Schansenroute in Tessenderlo

This bicycle or walking tour takes you along the six entrenchments of Tessenderlo.
This is an initiative of the municipality of Hulshout, Herselt, Scherpenheuvel-Zichem, Tessenderlo, Laakdal and Westerlo, the local communities and the IOED de Merode n.On the occasion of the Archaeology Days 2022.

What are entrenchments?
The Eighty Years' War (1568-1648) breaks out in the Merode region, the inhabitants take refuge in fortified towns or churches. Peasants who lived in a hamlet further away from such places of protection started to build their own entrenchments to protect themselves and their livestock from invading troops. A peasant entrenchment is a piece of land around which the community collectively built a rampart and wide moat. A drawbridge provided access to the entrenchment. Simple shelters were established on the entrenchment, as well as entrenchment houses. Life on the entrenchment was organized by an entrenchment regulation; after all, in times of emergency, one had to react immediately and discipline was a matter of life or death.

More info via https://www.cultuurenerfgoeddemerode.be/projecten/archeologiedagen-20-21-en-22-mei-2022

Sources:
- Author: François Van Gehuchten and Stan Panis
- Hasselt, State Archives, Tessenderlo Oorkonden, 15 (26/08/1622).
- Hasselt, State Archives, Schepenregister, 93, Nieuw N . 599, Regulations for the entrenchments, (1623-1630).
- Hasselt, State Archives, Tessenderlo Charters, 18, the entrenchments, (1624).
- Anonymous. De Schansen, Historische studie der schansen in Beverlo, Meerhout, Oostham, Kwaadmechelen, Olmen, Heppen, Vorst and Koersel, s.l., 1994.
- Broeder, M. Tessenderlo Vroeger en Nu, Kasterlee, 1960.
- Van Thienen F. "Inkwartiering 1607, rotgezellen 1608-1630," in Rotgezellen Tessenderlo, werbare mannen per wijk, 1, Tessenderlo, 2000.
- Van Thienen F. "Rotgezellen 1641-1646-1661," in Rotgezellen Tessenderlo, werbare mannen per wijk, 2, Tessenderlo, 2000.
- Van Dessel, R. Engsbergen: 850 years of history. Tessenderlo, 1984.
- Yperman W. Fockedey, L. and Smeets M. The archaeological preliminary investigation at the entrenchment at Tessenderlo-Schoonhees, Archaeo-report 88, Studiebureau archeologie, 2012.

📏 23 km
📍 St. Martinuskerk, Markt, 3980 Tessenderlo
🏁 St. Martinuskerk, Markt, 3980 Tessenderlo