Ittre
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Ittre | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 |
|||
|
|||
 |
|||
| Sovereign state | .svg){kind=small} Belgium |
||
| Region |  Wallonia |
||
| Community | French Community |
||
| Province |  Walloon Brabant |
||
| Arrondissement | Nivelles | ||
| Coordinates | Coordinates: | ||
| Area | 34.92 km² | ||
| Population – Males – Females - Density |
6,064 (January 1, 2006) 48.73% 51.27% 174 inhab./km² |
||
| Unemployment rate | 11.39% (January 1, 2006) | ||
| Mean annual income | 14,478 €/pers. (2003) | ||
| Mayor | Axel François(Ittre Plus) | ||
| Governing parties | Ittre Plus, Participation et Alternative, Ecolo | ||
| Postal codes | 1460, 1461 | ||
| Area codes | 067 | ||
| Website | www.ittre.be | ||
Ittre (Dutch : Itter) is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Walloon Brabant. On January 1, 2006 Ittre had a total population of 6,064. The total area is 34.92 km² which gives a population density of 174 inhabitants per km². Ittre was the geographical center of Belgium until World War I.
[edit] History
The traditions mention the existence of the village of Ittre about the year 640. The first document quoting the name goes back to 877. But the village was already occupied in the Roman period and even in the Neolithic era. Its territory, after having belonged to the Chapter of Nivelles, was divided into several seigniories, Ittre and Fauquez being the most significant. Quickly, the lords entered in conflict over the jurisdiction, sovereignty and precedence in the seigniory and the church of Ittre. These secular quarrels ended only at the beginning of the 18th century. Among the most significant families in the seigniory of Ittre, let us quote the Houses of Ittre, Rifflart and Trazegnies d' Ittre. For Fauquez, let us note the families of Ittre, Enghien, Fauquez and Herzelles. Fauquez and Ittre reached respectively the rank of marquisat in 1689 and 1703. The commune knew famous characters, such as Ambroise-Joseph de Herzelles, third marquis de Fauquez, appointed by the Empress Marie-Thérèse Superintendent and General Manager of the Finances and Domaines of the Netherlands.
[edit] Religion
The foundation of the church of Ittre occurred around 640. Our Lady of Ittre has been venerated there since 1336. Her cult had its origins in Bois-Seigneur-Isaac. A terrible plague was raging that year in the Low Countries. The Virgin was then carried solemnly from village to village and on her arrival in Ittre, the plague stopped. The inhabitants then refused to return it to Bois-Seigneur-Isaac and the Virgin remained in Ittre. The ecclesiastical courts always sided in terms of litigation in favour of the church of Ittre. A procession was founded in 1384 and it has been held without interruption since that date each year on August 15th. Our Lady of Ittre was especially invoked against hernias or ruptures. It has been her "speciality".
Saint Lutgarde is also venerated in Ittre since the arrival of a monk of Aywières to the castle of Fauquez in 1804.
[edit] External links
|
|||||
