Sint-Truiden

Sint-Truiden (Dutch pronunciation: [sɪnˈtrœydə(n)] ⓘ; French: Saint-Trond [sɛ̃ tʁɔ̃]; Limburgish: Sintruin [sɪnˈtʀœjn])[tone?]

The municipality includes the former communes (now deelgemeenten) of Aalst, Brustem, Duras, Engelmanshoven, Gelinden, Gorsem, Groot-Gelmen, Halmaal, Kerkom-bij-Sint-Truiden, Melveren, Metsteren, Ordingen, Runkelen, Velm, Wilderen, and Zepperen.

The city is in the centre of Belgium's fruit-producing region, Haspengouw (Hesbaye), which is renowned for its pears, apples (Jonagold), and sweet cherries.

Under the abbot's direction, Sint-Truiden also received an earth wall surmounted by a wooden fence and fortified gates.

In the 13th century, the fortified town became one of the 23 bonnes villes (main cities) belonging to the Bishopric of Liège.

Charles the Bold captured the town in 1467, marking the beginning of a slow decline that lasted until the 19th century.

[2] On 9 August 1914, at the outset of Germany's invasion of Belgium, 20 civilians were executed and a number of houses destroyed.

During World War II, its airfield was the base of one of the most famous Luftwaffe Night Fighter squadron, NJG1, with units II/NJG1 and IV/NJG1 operating Junkers Ju 88 and Heinkel He 219 aircraft from here in 1944.

Duras castle