Braine-l'Alleud

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Municipal flag Braine-l'Alleud
 
Location on map of Belgium
Coat of arms The municipality of Braine-l'Alleud in Walloon Brabant
Geography
Country Belgium
Region Flag of Wallonia Wallonia
Community Flag of Wallonia French Community
Province Flag of Walloon Brabant Walloon Brabant
Arrondissement Nivelles
Coordinates 50°41′N 04°22′E / 50.683, 4.367Coordinates: 50°41′N 04°22′E / 50.683, 4.367
Area 52.12 km²
Population (Source: NIS)
Population
– Males
– Females
- Density		 37,197 (January 1, 2006)
48.21%
51.79%
714 inhab./km²
Economy
Unemployment rate 10.40% (January 1, 2006)
Mean annual income 15,745 €/pers. (2003)
Government
Mayor Vincent Scourneau (MR-IC)
Governing parties MR-IC, PS
Other information
Postal codes 1420, 1421, 1428
Area codes 02
Web address www.braine-lalleud.be

Braine-l'Alleud is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Walloon Brabant, about 20 kilometers south of Brussels. The Braine-l'Alleud municipality includes the former communes of Braine-l'Alleud proper, Ophain-Bois-Seigneur-Isaac, and Lillois-Witterzée. It also includes the hamlet of Sart-Moulin, the inverted name of which inspired Hergé’s Moulinsart castle. The famous Lion of Waterloo is actually located on the territory of Braine-l'Alleud.

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] Middle Ages

Several archaeological finds point to prehistoric settlements in this area. The first historical mention of a parish on Braine-l'Alleud's current territory, then called Dudinsart, dates from 1131, date at which Godfrey I, Duke of Brabant ceded it to the Abbey of Gembloux. The Duke, however, still owned exempt land (or franchise) on this territory, as specified in a legal document by Henry I dated 1197. The name of the municipality changed to the current one, derived from “Braine”, former name of the stream that crosses its territory (now called the “Hain”), and “alleu”, a medieval French word designating exempt land. The latter name was added to the former to distinguish this community from two neighbouring ones also called Braine.

At the beginning, the franchise might not have been much more than a right to local administration. By 1489, however, the local lord enjoyed complete juridical power on its territory, which was still formally part of the fiefdom obtained from the Duke of Brabant.

[edit] Battle of Waterloo

In 1815, part of the fighting that took place at the Battle of Waterloo actually occurred on the territory of Braine-l’Alleud. The town’s church of Saint-Etienne became a field hospital.

[edit] Sights

  • The Butte du Lion, erected on the famous Battle of Waterloo, attracts thousands of visitors every year. A nearby visitor centre, a wax museum and a painted panorama also help retrace the events that led to Napoleon’s defeat in 1815.
  • Converted into a tourist information centre, the former house of Cardinal Mercier is a good starting point to explore the town.


Church of Saint-Etienne

The Butte du Lion, which overlooks the Waterloo battle field

[edit] Folklore

  • The town of Ophain hosts a yearly carnival.
  • Like many other towns in Wallonia, Braine-l’Alleud is home to giant puppets who take part in the local festivities.

[edit] Famous inhabitants

[edit] Twin cities

[edit] External links

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Municipalities in the Province of Walloon Brabant, Wallonia, Belgium
Nivelles