Editing Ath

{{Short description|Municipality in Hainault Province, Belgium}}
{{Other uses|ATH (disambiguation)}}
{{Distinguish|Athus}}
{{Expand French}}
{{Infobox Belgium municipality
|name            = Ath
|native_name     = {{native_name|pcd|Ât}}
|namenl          = Aat
|picture         = Ath stadhuis 29-08-2012 17-05-02.JPG
|picture-legend  = Ath City Hall
|map             = Ath Hainaut Belgium Map.svg
|map-legend      = Location of Ath in Hainaut
|arms            = Blason Ath(Belgique).svg
|flag            = Flag of Ath.svg
|region          = {{BE-REG-WAL}}
|community       = {{BE-FR}}
|province        = {{BE-PROV-HT}}
|arrondissement  = [[Arrondissement of Ath|Ath]]
|nis             = 51004
|pyramid-date    = 01/01/2006
|0-19            = 23.83
|20-64           = 58.99
|65              = 17.18
|foreigners      = 2.76
|foreigners-date = 01/07/2005
|mayor           = Bruno Lefèbvre ([[Socialist Party (francophone Belgium)|PS]])
|majority        = [[Socialist Party (francophone Belgium)|PS]]-[[Reformist Movement|MR]]-[[Ecolo]]
|postal-codes    = 7800, 7801, 7802, 7803, 7804,<br> 7810, 7811, 7812, 7822, 7823
|telephone-area  = 068
|web             = [http://www.ath.be/ www.ath.be]
|coordinates     = {{coord|50|37|N|03|46|E|region:BE|display=inline,title}}
}}
[[File:Ath To1aJPG.jpg|thumb|The ''Burbant'' tower]]
[[File:Goliath et Mme 2006.jpg|thumb|The procession of Giants - Goliath and his wife]]
[[File:Ath JPG00.jpg|thumb|The bell tower of St. Julien's church]]

'''Ath''' ({{IPA|fr|at|-|LL-Q150 (fra)-Manestra-Ath.wav}}; {{langx|nl|Aat}}, {{IPA|nl|aːt|-|Nl-Aat.ogg}}; {{langx|pcd|Ât}}; {{langx|wa|Ate}}) is a city and [[Municipalities in Belgium|municipality]] of [[Wallonia]] located in the [[Hainaut Province|province of Hainaut]], [[Belgium]].  

The [[Municipalities of Belgium|municipality]] consists of the following districts: [[Arbre, Ath|Arbre]], Ath, [[Bouvignies, Wallonia|Bouvignies]], [[Ghislenghien]], [[Gibecq]], [[Houtaing]], [[Irchonwelz]], [[Isières]], [[Lanquesaint]], [[Ligne, Wallonia|Ligne]], [[Maffle]], [[Mainvault]], [[Meslin-l'Évêque]], [[Moulbaix]], [[Ormeignies]], [[Ostiches]], [[Rebaix]], [[Villers-Notre-Dame]], and [[Villers-Saint-Amand]].

Ath is known as the "City of Giants" after the [[Ducasse d'Ath]] festivities which take place every year on the fourth weekend in August. Huge figures representing [[Goliath]], [[Samson]], and other allegoric figures are paraded through the streets, and Goliath's wedding and his famous fight with [[David]] are re-enacted.

Ath is the point of origin of the river [[Dender]] from the merger of its Eastern and Western branches.

==History==

===Toponymy===
The name ''Athum'' is attested first in 1076. Other spellings include ''Aat'' and ''Aeth.'' It may refer to a fortified place on a [[Ford (crossing)|ford]] ([[Celtic languages|Celtic]] origin; cf. [[Irish language|Irish]] name of Dublin, ''Baile Átha Cliath'', where ''Átha'' clearly means the ford, as oft-elsewhere in [[Ireland]] where there is a river to cross).

===Pre–1500===
Archeological records show the existence of several [[Gallo-Roman]] settlements in the Ath area.  The origin of the city of Ath, however, dates from around 1160, when Count [[Baldwin IV, Count of Hainaut|Baudouin IV]] of [[County of Hainaut|Hainaut]], bought some territory from his liegeman, Gilles de Trazegnies.  A few years later, Baldwin built the Burbant Tower &ndash; which can still be seen today &ndash; to protect his new acquisition.  The new city was soon given privileges and its newly built (1325) market hall on the ''Grand-Place'' began to attract residents.

Ath was the setting of the "Peace of Ath", signed on June{{nbsp}}4, 1357, to end the question of the [[Duchy of Brabant|Brabant]] succession.<ref>{{cite book |first=LHJ |last=Sickling |title=Neptune and the Netherlands: State, Economy, and War at Sea in the Renaissance |page=22}}</ref>  By then, the weekly Ath market, which took place &ndash; and still takes place &ndash; on Thursdays, had started attracting sellers from a much larger region.  The production of linen, cloth, hide, and luxury items such as gold ware, cabinets, and sculptures was growing fast.  The population growth necessitated the building of a second wall, which was completed at the end of the 14th century.  In 1416, the city built a school for the study of [[Latin]], which [[Justus Lipsius]] attended. The city counted then about 5,000 people.

===1501–present===
In 1667, Ath was conquered in a single day by the army of [[Louis XIV]] and became the first [[France|French]] city of the [[Spanish Netherlands]].  Soon after, [[Vauban]] built new fortifications, which included eight bastions. The city suffered again at the hands of the French army in 1745. At the end of the 18th century, Ath counted about 7,300 inhabitants but the population count decreased in the first half of the 19th century.

In 1816, two military engineering surveys concluded that Ath defences should be improved, the British survey recommended a garrison of 3,000 troops and the building cost would be £143,599. The Dutch wished to spend an additional £266,000. The [[Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington|Duke of Wellington]] agreed to the Dutch plan. The funding was paid for by England (30%), Holland (30%) and by French war reparations (40%).<ref>{{cite book |last=Porter |first=Maj Gen Whitworth |title=History of the Corps of Royal Engineers Vol I |year=1889 |publisher=The Institution of Royal Engineers |location=Chatham}}</ref>{{rp|388}} In 1824, the [[Dutch people|Dutch]] under King [[William I of the Netherlands|William I]], built the Féron Fort, and the city once more gained strategic value.

A treaty drafted in London on 15 November 1831,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VW9bAAAAQAAJ&q=ath+fortress+demolished&pg=RA1-PR8 |title=State Papers|year=1832}}</ref>  which the Netherlands refused to sign, was followed by the [[Treaty of London (1839)]], which created the [[Kingdom of Belgium]]. Part of the terms of the treaty required the fort, amongst others, to be dismantled.

The freed up land assisted the town for the activities of a growing population.  A new growth period took place between 1850 and 1914 driven by the forestry, agricultural (breweries, mills) and textile industries.

In the 20th century, most of these industries went into decline and were replaced by commercial, administrative and educational activities. In the last 30 years, several neighbourhoods have been revitalized and developed, and the city's monuments renovated or restored.

=== July 30, 2004 explosions ===
The Ghislenghien industrial park near Ath was the scene of one of Belgium's worst ever industrial disasters on July 30, 2004. Around 8:30&nbsp;am [[Central European Time|local time]], workers constructing a new factory for [[abrasive]]s firm {{ill|Diamant Boart|nl}} (a [[subsidiary]] of the [[Electrolux|Electrolux Group]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.diamant-boart.com/|title=Diamant Boart|website=www.diamant-boart.com|access-date=18 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.electroluxgroup.com/en/electrolux-to-acquire-diamant-boart-international-world-leader-in-diamond-tools-1806|title=Electrolux to acquire Diamant Boart International, world-leader in diamond tools|website=Electrolux Group|date=2 May 2002 }}</ref> reported a strong smell of [[natural gas|gas]]. It is believed the gas was escaping from a high-pressure underground [[Pipeline transport|pipeline]] conveying natural gas from [[Zeebrugge]] to [[France]], operated by gas transportation company [[Fluxys]]. [[Firefighter]]s were soon on the scene and were attempting to clear the area when at least two explosions occurred at around 9:00&nbsp;am. The strongest of these demolished the partly built Diamant Boart structure, and fires were started in several other buildings. 24 people were killed, with over 120 injured. Five volunteer firemen and one police officer were among the dead.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.brusselstimes.com/38501/tribute-to-the-victims-of-the-ghislenghien-explosion-12-years-on|title=Tribute to the victims of the Ghislenghien explosion, 12 years on|first=The Brussels|last=Times|website=www.brusselstimes.com}}</ref>

==Sights==
* The 12th-century ''Burbant'' tower was built by [[Baldwin IV, Count of Hainaut|Baudouin IV]] and named after the neighbouring [[Landgraviate of Brabant]].
* The town hall dates from the 17th century.
* The church of Saint Julien, rebuilt after a fire in the 19th century, still keeps a [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]] tower and apsidal chapel, as well as a famous 16th-century [[carillon]].
* The church of Saint Martin and the exterior oak [[calvary (sculpture)|calvary]] both date from the 16th century.

==Festivities==
The “Ducasse”<ref name="Ducace">{{cite book | last = Meurand | first = R. | title = La Ducace d'Ath | location = Ath | year = 1981 | others = cited in [[:fr:Ducasse d'Ath]] | language = fr}}</ref> originated from a yearly procession developed in the 15th century (first mentioned in 1399) as a celebration of the consecration of the local Saint Julien church.  This procession illustrated stories from the [[Old Testament]], [[New Testament]], [[Golden Legend]], and [[Carolingian cycle]].  Today, the “Ducasse” is a very popular celebration that includes various festivities and lasts several days spanning the end of August and beginning of September.  The highlight is the cortege of giants<ref name="Géants">{{cite book | last = Meurand | first = R. | title = Géants processionnels et de cortège en Europe, en Belgique, en Wallonie | location = Tielt | year = 1979 | others = cited in [[:fr:Ducasse d'Ath]] | language = fr}}</ref>  (in [[French language|French]]: ''Cortège des géants''), with [[David]] and [[Goliath]] as the most famous characters.  In 2008, the Ducasse was listed by [[UNESCO]] among the [[Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity]]. It was delisted in 2022 following complaints about one of the characters that appears in the procession: a 'savage', depicted by a white person in [[blackface]], wearing a [[Nose ring (animal)|nose ring]] and chains.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Moller-Nielsen |first=Thomas |date=3 December 2022 |title=Belgian parade removed from UNESCO heritage list over racism complaints |work=The Brussels Times |url=https://www.brusselstimes.com/331487/belgian-parade-removed-from-unesco-heritage-list-over-racism-complaints |access-date=4 December 2022}}</ref>

==Transportation==
Ath is located along the [[N56 road (Belgium)|N56 road]].

==People born in Ath==
{{alumni|residents|date=July 2021}}
* [[Arnold Caussin]], born about 1510. Musician, composer. Student in the University of Cracow in  1526.<ref>Henri Musielak, ''Revue de Musicologie'', t. 62,  n° 2, [Paris] 1976, p. 308.</ref>
* [[Michael Baius]], theologian
* [[Julien-Joseph Ducorron]], painter (1770–1848)
* [[Eugène Defacqz]], politician (1797–1871)
* [[Jean Taisner]], musician, mathematician and astrologer (1508-1562)<ref>J. Dewert, 'Origine wallonne des peintres Teniers', ''Bulletin de la Commission royale d'Histoire'' LXXX (1911), pp. 287-319, [https://www.persee.fr/doc/bcrh_0001-415x_1911_num_80_1_1902 at pp. 287-95] (Persée). In French.</ref><ref>'IV. Taisnier (Jean)', in E. Vander Straeten, ''La Musique aux Pays-Bas avant le XIXe Siècle'', 8 vols (G.A. Van Trigt/Schott Frères, Bruxelles 1867-1888), III (1875), [https://archive.org/details/lamusiqueauxpay07stragoog/page/n259/mode/2up?view=theater at pp. 227-42] (Internet Archive).</ref>
* [[Louis Hennepin]], Catholic priest and missionary, and explorer of the interior of [[North America]] (17th century).<ref name="Marquis 1607–1896">{{cite book | title = Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607–1896 | publisher = Marquis Who's Who | location = Chicago | year = 1963}}</ref>
* [[Fanny Heldy]], opera soprano (19th century)
* [[Joseph Jules Descamps]], politician (1820–1892).
* [[Ernest F. Cambier]], Belgian colonial pioneer (1844–1921)
* [[Henri Vernes]], novelist (20th century)
* [[Guy Spitaels]], politician (20th century)
* [[Olivier Dupuis]], politician (20th century)
* [[Pierre Descamps]], politician (20th century)
* [[Anders Tang]], humorist (20th century)
* [[Julian the Hospitaller]], legendary saint, was according to one tradition born in Ath
* [[Jacques de Saint-Luc]], lutenist and composer (1616 – c. 1710)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.loiseaulire.com/Hainaut/Ath.html Cercle Royal d'Histoire et d'Archéologie d'Ath et de la Région et Musées Athois], an exhaustive list of references on the history of the Ath region, in [[French language|French]].
* [http://www.ath.be Official site of the city], in [[French language|French]], [[Dutch language|Dutch]], and [[English language|English]].
* [http://www.ducassedath.be The Ducasse of Ath], in [[French language|French]].
* [http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sectors/tourism/eden/themes-destinations/countries/belgium/ath/index_en.htm Awarded "EDEN - European Destinations of Excellence" non traditional tourist destination 2008]

{{Geographic location
|Centre = Ath
|N  = [[Ellezelles]], [[Lessines]]
|E  = [[Silly, Belgium|Silly]]
|S  = [[Chièvres]], [[Brugelette]]
|SW = [[Beloeil, Belgium|Belœil]]
|W  = [[Leuze-en-Hainaut]]
|NW = [[Frasnes-lez-Anvaing]]
}}
{{Hainaut}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Ath| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Wallonia]]
[[Category:Municipalities of Hainaut (province)]]
[[Category:Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity]]
[[Category:Vauban fortifications in Belgium]]