Werken

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This article is about the village in Belgium for the Mapuche title see: Werkén

Werken is a a little village in Kortemark, a part of Belgium. werken is at the frontier between houtland (woodlands) and the polders. the handsame vaart runs by it on which in ancient times water transports where done. Werken first appears in writting under the name of Werekundia and was a garnison cite for the counts of Flanders in early history. Werken has a few remarkable sites the hoge andjoen (the high onion)is a mote (artificiel fortified hill) from between the fourth and the ninth century. St.maartens Kerk, one of the first churches in the area, the original church made of wood dates from the 8th century the current building and was rebuilt on several occasions in history. the pressent building was rebuilt after the first world war of 1918 in its original Roman style. arround the church lies a very beautifull graveyard surronuding the church. with an ommehang. we also have the marktplaats with an original "roepsteen (calling stone) and the statue of Christ. Werken greatest pride is of course the steenstraat that dates from the Roman period (70 bc300 ad)on which, as says legend Jullius Ceasar passed by with his troops, quite impossible since it was Julius ceasar that conquered our territories. futhermore is there a tottaly renovated wooden windmill that works in the summertime (the steentraete molen) and a Roman money treasure dating from the mid 2nd 3rd century, (unforunately this money treasure is on permanent loan in another museum) .other important excavations have been done, but non of before our common era. Werken is defenately worth the 1 hour stop, and in the summer one might visit the small local archeological museum, the windmill and have a nice belgian drink oerbier or hapkin, both locally brewed beers from neigbouring villages. with some remarkable corners in the landscape.

See also: West Flanders

External links

• Werken @ City Review