Thuin

Thuin (in Walloon Twin ) is a French-speaking city of Belgium located in Walloon region, chief town of district in Province of Hainaut, on the Sambre.

Thuin is next to the communes of Beaumont, Fountain-the Bishop, Ham-on-Hour-Nalinnes, Lobbes, Merbes-the-Castle, Montigny-the-Lime and Walcourt. Thuin is the heart of the Thudinie and is one of the chief towns of district of the province of Hainaut.

Etymology

Perhaps the name of Thuin would find its origin in the Latin name Theodinium castrum meaning “Fortress of Theodo”. Another assumption makes go up the name with the Celtic words you , inhabited, and duno or dino , strengthened place, fortress.

Armorial bearings

Since 1838, the Blasonnement of the weapons of the east city: of azure, with a money lion, armed and lampassé of mouths, the ecu charged with money billets. In the past, it was: of azure, with a gold lion, armed and lampassé in the same way.

Situation and characteristics

Capital of the area which surrounds it (the Thudinie), this city occupies a very pretty site with the confluence of the Sambre and Biesmelle. It is also a capital of the Batellerie since good number of owners of barges of it are originating and that they choose this place of stay when sounds the hour of the retirement. Thuin is staged on several plates and several valleys.

Its Belfry (1638) figure with the world heritage of UNESCO. In the church Notre-Dame of el Vaulx is preserved a statue of the 12th century in oak, appearing a Sedes Sapientiae (Notre-Dame of Wisdom) whose style combines the influences mosanes and scaldiennes.

It is also on the territory of the entity, with Gozée, that are the ruins of the Abbaye of Alder.

Thuin is also the seat of the international cynologic Fédération.

Transportation routes

Without being an important node of communication, Thuin can be rejoined using good number of means of transport.

By water way

The Sambre , channeled with the gauge 38,50 m since 1824, crosses the city by offering very pretty landscapes since its valley. Four locks (n° 5,6,7 and 8) are located on the territory of the commune. Possibilities of sailing between Thuin and the abbey of Alder with the passage of the locks in order to discover the richnesses of High Sambre.

By rail

The city has a station (Thuin, in the past Thuin-North) on the line 130A (Charleroi - Erquelinnes) and is well served by these means of transport. Here little time still, before the appearance of the Thalys, this line was used for the railway relations between Paris, the industrial Sillon and the Germany of North.

Until the medium of the Years 1960, the city also had another station (Thuin-West) which was served by line 109 (Charleroi - Chimay). The trains of this line borrowed, at the beginning of Charleroi, the line 130A, did not stop in Thuin-North, continued towards Lobbes - where they stopped - and retrogressed to stop in Thuin-West and to borrow the exclusive right of way of line 109, site which is not today any more in exploitation. Another line crossing this station made it possible to rejoin Mons directly, whereas today a turning by Charleroi is necessary.

By rail local (tram)

Thuin has a tourist tram which joined Lobbes. Moreover, a museum of the tram is established on the site of the old station of the west, close to the terminus of the low city. This narrow gauge railway is one of the ultimate remainders of the Vicinal which formerly covered all Belgium. Two lines of tram had their terminus in the place of City-Low:
  • line 92 (Charleroi Eden - Marchienne - Fountain-the Bishop - Anderlues - Junction - Lobbes-Bonniers - Lobbes - Thuin);
  • the line 91 which borrowed the same course but only starting from Anderlues.

The tourist tram is managed by the ASBL Asvi (Association for the Safeguard of Local).

By road way

Thuin is on the main road 59 (Seneffe - Gozée), which joined in Gozée main road 53 connecting Charleroi to Chimay.

Outstanding historical facts

Possession of the Principality of Liege since 888, of which it became one of the 23 Bonnes Cities , the city followed the destiny of this principality throughout its history.

Located at the limits of the Principality, the city was subjected to many seats.

In 1048, Adalbert of Lorraine was killed there by Godefroy II of Low-Lotharingie, at the time of the battle of Thuin.

The counts de Hainaut seize some in 1053, 1298 and 1408. In 1654, the Spanish troops, under the orders of prince de Condé, undertake the seat of the city but without being able to concretize. Better, the inhabitants of the city seize a gun, the Spantole , which throne always in the city and which gave its name to a speciality pâtissière.

Since this date 1654, every years, inevitably third Sunday of May, is held there a procession which rather took the form of a military march in the honor of Saint Roch. Among all the uniforms which are used by the participants, they are the uniforms of the soldiers of the First Empire who are used.

In 1675, the French troops occupy the city until the peace of Nimègue (1678). May 10th, 1794, the troops of the Marceau general seized the city.

Very violent ones engagements were held there the August 23rd 1914 (Bataille of Charleroi) when the 5th French army failed to be made encircle by armed Anger, IIe and German IIIe .

The French regiments which, the August 23rd 1914, fought on the territory of the commune are the 12th IH (Tarbes), the 18th IH (Pau), 34e IH (Mount-with-Marsan), 49e IH (Bayonne) and 144e IH (Bordeaux).

In front of the extent of the French losses, the chief of the 5th army, the general Lanrezac took the initiative - while disobeying the généralissime Joffre - to make move back his troops. This disobedience was probably one of the reasons of the victory of the Marne which took place later a few weeks.

Policy

Burgomasters and coalitions who directed Thuin:

Before the fusion of the communes

Since the fusion of the communes



















Twinnings

See also: Twinning of the common Belgians

Personalities

External bonds

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