From the Roeselare Train Station you get an immediate sense that the city is a combination of old and new architecture

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Like all European trains, the Belgian lines run on a very strict and predictable schedule.

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Roeselare - home of my Dad's birth

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Light travel day this Saturday. Surprising since the rates were considerably less than during the week.

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Entrance to the Roeselare train station.

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Roeselare city map.

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Most of the day was spent walking through the city center.

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Walking down Ooststraat. A main shopping road with lots of shops.

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Europeans are very fashion conscious as evidenced by a large number of boutiques that seem to do well.

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Looking out to Saint Michael's church from the Grote Markt

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de Zalm is a restaurant and pub that showcases Roeselare's primary native beer - Rodenbach.

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A model mock-up of central Roeselare was on display. St. Michael's church can be seen in the foreground.

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Jim is drinking an Award Winning* Rodenbach Grand Cru (Alc. 6% Vol.) is a blend of “young” beer (33%) and an older beer (67%) that has matured in oak vats. It is the high percentage of the older ripened-in-oak beer that gives it the complex and intense bouquet with a very long aftertaste like a Grand Cru wine.

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The fire trucks and emergency response services have very loud sirens. It's amazing the responders don't have a significant hearing loss.

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It's hard to miss the emergency vehicles with their bright orange paint scheme.

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Several vehicles ended up responding to this particular building. The occupants were evacuated and parts of the adjoining street were blocked off. We suspected a gas leak had been detected.

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Grote Markt

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A cultural event in the main square was taking place the weekend we were in Roeselare.

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Roeselare Town Hall was built in 1770.

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A temporary bandstand was being constructed in the the market square as part of the weekends cultural festival.

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Garden and crucifix adjacent to St. Michael's church.

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Crucifix adjoining St. Michael's church

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Downtown Roeselare

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The original spire of St. Michael's church was 91m as opposed to its current 65m. The original was dislodged and damaged during a storm in 1735.

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Planned concerts at St. Michael's church for the spring and summer of 2009. The church has one of the largest organs in West Flanders. The tower houses a 49 bell carillon.

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Close-up view of St. Michael's tower

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St. Michael's Church

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Some history

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Statue of Marie-Louise Demeester who was the founder of the Canonic Mission Sisters of Saint Augustine. She traveled the world and set up hospitals everywhere.

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Looking down Klarenstraat back towards St. Michael's church

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Chapel and Convent of the Poor Clare Sisters "Mary of Angels"

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Convent prayer chapel of "The Poor Clares of Tongeren". Established in 1867.

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Convent prayer chapel of "The Poor Clares of Tongeren". Established in 1867.

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Hand-painted Stations of the Cross are a famous feature of the chapel

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Chapel balcony.

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Entrance to the Old Municipal Cemetary

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The cemetary features sections specific to war veterans

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The cemetary grounds are lush and well groomed. In addition to war veterans, it houses the greave sites of Roeselare's wealthiest citizens.

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Section devoted to French soldiers who died during World War I

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Marker at the entrance of the French war veteran burial ground.

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British plots with veterans of both World War I and II

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Array of war hero burial plots.

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Burial plots of Roeselare's wealthier citizens are very ornate

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The cemetery is a very large and beautiful "park".

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Burial Plot of Albrecht Rodenbach who was a Flemish poet, and a leader in the revival of Flemish literature that occurred in the late 19th Century. He is more noteworthy as a symbol of the Flemish movement, than for his actual activities, since he died at the age of 23.

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