Courtrai

Town in Belgium on both sides of the River Lys, in West Flanders, 42 km/26 mi southwest of Ghent; population (1997) 75,600. It is connected by canal with the coast, and by river and canal with Antwerp and Brussels. Locally grown flax has historically been the basis of its textile industry, ranging from carpet to linen production. Light industries have developed, including engineering and electronics, jewellery manufacture and printing.

Features The town has old walls, a castle, and a belfry. The Gothic church was founded by Baldwin, Count of Flanders, in the early 13th century, and the town hall dates from 1526.

History To the Romans the town was known as Cortracum. It gained its industrial importance in the Middle Ages. Here, in 1302, a ‘Battle of the Spurs’ was fought (not to be confused with Henry VIII's battle at Guinegate in 1513), when the citizens of Ghent, Ypres, and Bruges won a victory over the French army, naming the battle after the golden spurs they plucked off the vanquished dead.