(Verstraete: Wervik/Wervicq-Sud)

A Tale of Two Cities



On the borders of the Leie River ("De Leie") is one city with two names.

On one side of the river is Wervik, Belgium, a center for tobacco and flax production in West Flanders. On the other side is Wervicq-Sud, France. The one city was split into two after the defeat of Napoleon and following Belgium's independence as a self-ruling entity.


The marketplace of Wervik, Belgium.



The Bridge Over the River Leie. The French flag is on the left; the Belgian flag is on the right.
The Belgian border


The French Side

((c) 2001 PVds Photos/May not be used without permission of creator)

Flags courtesy of ITA's Flags of All Countries used with permission.