Imagine a small village, nestled in the rolling hills of West Flanders. This is De Klijte. It is a place where time seems to slow down. De Klijte offers visitors a glimpse into a simpler way of life.
De Klijte, known in French as La Clytte, sits within the municipality of Heuvelland. Before 1977, De Klijte was part of Reningelst. When Reningelst joined Poperinge, De Klijte chose to become part of Heuvelland.
The village lies close to the Scherpenberg hill. It is a landmark that defines the landscape of De Klijte. The area of De Klijte is just under 5 square kilometers. In 2001, the population was 576. The postal code for De Klijte is 8954.
De Klijte may be small. However, it holds a unique charm. The locals often call it “De Kliete”. This gives the village a personal touch. The name reflects the close-knit community.
Though De Klijte is not in Lille. Lille, originally named “isla” meaning island, was born from the Deûle. The Deûle is a secondary river. It was a key route between Flemish cities and Champagne fairs. Lille developed where goods had to be unloaded. They were transported to a more navigable section of the river.
The Citadel of Lille has a rich history. The signing of the Peace Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle in 1668 made Lille a French city. Louis XIV ordered the construction of Lille’s Citadel between 1667 and 1670. Vauban laid the Citadel’s foundation stone on June 17, 1668.
The Parc de la Citadelle is home to the Queen of the Citadels. It was built under the leadership of the Marquis de Vauban. Three million blocks of stone and sixty million bricks make up the Citadel.
The city of Lille has applied for Lille’s Citadel to be included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Visitors can rediscover how Vauban designed such an ingenious defense system. Today, the heart of the Citadel retains its military use.
The Rapid Reaction Corps-France is stationed there. 14 allied nations contribute to this unit. It has about 450 soldiers. Lille’s City of Art and History Department offers guided tours of the Parc de la Citadelle.