Ath
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Ath Aat (Dutch) |
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Ath City Hall
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 Ath
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Location of Ath in Hainaut
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| Coordinates: 50°37′N 03°46′E / 50.617°N 3.767°ECoordinates: 50°37′N 03°46′E / 50.617°N 3.767°E | |||
| Country | Belgium | ||
| Community | French Community | ||
| Region | Wallonia | ||
| Province | Hainaut | ||
| Arrondissement | Ath | ||
| Government | |||
| • Mayor | Jean-Pierre Denis (PS) | ||
| • Governing party/ies | PS | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 126.95 km2 (49.02 sq mi) | ||
| Population (1 January 2016) | |||
| • Total | 28,951 | ||
| • Density | 230/km2 (590/sq mi) | ||
| Postal codes | 7800, 7801, 7802, 7803, 7804, 7810, 7811, 7812, 7822, 7823 |
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| Area codes | 068 | ||
| Website | www.ath.be | ||
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Ath (French pronunciation: [at]; Dutch: Aat, Picard: Ât) is a Belgian municipality located in the Walloon province of Hainaut. The Ath municipality includes the old communes of Lanquesaint, Irchonwelz, Ormeignies, Bouvignies, Ostiches, Rebaix, Maffle, Arbre, Houtaing, Ligne, Mainvault, Moulbaix, Villers-Notre-Dame, Villers-Saint-Amand, Ghislenghien (Dutch: Gellingen), Isières, Meslin-l'Evêque, and Gibecq.
Ath is known as the "City of Giants" after the Ducasse d'Ath festivities which take place every year on the fourth weekend in August. Huge figures representing Goliath, Samson, and other allegoric figures are paraded through the streets, and Goliath's wedding and his famous fight with David are re-enacted.
Archeological records show the existence of several Gallo-Roman settlements in the Ath area. The origin of the city of Ath, however, dates from around 1160, when Count Baudouin IV of Hainaut, bought some territory from his liegeman, Gilles de Trazegnies. A few years later, Baldwin built the Burbant Tower – which can still be seen today – to protect his new acquisition. The new city was soon given privileges and its newly built (1325) market hall on the Grand-Place began to attract residents.
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