History
Duras, a village with a history
From Durachium, the ‘village by the fortress’, to a rural part of Sint-Truiden: the rich history of Duras.
Duras, today part of the town of Sint-Truiden, has a history that goes back to the 11th century. The village was first mentioned in 1099 as Durachium, which in Celtic means roughly ‘village by the fortress’. The name says a lot about the strategic importance of the place.
County and fief
Duras was once an independent county. Because of its location, it played a central role in the 11th and 12th centuries in the conflicts between the County of Loon and the Duchy of Brabant. In 1203 Duras became a fief of the County of Loon, under the Prince-Bishopric of Liège.
From municipality to village
The arrival of the French in 1795 brought the feudal system to an end. Duras became an independent municipality and remained one until 1977, when it became part of Sint-Truiden.
Through all those changes, Duras has always stayed a rural farming village where traditions and local produce are cherished. It brings together history, nature and relaxation, and remains a hidden gem for lovers of heritage and the outdoors.
