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Belgium

Flanders

Flemish Brabant

Leuven

Tienen

Heroes' Square

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Places to see

Belgium

Flanders

Flemish Brabant

Leuven

Tienen

Heroes' Square

Recommended by 13 hikers out of 14

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Location: Tienen, Leuven, Flemish Brabant, Flanders, Belgium

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Best Hikes to Heroes' Square

4.0

(11)

149

hikers

1. City Park – Oplinter Church loop from Tienen

16.2km

04:13

110m

Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Intermediate

4.6

(5)

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2. City Park – Town Hall loop from Tienen

23.3km

06:03

150m

Expert hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Expert

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3. Church of Our Lady ten Poel – Sint-Germanus Church and Vrijthof loop from Tienen

5.73km

01:28

30m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Easy

Tips

Katrien

February 12, 2022

Part of the current Grote Markt was once a pool. This Haspoel was already partially filled in in the 13th century to allow the construction of the church. At the beginning of the 18th century, the then city council decided to fill in the remaining part of the pool next to the church. Chestnut trees were planted in 1871. Popularly, this place was and still is still called 'Under the Beumkes'.

At the beginning of the 20th century there was a kiosk, where during the Schraboelebàl many a Tienen came to dance with the aatvoat van Tienen kermis – the last fair evening – on the coal ash from the coal stoves that was scattered on the damp ground of the filled-in pool.

After the Second World War, a monument was erected in honor of the fallen of the last world war. The Tienen architect Jacques Piron and sculptor Georges Vandevoorde designed the memorial. The first stone of the monument was laid on September 7, 1951 – exactly seven years after the liberation of Tienen – by Mayor Georges Dupont, who was also chairman of the Resistance Federation.

The Heldensquare is reminiscent of a temple ruin. Columns surrounded by walls of different heights, a sacrificial altar symbolizing the sacrifice that was made and a floor mosaic in the shape of the map of Belgium. The bottom of the square has been lowered, so that on a wet day an extensive pool can form here. Symbolic for the former Haspoel that was located here. On the wall at the back are the motto and the coat of arms of Belgium. Under the text 'People have died for your freedom', the names of all Tienenaars who fell during the Second World War were immortalized. And by extension, the Heldensquare is now a monument to both the fighters for Belgian independence and the fallen of the two world wars.

The actual monument is formed by the bronze dome surrounded by five bluestone pillars with bronze figures. The dome depicted the symbols of science, the arts, industry and agriculture: a feeding mother, a lady with a lyre, a farmer with beets, a chemist, a mason and a blacksmith with anvil.

Four stones were placed around the dome, bearing the names of the German camps Dachau, Zwickau, Stalag IA and Breendonk. Under each stone rests an urn of earth brought over from each of these camps.

The bronze figures on the pillars are a bare-chested resistance with a clenched fist, a soldier holding a memorial plaque with the inscription "Pro Patria", a political prisoner, a deported and a woman with a dead child in her arms, symbolizing the civilian victims.

The American Second Panzer Division liberated the city on September 7, 1944. In 2004, the 60th anniversary of this was festively commemorated. On the occasion of this commemoration, the statuette 'The Peace Dove' (by Ivan Struys) was solemnly unveiled in the presence of the Tiense veterans' associations and some former combatants of the armored division. The statue is to the left of the main entrance.

Source: izi.travel/nl/f596-tienen-historische-stadswandel-lange-version-6-km/nl#8882c5c3-2465-4518-9ab6-ae1291830ec1

Translated by Google •

September 8, 2024

The Heldensquare is more of a memorial than a monument. As a monument, it commemorates the victims of Belgian independence, the First World War and the Second World War.

The place where the Heldensquare is located used to be a pond, a fact that was included in the concept. The square is sunken and surrounded by benches, planters, trees, a broken stone wall and various works of art.

The monument itself consists of a sculptural ensemble in bronze and bluestone with a brick wall next to it with the names of the fallen and the text "VOOR UW VRIJHEID ZIJN MENSEN GESDIVEN".

Around the bronze dome with the statues you will find the names of four places from which soil was brought to Tienen in urns: Dachau, Zwickau, Stalag IA and Breendonk.

The whole was created by local architect Jacques Piron and sculptor Georges Van de Voorde.

Inventory of Immovable Heritage: War Memorial Heldensquare, id.erfgoed.net/erfgoedobjecten/214961

Translated by Google •

Jeff S

January 7, 2024

These column-like shapes are beautifully arranged in a circle, each with a statue attached to it...

Translated by Google •

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Details

Informations

Elevation 80 m

Weather

Wednesday 17 September

18°C

16°C

40 %

If you start your activity now...

Max wind speed: 14.0 km/h

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Location: Tienen, Leuven, Flemish Brabant, Flanders, Belgium

Heroes' Square

1. City Park – Oplinter Church loop from Tienen

2. City Park – Town Hall loop from Tienen

3. Church of Our Lady ten Poel – Sint-Germanus Church and Vrijthof loop from Tienen

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