Travel Guide Wervik

Wervik is one of Belgium's oldest towns. In Roman times, it was known as Viroviacum, and was one of the strategic points on the main road built by the Romans between Bavay and Cassel. Over the centuries, Wervik, like many Flemish towns, enjoyed prosperous times thanks to the quality of its textile and cloth industry, particularly in the Middle Ages, when the town acquired some of its finest buildings, such as the Gothic church of Saint-Médard. Today, however, the town owes its renown to an entirely different product: tobacco! Wervik tobacco was renowned for its strong, pronounced taste. The town was also a strategic smuggling center. As the first town where the river Lys enters Flanders, the town enjoys an advantageous position for trade, cross-border work... and smuggling. That's the advantage of being a cross-border town! Wervik is unique in that it has a Belgian part, Wervik, and a French part, Wervik Sud, since the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713! This proximity gives the town its originality.During the First World War, the town was occupied by German troops, who came here to rest between two assaults on the Yser front. This period of occupation had the merit of bringing the Flemish and French-speaking communities closer together, as they united to cope with life under occupation. The town was not liberated until the summer of 1917. Not being far from the front, the town was severely damaged. Once calm had returned, the need to rebuild the city became imperative. The architect and town planner Huib Hoste was put in charge of the project, and drew up a reconstruction plan limiting decoration and emphasizing the functional aspect of the buildings. Evidence of his style can be seen throughout the city.The city was again under German occupation during the Second World War, and suffered some damage. It was liberated by British and Canadian troops in September 1944.Today, Wervik is a peaceful little town where popular festivals punctuate the calendar. Like the famous Fête des Chats, whose origins date back to the 10th century, when cats were thrown from the top of the church to ward off the devil... Today, the felines have been replaced by cuddly toys! Tobacco is still a part of many traditions, not least culinary ones. Tabaksnaaistertaart (a tart made with chocolate, almonds and chocolate-raspberry mousse) and toebakspalullen (sweet pancakes) use tobacco essence as one of their ingredients, with an aroma similar to that of chestnuts!A popular town for walkers and hikers, Wervik even has its own little island, De Balokken, which is linked to the town by a bridge accessible only to pedestrians and cyclists. Surrounded by nature and the River Lys, nicknamed "the river of gold" by the locals, this little island is a haven of peace.As you can see, Wervik has a lot to offer!