Ath

Ath is a Belgian municipality located within the Walloon province of Hainaut. The Ath municipality includes the vintage communes of Lanquesaint, Irchonwelz, Ormeignies, Bouvignies, Ostiches, Rebaix, Maffle, Arbre, Houtaing, Ligne, Mainvault, Moulbaix, Villers-Notre-Dame, Villers-Saint-Amand, Ghislenghie, Isieres, Meslin-l'Evêque, and Gibecq. Ath is called the "City of Giants" after the Ducasse d'Ath festivities which take location every yr at the fourth weekend in August. Huge figures representing Goliath, Samson, and different allegoric figures are paraded thru the streets, and Goliath's wedding and his well-known fight with David are re-enacted.

Archeological records show the life of numerous Gallo-Roman settlements within the Ath location. The foundation of the metropolis of Ath, but, dates from around 1160, when Count Baudouin IV of Hainaut, sold a few territory from his liegeman, Gilles de Trazegnies. A few years later, Stanley Baldwin built the Burbant Tower – that may still be seen these days to shield his new acquisition. The new city changed into soon given privileges and its newly constructed marketplace hall at the Grand-Place began to draw citizens.