Tongerlo
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tongerlo | |
|---|---|
Village | |
 Tongerlo Abbey | |
  Tongerlo Location in Belgium | |
| Coordinates: 51°06′33″N 4°54′54″E / 51.1092°N 4.9150°E | |
| Country |  Belgium |
| Region | Flemish Region |
| Province | Antwerp |
| Municipality | Westerlo |
| Area | |
• Total | 20.41 km2 (7.88 sq mi) |
| Population (2021)[1] | |
• Total | 7,506 |
| • Density | 367.8/km2 (952.5/sq mi) |
| Time zone | CET |
Tongerlo is a village and deelgemeente (sub-municipality) of the municipality of Westerlo in the province of Antwerp, Belgium. The village is located about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) south-east of the city of Herentals.[2] Tongerlo is best known for Tongerlo Abbey, which became one of the most important abbeys of Belgium.[3][4]
Around 1133, the Premonstratensian abbey of Tongerlo was founded in the village of Tongerlo. It was double monastery until 1140. The abbey developed into one of the most important abbeys of Belgium. The abbot became the Lord of the village heerlijkheid (landed estate), and used to have joint judicial powers. In 1644, the abbey bought full judicial powers for the heerlijkheid.[4][3]
The power of the abbey started to decline after 1773.[4] In 1789 and 1790, the abbey participated in the Brabant Revolution against the Austrian Netherlands. The revolutionaries were defeated, and abbey lost control over the heerlijkheid. Tongerlo Abbey was dissolved in 1796 after the French Revolution,[5] and the village of Tongerlo formed an independent municipality with hamlet of Oosterwijk.[6] The monastery returned to the abbey in 1840.[5] Tongerlo remained independent until 1971 when it was merged into Westerlo.[6]
.JPG)
