Editing Seraing (section)

==History==

===Antiquity and Middle Ages===
Several skeletons, potshards, weapons, and jewels were discovered here, dating from the 5th and 6th century, attesting to Seraing being inhabited in [[Franks|Frankish]] times. The first mention of ''Saran'' dates from 956, when a [[Carolingian]] farming domain extending on both sides of the river [[Meuse]] and owned by someone named Saran was donated to the abbey of [[Sint-Truiden]].  The whole territory soon passed to the [[Prince-Bishopric of Liège]].  In the 11th century, Prince-Bishop Henri I of Verdun used a house in ''Seranus'' to entertain guests.  Throughout the [[Middle Ages]], the inhabitants of Seraing owed allegiance to [[Liège]], pledging to defend the fluvial approach to the city in case of invasion, in exchange for tax exonerations.  The first wooden bridge across the river, which replaced the ferry, was built in 1381.

===Industrial development===
[[File:Seraing Pont 1902.jpg|thumb|left|Bridge over the [[Meuse]], in 1902|240px]]

The name of the town changed several times throughout its history, with the current spelling only being set in the 18th century. At around that time, various factors combined to attract industrial investors to Seraing: the advent of the [[Industrial Revolution]], the proximity of the river [[Meuse]], and the discovery of coal at Ougrée. The first ironworks were founded there in 1809. [[John Cockerill (industrialist)|John Cockerill]] and his brother [[James Cockerill|James]] revolutionized the steel industry by using [[blast furnace]]s and [[Coke (fuel)|coke]] instead of traditional [[charcoal]]. These inventions would be the basis for his new company, [[John Cockerill (company)|John Cockerill & Cie]] established in Seraing in 1817. Over the next decades, many more metallurgical plants and foundries were built in this area, which became an integral part of Wallonia's industrial backbone, the [[sillon industriel]]. Glassworkers found the proximity of a cheap source of coal attractive. The [[Val Saint Lambert]] started its operations in 1826.

Seraing was the first location in Belgium where [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] built in Belgium.  Work began on the building in 1927 and completed before the end of 1930.<ref>Jenson, Andrew.  ''Encyclopedic History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints''. (Salt Lake City: Deseret News Press, 1941) p. 269</ref>

===Recent developments===
In the [[2012 Tour de France]], Seraing acted as the finish of [[2012 Tour de France, Prologue to Stage 10#Stage 1|Stage 1]].