Strépy-Bracquegnies

Strépy-Bracquegnies (in Walloon Sterpi-Bracgnere ) is a section of the Belgian city of Louvière, located in Wallonia in the Province of Hainaut.

It was a common to whole share before the fusion of the communes of 1977.

It is gathered with Boussoit, Hatred-Saint-Paul, Hatred-Saint-Pierre, Houdeng-Aimeries, Houdeng-Gœgnies, Louvière, Maurage, Saint-Vaast, Trivières, Besonrieux in the town of Louvière.

District: Soignies.
Altitude: between 60 and 158 meters.
Wide: 770 hectares.
Population: 8.231 in 1969.
zip code: 7110 .
the locality is crossed by Hatred, Thiriau of the Luc and the Channel of the Center.

Etymology

The name of Strépy-Bracquegnies finds its origin in the Latin names of Stirpiacus and Bracinius respectively meaning the field of Stirpius and the grounds of Braccinius . It should however be known that the locality was first of all called Strépy and that it is only at the end of the 18th century that the Bracquegnies denomination came to associate with this first name.

History

Strépy-Bracquegnies is a village whose origin goes back to the paleolithic one. The archeologists moreover discovered flint mines there proving the occupation of Strépy lasting prehistory and more particularly during the Neolithic era. A Roman villa of IIe century was also updated like its necropolis. But most interesting discovered is surely that of a cemetery mérovingien of 120 tombs. These many discoveries attest the presence continues tribes on the ground of Strépy. In a strengthened farm having occupied the site of the above mentioned Roman villa, Strépy sees being born Vincent Madelgaire. This one will found the most known family of Hainaut by marrying Waudru. Indeed, after having raised their children it will turn to a religious life, respectively to found the towns of Soignies and Mons, to be canonized and become the protective Saints of these two cities. During the Middle Ages the village was first of all a liege stronghold of Belœil and thus possession of the Count de Namur from the feudal point of view but in fact it depended on the sovereignty of the County of Hainaut. Bought (beginning 12th century - end 13th century) by a family which later in taken the name, Strépy passed in stronghold to the families Condé, Boulenghien (towards 1362), of Line (end 15th century), Ruffaut, of the Cross, Chastel for finally falling to Rodoan which preserved its grounds until the end of the old mode. In addition to the principal seigniory, there existed four other seigniories: the seigniory of Sotteville (joined together in Strépy in 1635) and three land seigniories held by abbeys of Aywière in the Brabant, of Hautmont (France) and finally of Saint-Feuillien to Rœulx. After 1789, Strépy will develop and include the hamlet of Braquegnies. At this point in time this commune will enter one era of great prosperity thanks to the exploitation of the richnesses of its basement.

Economy

With the Middle Ages Strépy drew primarily its richnesses from agriculture and the breeding. and although one there found and exploited pit coal as of the 14th century it is really only starting from 1715 that this exploitation of the coal became organized.

At the 19th century, the dynamism insufflated by bubbling the ideas of modern times and the industrial era, the presence of a rich and abundant energy source, will start the creation and the construction of an industrial unit which will reach a degree of prosperity which will end only at the time of the crisis of coal in 1958.

Fortunately of new companies were established on its territory. Moreover, one new form of tourism developed there from the presence of the famous channel of the Center major work of the industrial inheritance of the area which is registered besides on the Liste of the world heritage of UNESCO but also of that of new the funicular Ascenseur of Strépy-Thieu which is a floret of civil engineering.

One can consequently say that the quality of the knowledge to make and the will to create and build philosopher's stones are well embodied by the presence of these old and modern works côtoyant itself on the territory of Strépy-Bracquegnies. Indeed, those from their influence on tourism, the necessary use of the new river transportation routes to unchoke the road traffic and especially from the attraction which they will be able to exploit various economic sectors constitute a real hope for the future of the area.

External bonds

Site of the commune of Louvière

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