Faymonville, a Belgian village historically called “Turkish village,” opened its traditional carnival. Led by cavalry carrying Turkish flags, Faymonville villagers marched playing Ottoman Janissary Band music and followed cavaliers. The reason the place is called a “Turkish” village has different explanations. Some believe that the tradition dates back to the eighth century, claiming Faymonville residents were nicknamed Turks because they did not join the Crusades. Another explanation is that Faymonville villagers did not pay the taxes levied in Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries to finance war against the Ottomans, and were accused of having allied with Muslims. The town was part of the Eupen-Malmedy area transferred from Germany to Belgium in 1919. It was annexed to Germany in the occupation of 1940-1945. During the Battle of the Bulge, the town was severely shelled and more than 50% of the buildings were completely destroyed, most the remaining ones showing severe damage. Today, Faymonville forms part of the predominantly Francophone Belgian district of Malmedy.
