Sint-Truiden

Sint Truiden is a city and municipality located in the province of Limburg , Flemish Region , Belgium , near the towns of Hasselt and Tongeren . The municipality includes the old communes of Aalst, Brustem , Duras , Engelmanshoven , Gelinden , Gorsem , Groot-Gelmen , Halmaal , Kerkom-bij-Sint-Truiden , Melveren, Metsteren, Ordingen ,Runkelen , Velm , Wilderen , and Zepperen .The city is in the centre of Belgium's fruit-producing region, Haspengouw Hesbaye, and is renowned for its pears, apples Jonagold, and sweet cherries. The municipality formed around an abbey founded by

St. Trudo, a Frankish nobleman, in the 7th century. Legend has it that as a boy, Trudo was playing while building a small church with some rocks. When a woman scornfully kicked over the rocks she was struck by sudden blindness. Trudo cured her from this blindness after she asked for his forgiveness. He also allegedly was able to spring water and cure other illnesses. After Trudo's death, the abbey the later Sint-Truiden Abbey became the centre of a pilgrimage, which brought wealth to the neighbouring town. The 11th century was particularly prosperous and witnessed an important growth in population.