Kortrijk: Guide, Hotels, Map & Photos
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EUR 62 - 67 Hotel Ter Linde
 Nestled in beautiful countryside and only 5 minutes away from the city centre, the hotel offers tranquil surroundings combined with easy access to the… MoreEUR 98 - 198 Hotel Messeyne
 This boutique hotel is situated in the centre of Kortrijk, only 550 metres from the Belfort. Messeyne offers free Wi-Fi and wellness facilities includ… MoreEUR 65 - 115 Hotel Ibis Kortrijk Centrum
 Come and explore the wonderful city of Kortrijk from its very heart and enjoy the convenient, elegant accommodation of the Hotel Ibis, right next to t… MoreEUR 75 - 130 Hotel Troopeird
 Hotel Troopeird is situated in a rural area and located very favourably near the Kortijk Xpo and the autostrades. Experience the friendliness of this … MoreEUR 95 - 240 Kennedy Hotel
 Located only a 5-minute walk from the Kortrijk Xpo Halls, Kennedy offers modern rooms and suites with a flat-screen TV. It features a 24-hour receptio… MoreEUR 85 - 235 Villa Marquette
 Villa Marquette is located on the edge of Kortrijk, just off the E17 highway. It features a fine-dining restaurant on site and cosy accommodation wit… MoreEUR 79 - 210 Sandton Hotel Broel
 Situated next to the historic Broel Towers, along the Leie River, this elegant hotel features free Wi-Fi, an indoor swimming pool and a gym with a sau… MoreEUR 93 - 250 Parkhotel
 This luxurious and trendy hotel is located a stone´s throw away from the brand-new Shopping centre K and within walking distance of the Grote Ma… MoreEUR 70 - 90 Hotel Groeninge
 Hotel Groeninge is situated in the centre of Kortrijk and in front of the Notre Dame Church. There is free Wi-Fi.
The guest rooms offer a TV and a h… MoreEUR 75 - 140 Hotel Focus
 Just a 10-minute walk from Kortrijk’s historic centre, Hotel Focus offers uniquely designed rooms with a flat-screen TV. The Kortrijk Train station … MoreEUR 70 - 138 Best Western Hotel Belfort
 Best Western Belfort is situated in a historic building on the Grote Markt, only 5 minutes’ walk from Kortrijk Railway Station. It features free Wi-… MoreEUR 78 - 98 Bell Expo
 Located only 250 metres from the Kortrijk Xpo Halls, Bell Expo offers bright and spacious rooms with a flat-screen cable TV in a leafy residential are… MoreEUR 80 - 200 Bed and Breakfast Dharma
 B&B Dharma is located in a historical street in the centre of Courtray, close to the main square with its terraces and charming shops.
Every room is … MoreEUR 50 - 90 casuaLLoft
 CasuaLLoft is a fully refurbished duplex appartment situated just one km from Kortrijk city centre. It offers free Wi-Fi and an open kitchen with indu… MoreEUR 60 - 75 Center Hotel
 Ideally located between the railway station and the Market Square in the centre of Kortrijk, this hotel offers great transport links for business and … MoreEUR 69 - 300 Hotel Damier Kortrijk
 Hotel Damier dates from 1769 and features an elegant historic façade. It is situated on the Grote Markt in Kortrijk and features free Wi-Fi, sauna an… MoreEUR 78 - 150 Full House Hotel
 Full House is a small hotel, situated just a 5-minute walk from the centre of Kortrijk and the train station.
The guest rooms are equipped with moder… MoreEUR 85 - 289 d-hotel
 A unique combination of historical charm and futuristic design, this brand-new hotel is created around an old farmhouse and a protected windmill, dati… MoreEUR 49 - 62 B&B Bloemenweelde
 Bloemenweelde is situated 1.8 km from Kortrijk city centre and features airport shuttle and bicycle rental services. This bed and breakfast benefits f… More | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Kortrijk: Guide
'' For the Dutch village, see Kortrijk (Netherlands)
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Kortrijk (Belgian city and Municipalities in Belgium|municipality located in the Flemish Region|Flemish Provinces of Belgium|province West Flanders. The wider municipality comprises the city of Kortrijk proper and the towns of Aalbeke, Bellegem, Bissegem, Heule, Kooigem, Marke, and Rollegem.
The city is situated on the River Lys, 42 km (26 miles) southwest of Ghent.
History
Origins to the 13th century
Cortoriacum was founded by the Ancient Rome|Romans at an important crossroads near the Lys River, then developed as a typical Gallo-Roman vicus. In the 9th century, Baldwin II, Count of Flanders established fortifications against the Normans. The town gained its city charter in 1190 from Philip, Count of Flanders|Philip of Alsace. The population growth required new defensive walls, part of which can still be seen today (the Broeltoren).
In the 13th century, the battles between Infante Fernando, Count of Flanders|Fernando of Portugal, Count of Flanders and his first cousin, King Louis VIII of France, led to the destruction of the city. The Counts of Flanders had it rebuilt soon after. From that time, Kortrijk gained great importance as a centre of linen production.
Battle of the Golden Spurs
In Flemish people, mostly commoners and farmers, and Philip IV of France|Philip the Fair’s knights took place near Kortrijk on July 11, resulting in a massive victory for Flanders. This date is now remembered as a national holiday by the whole Flemish community.
Following a new uprising by the Flemish in 1323, but this time against their own Louis I, Count of Flanders|Count Louis I, the French invaded again. These Flemish acquisitions were consolidated by the French at the Battle of Cassel (1328). Louis I’s son, Louis II of Flanders|Louis II, then Philip van Artevelde briefly regained the city in 1381 but lost it again the following year at the Battle of Roosebeke, resulting in a new wave of plundering and destruction.
15th century until now
Most of the 15th century was prosperous under the Dukes of Burgundy, until the death of Mary of Burgundy in 1482, which ushered in renewed fighting with France. The 16th century was marked by the uprising of the Netherlands in 1539, by Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles V’s heavy-handed reprisal to it, and later by the confrontations engendered by the Reformation. Louis XIV’s reign saw Kortrijk occupied by the French five times in sixty years and its former fortifications razed to the ground. The Treaty of Utrecht finally gave the whole area to Austria.
After the French Revolution and the Napoleonic era, the textile industry, based on flax, and the general economy of the city could finally prosper again. Kortrijk was heavily bombed in the summer of 1917, but even more damaged by the allied bombing in 1944. Most of the city that we see today was rebuilt after the war.
Sights
On the main square, the façade of the late-Gothic architecture|Gothic, early Renaissance city hall is adorned with the statues of the Count of Flanders|Counts of Flanders.
John II of Brienne, Count of Eu
Kortrijk participates in Town twinning|town twinning to encourage good international relations.
- Information available in Dutch language|Dutch, French language|French, English language|English and German language|German
This "Travel Guide" section is drawn from the Wikipedia article "Kortrijk". We hope you will edit and improve it. It is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.
The nearby Belfries of Belgium and France|belfry is surmounted by a statue of Mercury (mythology)|Mercury, god of the merchants. The belfry is classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
The Saint-Martin church dates from the 13th century but was mostly rebuilt after a fire in the 15th century. It now houses a 48-bell carillon.
The beguinage is one of the quaintest sites in the city, taking visitors back to the 17th century. It, too, was listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
The church of Our Lady (Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk) was where the golden spurs taken from the battlefield in 1302 were hung. It now houses a famous Anthony van Dyck|van Dyck painting.
Other reminders of Kortrijk's medieval history are the Our Lady Hospital (Onze-Lieve-Vrouwehospitaal), and the near-identical Broel towers (Broeltoren) with the small bridge in between that spans the river.
Several museums dot the city, including a fine art and archeological museum, as well as a flax museum in honour of the plant that once was the main driver of Kortrijk’s economy. Famous citizens
Hendrik Conscience, writer
Edmée Daenen, pop artist
Stefaan De Clerck, politician and mayor of Kortrijk
Ernest Gambart, art publisher and dealer
Carl de Keyzer, photographer
Pierre de La Rue, Renaissance composer
Ann Demeulemeester, fashion designer
Ernest Gambart, art publisher and dealer
Guido Gezelle, poet
Piet Goddaer, singer of Ozark Henry
Gilles Joye, Franco-Flemish school|Franco-Flemish composer of the Renaissance
Xavier Malisse, tennis player
Morris (comics)|Morris, creator of Lucky Luke
Ozark Henry, musician
Jan Palfyn (1650-1730), Physician|doctor, surgeon and inventor of the forceps
Louis Robbe (1806-1887), painter
Roelant Savery (1576-1639), painter
Stijn Streuvels (1871-1969), writer
Jacobus Vaet, Franco-Flemish school|Franco-Flemish composer of the Renaissance
Vincent Van Quickenborne (1973-), politician: Belgium|Belgian Secretary of State
Emmanuel Vierin (1869-1954)painterEducation
The KULAK, a department of the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven|Catholic University of Leuven, is located in Kortrijk.Town twinning
Frascati in Italy,
Bad Godesberg in Germany (1964)
Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead|Windsor and Maidenhead in England.
Saint-Cloud in FranceExternal link