ST. MARTIN AT YPRES

WIENER, Jacques and Leopold: Belgium, 1847, Bronze, 50 mm
Obv: View of exterior    EGLISE ST MARTIN A YPRES
Exergue: CONSTRUITE 1083, REBATIE 1221-1270 LA TOUR 1434, LA RESTAURATION GENERLE COMMENCEE 1845
Rev: View of interior
Signed: J. ET L. WIENER F. 1847
Ref: Van Hoydonck 29;  Reinecke 19; Ross M32; Bouhy 54; Weiss BW242

Ypres  is in the West Flanders province of Belgium, near the French border.   During the Middle Ages, Ypres was one of the most powerful towns of Flanders, with a flourishing cloth industry that rivaled those of Ghent and Bruges.  However, political and social unrest and foreign wars led to the decline of this industry. A center of resistance to Spanish rule, the town was taken (1584) and sacked by Alessandro Farnese.  It was held by France from 1678 to 1716 and from 1792 to 1814.  In World War I, Ypres was the scene of three great battles. The town was completely destroyed during the war and was later rebuilt. Among the city's restored buildings are the Gothic Cathedral of St. Martin. (encyclopedia.com)

Link St. Martin at Ypres (Wikipedia)

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