was touch and go, whether Watou ‘was to become’French
property, when in 1793, the final die was cast on what was to
become Flanders, or France. The tiny bulge of Watou in France
is caused by the ‘Steenvoordebeek’ and the ‘Heidebeek’,
small rivers that forme a natural border which was followed
in those days. Watou remaind Flemish but not because of its
name, since neighbouring towns with lovely Flemish names such
as Steenvoorde, Goddewaertsvelde, Houtkerke and Winnezele, became
forever French. Watou, the name with the almost exotic French
ring to it, is from Germanic origin and refers to Water, (Wet)
and Owe, (Hewa) area, and conjures visions of a waterlogged,
humid stream. Indeed, a number of smal rivers converge on Watou
territory, emptying themselves into the IJzer, a little further
up in Roesbrugge. Watou sticks to France over a long borderline,
what is called the "Schreve", or the "Frontier"
as they call it the French side. A borough, Abele, joins up
a bit further to the South and this is reached following the
"common road", with France on the right, and Belgium
on the left. |
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three months during the summer, Watou is taken over by poetry and art. Each year,
several intendants confront poems and expressive arts
at diverse locations and its charms, once again, seduces more
than 20.000 visitors from the Dutch speaking regions.
During the Ascension weekend, the town experiences the three-yearly
Gregorian
festival. For 5 days, the singing of more than 100 choirs
from all corners of the world resounds from the original Roman
St.-Bavo church. During this period, the entire town endeavours
to provide accommodation to both visitors and singers. In 2012,
this will once again be the case. |
has all the trump cards of the 'Westhoek'
- rural peace and magnificent views, open and popular hospitality
with the coastal region and French Flanders in close proximity.
The cultural activities have given the town a central function,
and turned the town into a real oasis where even more cultural
activities have developed for the greater public, such as art galleries,...
Restaurants, taverns and unlimited possibilities for accommodation
and lodging, makes Watou a town where you can drop anchor for
more than just a few days. The unique position provides bikers,
hikers and horseman with possible exploration excursions into
various directions straight from their lodgings, into the near
neighbourhood, French Flanders or to the coast. Poperinge
is situated close by, with its three-yearly hops parade, which
will be back in 2011, the 3° weekend of September and Garrison
City behind the defence lines of WW l. Today, the Talbot
house still bears witness to this period. WW I is also not
far from here, and a visit to Ieper, the Flanders
Fields museum and the many cemeteries, takes you back to
a world forgotten by many. |
 more than 20 years, Watou have fraternised with French Meziès-en-Brenne from the Indre, under the Loire. Annual activities underline these link. |
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