What is Braine-l'alleud?

Information about Braine-l'alleud

Eigenbrakel
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The municipality of Eigenbrakel in Walloon Brabant
Geography
Country Belgium
Community French Community
Region
ArrondissementNivelles
CoordinatesCoordinates:
Area52.12 km
Population (Source: NIS)
Population
– Males
– Females
- Density
Economy
Unemployment rate10.40% (January 1, 2006)
Mean annual income €/pers. (2003)
Government
MayorVincent Scourneau (MR-IC)
Governing partiesMR-IC, PS
Other information
Postal codes1420, 1421, 1428
Area codes02
Web addresswww.braine-lalleud.be
Eigenbrakel (French: Braine-l'Alleud) is a suburban Belgian municipality located in the Walloon province of Walloon Brabant, about 20 kilometers south of Brussels. The Eigenbrakel 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.

History

Middle Ages

Several archaeological finds point to prehistoric settlements in this area. The first historical mention of a parish on Eigenbrakel’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 ) 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.

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.

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.

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.

Famous inhabitants

Twin cities

  •  France: Ouistreham Riva-Bella
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    : Menden

    External links

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    Municipalities in the Province of Walloon Brabant, Walloon Region, Belgium
    NivellesBeauvechain Braine-l'Alleud Braine-le-Chteau Chastre Chaumont-Gistoux Court-Saint-tienne Genappe Grez-Doiceau Hlcine Incourt Ittre Jodoigne La Hulpe Lasne Mont-Saint-Guibert Nivelles Orp-Jauche Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve Perwez Ramillies Rebecq Rixensart Tubize Villers-la-Ville Walhain Waterloo Wavre
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    The Arrondissement of Nivelles (French: Arrondissement de Nivelles; Dutch: Arrondissement Nijvel
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    Motto
    Eendracht maakt macht   (Dutch)
    L'union fait la force"   (French)
    Einigkeit macht stark
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    Walloon Brabant (French: Brabant-Wallon, Dutch: Waals-Brabant; Walloon: Roman Payis) is a province of the Walloon Region in Belgium.
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