Courtrai

Courtrai (Flem. Kortrijk), a town of Belgium, in the province of West Flanders, 54 miles SW. of Brussels by rail, and 6 miles from the French frontier. Courtrai, which is built on both sides of the Lys, is surrounded with ancient walls, and has a fine old bridge flanked with Flemish towers, a noble town-hall (1526), belfry, and a beautiful Gothic church, founded in 1238 by Baldwin, Count of Flanders. Table damask, linen, and lace are the principal articles of manufacture, and employ 5400 hand-loomers and several large factories. There are extensive bleaching-grounds in the vicinity, and the neighbouring plains supply fine flax in large quantities to many European markets. Pop. (1875) 27,076; (1893) 31,319. In 1302 the Flemings, citizens of Ghent and Bruges chiefly, won a splendid victory over the chivalry of France beneath the walls of Courtrai, called 'Battle of the Spurs,' from the number of gilt spurs afterwards gathered from the dead by the victors. Henry VIII.'s 'Battle of the Spurs' was fought at Guinegate (q.v.) in 1513.