Editing Wervik (section)

===Roman period===

Wervik was probably a settlement of the Menapians led by the chief Virovos, at a small height along the banks of the Lys (current Island Balokken). This is still unproven. At the time of the conquest of Gaul by Caesar, a Roman stopping place was built next to the Celtic village. The Roman settlement was registered on Roman road maps from the 3rd to 4th century under the name ''Viroviacum'' (Itinerarium Antonini) or ''Virovino'' ([[Tabula Peutingeriana|map of Peutinger]]). Viroviacum was located on the Roman road between [[Cassel, Nord|Cassel]] and [[Bavay]]. Remains from that period are still being found regularly in Wervik. Excavations at Saint Martin's Square in the centre exposed the foundations of the old Saint Martin's church, which was partly built with Roman waste materials. According to some historians this was formerly a temple dedicated to [[Mars (mythology)|Mars]] or [[Priapus]]. This is still unproven.