Pont-de-Loup

Pont-de-Loup
Municipality
Pont-de-Loup Location in Belgium
Coordinates: 50°24′N 04°33′E / 50.400°N 4.550°E / 50.400; 4.550Coordinates: 50°24′N 04°33′E / 50.400°N 4.550°E / 50.400; 4.550
Country	Belgium
Community	French Community
Region	Wallonia
Province	Hainaut
Arrondissement	Charleroi
Area
• Total	22.19 km2 (8.57 sq mi)
Population (1 January 2016)[1]
• Total	10,805
• Density	490/km2 (1,300/sq mi)
Website	www.aiseau-presles.be

Pont-de-Loup (in Walloon Pondlô) is an old Belgian village nestled in a bend of the River Sambre, not far from the town of Farciennes.

Someone from Pont-de-Loup is called a "Lupipontain(e)".

History

Pont-de-Loup was once part of a huge estate ceded in 840 by Louis the Pious to Eckhard^[2] a Lord of the time in Wallonia in the province of Hainaut. Today it is part of the municipality of Aiseau-Presles.

Etymology

Possible etymology : from 'fundus' (Latin) for estate and '-lo(o)' from wood (Germanic lauha,^[3] marisk (Frankish language)-> du marais (French) -> marsh (English)

Old forms

Also known as

Baty, Champs Saint-Clèt (French The fields around the Church of Saint-Clèt), Joncquière, Malfait, Monts, Wairchat.

The cult "Notre Dame Del Manock"

The Blessed Mary of Del Manock is mentioned for the first time in 1358. A local virgin, she is the object of veneration by the people who come to invoke the healing of their deafness.

Translation into English from The Royal Society of History "Le Vieux Châtelet" website

see external links

Every year on the last Sunday of August, the village of Pont-de-Loup is cheering. This is the day of the procession of Our Lady Del Manock and a pilgrimage founded in her honour. But it is also an important feast day for the patron church of Saint-Clèt.

Most processions are alike, However, the one in Pont-de-Loup is different by the presence of the group representing Our Lady of Manock, the local Virgin and object of veneration for pilgrims to invoke the healing of deafness.

The procession and pilgrimage are combined together in one large procession for the Blessed Notre Dame faithful and pilgrims.

People come from far and wide, they attend Mass which marks the beginning of events. During the service, many people gather en masse on the square, as the church is too small to accommodate all.

After Mass, the procession forms from the church and is led by the local group "Walkers of Saint-Eloi" around one hundred men, they march in tune with pipes and drums.

The procession goes around the first quarter of the church, and then onwards to the river Sambre, then it stops at the entrance of narrow and rugged path leading to the fountain of Our Lady Del Manock, it is the first stop and essential part of the pilgrimage.

Once they arrive at the fountain the afflicted drink the clear water deemed to miraculous cure for deafness which is by the wall of the old cemetery.

Then the procession reformed continues its route towards the farm of En-Bas (Down belows) now demolished. Then back to the village square of Tilleul before breaking up around noon back at the starting point.

Since World War II, although its started without traditional walkers, the religious procession is undoubtedly the most striking procession of the village.

Sport

Pont-de-loup has a football club (A.S.B.L. Sporting Pont-de-Loup) and a basketball club The Royal Eclairs

Landmark Sites

• The Church of Saint Clèt. Diocese of Tournai in French
• Unité de Valorisation Energétique (UVE) de Pont-de-Loup Presentation in French

References

External links

• Commune of Aiseau Presles in French
• The Royal Society of History "Le Vieux Châtelet" in French