| Page Views: 1,534 Last Visit to Roeselare: November, 2003 | Filips town by tompt - last update: Feb 28, 2005 |
November 2003, it finally was time we visited Roeselare. A town we have heard much about, but was very unknown to us.
Roeslare was not founded yet but nomads were in the area 35 000 years before Christ. Some tools of that time were found while excavating. Around 4500 - 0 people began to live in this area. They were building houses and doing agricultur. The oldest remains of pottery found in Roeselare dates back to 2000 before Christ. Until now they have not found remains of roman roads or other things from that period.
In 406 the Franks came over the river Rhine. Their king Clovis became a christian around 500, and christianity was spread by them throughtout the area. St. Amandskapel is said to be the first church in Roeselare. After the dead of emperor Charles the Great in 814 his son, Lodewijk , ruled the Frankisch Empire. He ruled from 814 to 840. From that time the first papers dated 29 june 821 or 25 june 822, named Roslar as an area. In 847 and 899 a 'villa' Rollare or Roslare is mentioned. When the Noorman attacked around 890 Count Boudewijn III gave permission to fortify the town. And the town was given market rights in 957.
Around 1250 Roeselare got his halle with belfort, a seal and town finances. The citizens got rights. The hall and Belfort stood at the Marketsquare. The oldest seal still here dates back to 1309. In 1152 the first schools were mentioned. Ofcourse they were christian schools.
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| new part of cityhall, St Michiels at background |
The meaning of the name Roeselare is a much discussed topic.
It could have come from a Forester who got the town from his master.
Or "Roe" was the name of a god, the name of giant Rolarius, the legendary founder of the town, or it was from a "rosselaar", owner of a horsemill.
Later people recognised Rolla, head of the Noorman in "Roeselare". But that was contested because the Noorman came to destroy and not to create.
It could also have been the name of a german leader.
The youngest idea is that it means "humid, open, with reed covered place in the woods" (roes + laar) That is linguistic the most believable explanation too. |
Roeselare is known for its cycling history. And that is where Filip comes in......
Filip (aka filipdebont) is a enthousiastic cyclist and surprise, surprise he lives in Roeselare.
That was a reason for us to visit this town that calls itself the centre of West Flanders. |
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 Comments for tompt about Roeselare | | | | |
wandeljp Tue May 26, 2009 20:13 UTC
Leuk om iets te leren van iemand die van zover kom terwijl ik zo dicht woon. Juist een lichte correctie: Freddy Maertens heeft het museum in Roeselare verlaten voor deze van de Ronde van Vlaanderen in Oudenaarde | Gentleman75 Wed Aug 11, 2004 14:11 UTC
A very informative page about Roeselare. Great photos and tips. | Alice-Kees Sun Jan 18, 2004 12:08 UTC
Goede tips voor weer eens een ander weekend! Inspirerend.... | irisbe Tue Jan 6, 2004 21:46 UTC
I missed going to Roeselare in 2003 but I sur go in 2004! Lovely page and it seems you had a great time with your enjoyable host Filip `-) am not suprised! |
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