Presentation
Menen... a town worth wisiting!
A visit to a centuries-old border town
Menen, together with the municipalities of Lauwe and Rekkem, has a population of 32,500 people. The border town has a rich and stirring history. The town developed along the river Leie, from Bruges to Lille. The oldest mention of the name goes back to the year 1087. Being a border town, Menen was fortified early in its history. The first ramparts date from 1578. Between 1579 and 1830, the town was beleaguered no less than 22 times.
The Leie, its natural border, played an important part in the development of the town. Nowadays, the Leie banks form a beautiful green lung in the middle of the town.
In the 14th century, Menen was an important
cloth centre.
In the 16th century, the town was renowned
for its beer (in the period from 1520 to 1549, Menen had 104 master brewers).
In 1548, a fire devastated a large part of the town.
Over 50 buildings in the town are currently on the protected heritage list. A town guide will take you for an unforgettable walk through the town centre and bring a fascinating piece of history back to life. The town walk takes about 2 to 3 hours and can be completed with a visit to one of the museums and/or the windmill "de Goede Hoop" (the Good Hope).
The town also has some beautiful green corners. We hereby first think of the Leie banks. Behind the cultural centre, there is the nature reserve "de Poel" (the Pool). In the town centre, adjacent to the ramparts, we find two scenic town parks, the "Bois de Boulogne" and the "Brouwerspark" (Brewers Park), two real havens of peace for the visitors.
As the town is situated on the border with France, it has, like all border cities, many shops. In "de Barakken", one of the town's quarters, the shops, pubs and restaurants are open all day long on Sundays.
The two museums are also major attractions for the town: the Magic Jukebox Museum, truly unique in its kind, and the municipal museum ‘t Schippershof, accommodated in a 17th-century restored property in the town centre. The ideal point of departure for your visit to the border town.
