HISTORICAL CONTEXT
The oldest trace of habitation in the wide, surrounding area of the city of Zoutleeuw goes back to the eight century. In this period the bishops of Metz commissioned the foundation of a church dedicated to the holy Sulpice, aiming to convert the rural population to Christianity. The Church of St-Sulpice will be discussed further during the trail. In this early stage there was not a single trace of a ‘city’ in the area, since people lived scattered instead of closely together on one, specific place. This way, a patchwork of small houses extended over the landscape, separated by woods and swamps.