ATH

ath, or aath, an ancient town of the province of hainaut, belgium, situated on the left bank of the dender. pop. (1890) 9868; (1904) 11,201. formerly it was fortified, but after the change in the defensive system of belgium in 1858 the fortress was dismantled and its ramparts superseded by boulevards. owing to a fire caused by lightning its fine church of st julien, dating from the 14th century, which had escaped serious injury during many wars, was destroyed in 1817 (since rebuilt). this left the tour burbant as its sole relic of the middle ages. this tower formed part of the _donjon_ of the fortress erected by baldwin