Rutten, Belgium Explained

Official Name:Rutten
Other Name:Russon
Settlement Type:Village and former municipality
Pushpin Map:Belgium
Pushpin Label Position:left
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Belgium
Pushpin Mapsize:250
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Type1:Region
Subdivision Type2:Province
Subdivision Type3:Arrondissement
Subdivision Type4:Municipality
Subdivision Name:
Subdivision Name3:Tongeren
Subdivision Name4: Tongeren
Area Total Km2:10.87
Population As Of:2021
Population Footnotes:[1]
Population Total:838
Population Density Km2:auto
Timezone:CET
Coordinates:50.7475°N 5.4428°W

Rutten (French: Russon) is a village in the Tongeren municipality of the Limburg province in the Flemish Community of Belgium. The village is located in the Haspengouw region, and was a separate municipality until its merger into Tongeren in 1977.

History

The village was mentioned as Riuti in 1065. The area had been inhabited since prehistory, and two tumuli and several Roman villas have been discovered. In 1408, the Battle of Othée between the Prince-Bishop of Liège and the citizens of Liège, took place near the village.[2]

After the conquest of Maastricht in 1632 by the Dutch Republic, Rutten was one of the redemptiedorpen (redemptive villages) who remained independent by paying taxes to both the Dutch Republic and the Duchy of Brabant. In 1785, the village officially became part of the Netherlands by the Treaty of Fontainebleau.[3] In 1843, the right bank of the Meuse became Belgian Limburg by the Treaty of Maastricht, and from then on Rutten was a Belgian village.[4] In 1977, the municipality of Rutten merged into Tongeren.[5]

Sights

The Hamal Castle is located near Rutten, and was home to the lord of the village.[6] The castle was first mentioned in 1214. The current castle dates from the late 18th century.[7]

The Holy Cottage (Dutch: Heilig Huisje) is located on a hill near Rutten with a view on the village and the Basilica of Tongeren. It is a chapel dedicated to the Battle of Othée, and dates back to the 15th century.[8] The current chapel dates from the 18th century.

Rutten's townscape is protected by the Flemish regional government.[9]

Events

On 1 May the Saint Evermarus Festivities are held. The festivities remember the murder of the pilgrim in 968 by the knight Hacco in Rutten. First there is a procession followed by a re-enactment of the murder in which the audience is supposed to play along.[10]

References

  1. Web site: Bevolking per statistische sector - Sector 73083L . Statistics Belgium . 8 May 2022 .
  2. Web site: 1408: Othée . Graafschap Loon. 17 October 2020. nl.
  3. Web site: Rutten . Agentschap Onroerend Erfgoed . 17 October 2020. nl.
  4. Web site: 180 jaar geleden: scheiding van Nederlands- en Belgisch-Limburg is een feit . Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroeporganisatie . 17 October 2020. nl.
  5. Web site: Tongeren . Agentschap Onroerend Erfgoed . 17 October 2020. nl.
  6. Web site: Kasteel en donjon van Hamal . Visit Limburg. 17 October 2020. nl.
  7. Web site: Kasteel van Hamal. Agentschap Onroerend Erfgoed. 17 October 2020. nl.
  8. Web site: The Holy Cottage. Haspenhoeve. 17 October 2020. nl.
  9. Web site: Open Monumentendag. Geoloket Tongeren. 17 October 2020. nl.
  10. News: Sint-Evermarus feesten Rutten, traditie van vader op zoon . Het Nieuwsblad. 17 October 2020. nl.