The free heritage brochure, titled 'Van Horta tot Norga, de oude begraafplaats, Ronse' (From Horta to Norga, the old cemetery, Ronse), invites visitors on a captivating walk past remarkable gravestones, historical figures, and hidden stories that have shaped the city. This brochure is the result of a collaboration between the province, the city, and local heritage experts.
Deputy David Coppens, responsible for Heritage, emphasized the cemetery's significance as a place to commemorate lives and keep stories alive. City Archivist Pieter-Jan Lachaert, along with a working group, mapped out the cemetery's unique funerary heritage, resulting in an accessible guide that allows visitors to discover the history and development of Ronse.
The old cemetery houses valuable funerary heritage, with gravestones often serving as small works of art filled with symbolism. The brochure draws attention to this artistic richness, highlighting architectural styles and artists such as Victor Horta and Sylvain Norga, known for the Art Deco style.
The Heritage Snippets series, launched in 2015 by the Province of East Flanders, now reaches its 85th installment with this publication. The 16-page brochure is available free of charge at Toerisme Ronse and Archief & Erfgoed Ronse, and can also be downloaded at oost-vlaanderen.be/erfgoedsprokkels.
