Editing Waregem (section)

===Middle Ages===
[[Image:Sint-Eloois-Vijve Sint-Eligius kerk-1.JPG|thumb|left|St-Eloois-Vijve Church]]

In the 10th century, most of Waregem's territory was given as a grant to the St Peter Abbey in [[Ghent]].  The local administrative center used by the [[Benedictines]] along the [[Leie River]] can still be seen today and is still known as the ''Munkenhof.''  At the end of the century, [[Baldwin IV, Count of Flanders]], made this area the base from which he could advance against [[Kortrijk]].  During the following centuries, the medieval feudal system allowed the land to be progressively parceled out to landowners from places as far as [[Dendermonde]] and [[Tournai]].  At that time, like in the rest of Flanders, most of the population consisted of farmers, spinners and weavers.  Tax documents from the 13th century attest to the strong economic activity of the time.  Waregem's attempt in 1635 at obtaining rights to hold its own market was opposed by the neighbouring towns.  A Saturday market was finally approved by [[Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor|Joseph II of Austria]] in 1784.