Editing Perwez

{{Infobox Belgium municipality
|name            = Perwez
|picture         = Perwez JPG01.jpg
|picture-legend  = Perwez: the Town Hall 
|map             = Perwez Brabant-Wallon Belgium Map.svg
|map-legend      = The municipality of Perwez in Walloon Brabant
|arms            = Blason de Perwez.svg
|flag            = Perwijs vlag.svg
|arrondissement  = [[Arrondissement of Nivelles|Nivelles]]
|nis             = 25084
|pyramid-date    =
|0-19=
|20-64=
|65=
|foreigners=
|foreigners-date =
|mayor           = Jordan Godfriaux
|majority        = [[Reformist Movement|MR]]-[[Ecolo]]-independent
|postal-codes    = 1360
|telephone-area  = 081
|web             = [http://www.perwez.be/ www.perwez.be]
|coordinates     = {{coord|50|37|N|04|49|E|region:BE|display=inline,title}}
}}
'''Perwez''' ({{IPA|fr|pɛʁwe}}; {{langx|wa|Perwé}}; {{langx|nl|Perwijs}}, {{IPA|nl|pɛrˈʋɛis|-|Nl-Perwijs.ogg}}) is a [[Municipalities of Belgium|municipality]] of [[Wallonia]] located in the [[Belgium|Belgian]] province of [[Walloon Brabant]].

== Geography and demographics ==

On 1 January 2006 the municipality had 7,487 inhabitants. The total area is 50.81&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>, giving a [[population density]] of 147 inhabitants per km<sup>2</sup>.

The municipality consists of the following [[deelgemeente|districts]]: Malèves-Sainte-Marie-Wastines, Orbais, Thorembais-les-Béguines, and Thorembais-Saint-Trond.

== History ==
In Roman times, Perwez was on the Roman road from Bavay to Cologne.{{sfn|Antoine|2012|p=9}} This resulted in three tumuli which are no longer visible today. In 1977 a tomb with several Roman artefacts was discovered near the farm of Long Pont.{{sfn|Antoine|2012|p=10}}

In medieval times, Perwez often suffered from its position near the border between the [[Duchy of Brabant]] and the [[Prince-Bishopric of Liège]].{{sfn|Antoine|2012|p=11}} Perwez developed around its church and its castle, which was demolished somewhat before 1870. The main source of wealth for Perwez was its market, which relied on agricultural products.{{sfn|Antoine|2012|p=12}}

[[File:PERWEZ bombardement 130540 (14).jpg|left|thumb|Destruction caused by the bombardment of May 13, 1940.]]
In the [[modern era]] (1500-1800) Perwez got a [[cloth hall]] and a wheats exchange {{lang|fr|halle aux grains}}. In 1511 it got an annual October market. In 1577 troops paid by the rebellious States General camped near Perwez.{{sfn|Antoine|2012|p=19}}

During the [[Franco-Dutch War]] many houses and harvests were destroyed.{{sfn|Antoine|2012|p=19}} The  subsequent [[Nine Years' War]] was utterly ruinous for Perwez.{{sfn|Antoine|2012|p=20}}

During the 19th century Perwez saw quite some industrialization based on agriculture. In 1870 there were two [[watermill]]s, two [[windmill]]s, two [[tannery|tanneries]], three [[brewery|breweries]] and a [[râperie]], linked to a central sugar factory.

The râperie was a very significant enterprise, which had  175 employees.{{sfn|Antoine|2012|p=24}} It extracted juice from sugar beet, which was then sent by pipeline to the [[Wanze Sugar Factory]]. It was located on the Avenue de Rosaraie and closed down in 1959. Some remaining buildings are now used by a high-end restaurant.

During World War II Perwez suffered from an accidental disaster. On 13 May 1940, a French ammunition storage or mine in the center of town was hit and exploded. There were 33 casualties. The French then ignited other mines, leading to much destruction. On 6 September 1944 Perwez was liberated by the  American [[2nd Armored Division (United States)|2nd Armored Division]].{{sfn|Antoine|2012|p=26}}

== Sights ==

=== Buildings ===
There are several protected sights in Perwez.{{sfn|Antoine|2012|p=33}} 
* Saint Roch chapel
* Several parts of the farm on Rue Trémouroux No 94 in Orbais
* Du Mont Farm
* La Petite Cense Farm
* Mellemont Farm
* Parts of the interior of the church of Saint Martin and Saint Roch in Thorembais-les-Béguines
* The tower of the church of Saint John
* The church and cemetery of Thorembais-Saint-Trond

=== Nature ===
West of Thorembais-Saint-Trond there are three natural reserves:.{{sfn|Antoine|2012|p=33}} 
* The wells of Thorembais
* The woods of Buis
* The swamps of Long-Pont

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Sources==
* {{cite web |last=Antoine |first=André |title=Perwez d'hier et d'aujourd'hui |url=https://www.perwez.be/commune/services-communaux/publications/livrets-thematiques/pdf-livrets-thematiques/perwez-hier-aujourdhui-opti-2012.pdf |website=Commune de Perwez |year=2012 |access-date=17 June 2023 }}

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline}}
*[http://www.perwez.be Municipal website] (in French)

{{Geographic location
|Centre = Perwez
|N  = [[Incourt, Belgium|Incourt]]
|E  = [[Ramillies, Belgium|Ramillies]]
|SE = [[Éghezée]] ([[Namur (province)|WNA]])
|SW = [[Gembloux]] ([[Namur (province)|WNA]])
|W  = [[Walhain]]
}}
{{Walloon Brabant}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Perwez| ]]
[[Category:Municipalities of Walloon Brabant]]


{{WalloonBrabant-geo-stub}}