August 26th, 1566). During the war eighty year old, industry clothier, at one time flourishing, disappeared. Then, Roulers knew one period of poverty in spite of some local glories: in Venice, Adriaen Willaert (an inhabitant of Roulers) was the first type-setter of polyphonic music.

In 1609, a twelve years armistice brought back prosperity to Roulers until a new war burst in 1640. In consequence of the peace of Nimègue (1678), Roulers was attached to France and became a place border. It lived there much of smugglers, the city not having more public finances and thus, more money to repair the auction-room. The city was used as camp of fold for the armies anglo-Dutchwoman at the time of the successive battles of the War of succession of Spain (1704-1711) in the Netherlands. The small castle ends up collapsing fault of maintenance (on October 30th, 1704) and the tower while falling destroyed most of the auction-room. With the debris, one rebuilt some smaller, but who burned itself in 1749. The cellars of this building always exist under the place of the market. In spite of the catastrophes that Roulers knew, the Saint-Michel church remained in good state. However, the bell-tower collapsed on January 19th, 1735 by a strong storm: it was rebuilt. These three great catastrophes and the successive rebuildings make that the church offers today a juxtaposition of three styles. About 1770, the town hall of style of rococo was built.

After famous the Battle of Waterloo, the échut city with the Kingdom of the Netherlands until the independence of the Belgium in 1830. Independence, paradoxically, brought back poverty to Roulers, but the situation improved thanks to construction of the railway line Courtrai-Bruges (1838) and the invention of the steam engine. From 1862 to 1872, one dug the Canal Roulers-Lily, which instigated the local economy: along the channel, the construction of quays attracted the industrial activities with Roulers and made grow the population.

July 28th, 1875, a revolt of students, “De Groote Stooringe”, burst against the exclusive use of the French language in the Small Seminar of Roulers. This movement was claimed of Albrecht Rodenbach, writer who animated several associations of students. “De Groote Stooringe” has been for a few years a cultural festival with Roulers.

During the First World War, the city had suffered much from allied artillery. The city was rebuilt but it was not as soon as rebuilt that the Second world war burst; in fact, the city suffered relatively little from this war; the Poles released the city.

In the years 1960, one used the REO , market with vegetables and the fruits (this one is largest today of Flanders). The urban community of Roulers was formed in 1977 by the junction of Roulers, Beveren, Oekene and Rumbeke.

In the years 1976-1979, one built a new station with two tunnels which replace four level crossings. In the future, one wants to renew all the surroundings of the station to integrate the North of the city (the Krottegem district) into the center of the city. With the beginning of the year 1980, one changed circulation radically first once. Today, the municipality thinks of new measurements of safety concerning traffic control.

Monuments

the Small Seminar of Roulers, in the center of the city is a well-known institution thanks to the three historical leaders of the Flemish movement: Guido Gezelle, Hugo Verriest and Albrecht Rodenbach (the time of Napoleon). Constant Lievens, missionary Jésuite in India (apostle of Chotanagpur) there also studied.
the church Saint-Michel, the town hall,
the Castle of Rumbeke,
the brewery Rodenbach,
Museum of the bicycle and cycling,
Two academies of arts: S.A.S.K and Ardriaen Willaert,

Tourist bureau (Ooststraat)

Transport

modern Gare with the railroad Courtrai-Bruges
urban and regional Public transport (bus) organized well
Close to highway A17/E403 Turned/Courtrai-Bruges

(to 1 Brussels time and 30 minutes of Lille in France): three exits (6, 7 and 8)

Town of purchases (Quoted and commercial periphery)

Industry

Two important industrial parks (food, electro) (Roeselare/Roulers-Haven/Port = Channel Roulers-Lily, Northern Beveren-Noord/) Roeselare Expo

Media

Roularta Media Group, regional Wtv/X-ray television

Social activities and cultural

Much of schools of all the levels, but not of university
Arts center “De Spil”
Center of youth (Diezie), the gardens of recreation (Kerelsplein)
Much of unions and sociocultural activities
Two large hospitals (private and public direction)

Environment

Some public gardens: Rondekom, Kleine Basin, Grote Basin/Sint-Sebastiaanspark, Sterrebos, Kleiputten
Three rustic villages
Garden city (many districts with trees and flowers)

Sports activities

Football: KSV Roeselare, stage Schiervelde (the first national division)
Volley ball: Knack Roeselare, sports hall Schiervelde (the first national division)

Urban development program

One will carry out certain projects with short, in the medium or long term.

One wants to improve the road safety and attraction of the city. It is about the restoration of the surroundings of the station, town planning scheme in the center (site KBC near the place of the market) and work to the certain streets in the city and the periphery.

In short, more dwellings, carparks, stores, offices, showrooms, parks and less stoppers with the commercial streets.

An electronic system which announces the free carparks.

Bus lanes, new bus stops, new relations of bus (Krottegem, Schiervelde, Tielt) for a better public transport and good passages for the bicycles and the pedestrians.

A new academy of arts (S.A.S.K.) in the place Notre-Dame (Onze-Lieve-Vrouwemarkt) and a new library with a center of knowledge and instruction.

Extension of the social infrastructure (the town hall, Noord/Boro site).

A new convalescent home and a new reception center to the Zilverberg hamlet.

A new impressive hospital (Heilig-Binder) near highway A17/E403 (Oekene). The current medical center will become possibly a convalescent home because the number of the elderly increases quickly.

One studies the construction of a new room of the events (inter) national near highway A17/E403 (Oekene).

A wood of recreation for the children.

A ground for containers around the Channel Roulers-Lily.

A house of food (information center)

Flemish City-light

Museum (Albrecht) Rodenbach

…

Events and the folklore

the statue of Peegie (Botermarkt) is a little the mascot of the city and symbolizes the “mischievousness” and the commercial spirit of the inhabitants of Roulers.
Annual stock sale (of Batjes),
the Night one (of Winkelnacht),
the International Week (of International Week),
the Market of the week (Tuesday morning),
the Market of May 1st,
the Market of Pentecost (Sinksenmarkt),
the Market of Christmas (Kerstmarkt),
De Groote Stooringe (Cultural Festival of Flemish origin),
fairs/Village fairs (Kermissen),
Carnival,
Happenings of the commercial streets (Meensesteenweg, Westlaanpromenade),
the exhibition (of Jaarbeurs),
the entry of Saint Nicolas's Day (of Intrede van Sinterklaas)

External bonds

Official site of the city, only in Dutch except the tourist heading
Official site of the Small Seminar of Roulers, only in Dutch

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