Harelbeke
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Harelbeke is a Belgian city with 26 957 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2012) in the region of West Flanders.
Geography
The city lies on the River Lys and directly borders the south to the city of Kortrijk. In addition to the core city it still exists from the two districts Bavikhove and Hulste.
Ghent is located 35 kilometers (km) north-east, 37 km north of Bruges and Brussels, about 72 km to the east.
Traffic
The next highway exits are located at Deerlijk and Kortrijk to the A14/E17.
Harelbeke has a regional railway station on the line Lille -Kortrijk- Harelbeke - Ghent; others are, inter alia, to in Anzegem, Waregem, Izegem and Kortrijk.
In the French city of Lille is a regional airport and in the Belgian capital of Brussels there is an international airport.
Economy
In the district Hulste the company Agristo, one of the largest European manufacturers of chips, its headquarters.
Attractions
- St. Salvator Church (architect Laurent- Benoît Dewez, 18th Century )
- St. Rita Church, Zandberg
- Old Train Station
- English cemetery
- Museum Peter Benoit in his birthplace
- Pipe and Tobacco Museum
- Vinke Sports Museum ( Vinke the sport is a common in Flanders singing competition between caged chaffinches )
- Recreational area De Gavers, where among other things the Koutermolen, a restored grain mill
- Nature Reserve Age Leiearm
In the district Hulste:
- The Muizelmolen, a windmill (1799-1840)
- St. Peter's Church in the Gothic Revival style built around 1906 by the architect Carette from Kortrijk. Your Baroque organ was created in 1736 by Corneille Cacheux ( 1687-1738 ) and restored in 2006.
- Various old farmhouses like the Kasteelhof and Vrijlegemhoeve.
Sports
In Harelbeke is the start and finish of the cycling race E3 - Price Flanders, which is conducted annually one week before the Tour of Flanders. The distance is about 210 km.
Sons and daughters of the town
- Peter Benoit (1834-1901), composer
- André Defoort (1914-1972), cyclist
- Julien Delbecque (1903-1977), cyclist
- Peter Ronsse ( b. 1980 ), cyclist
Twinning
Harelbeke has for many years maintained a close partnership with the cities Mittelmoselort Kinheim