Chimay (French pronunciation: [ʃimɛ] , Walloon: Chimai) is a city and municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium.[2] In 2006, Chimay had a population of 9,774. The area is 197.10 km2 which gives a population density of 50 inhabitants per km2. It is the source of the Oise River.
Chimay
Chimai (Walloon) | |
|---|---|
 Chimay: Grand Place | |
 Flag .svg) Coat of arms | |
Location of Chimay  | |
  Chimay Location in Belgium
Location of Chimay in Hainaut  | |
| Coordinates: 50°03′N 04°19′E / 50.050°N 4.317°E | |
| Country |  Belgium |
| Community | French Community |
| Region | Wallonia |
| Province | Hainaut |
| Arrondissement | Thuin |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Denis Danvoye (cdH) (CLE) |
| • Governing party/ies | Construisons l'Avenir Ensemble (CLE) |
| Area | |
• Total | 198.6 km2 (76.7 sq mi) |
| Population (2018-01-01)[1] | |
• Total | 9,841 |
| • Density | 50/km2 (130/sq mi) |
| Postal codes | 6460, 6461, 6462, 6463, 6464 |
| NIS code | 56016 |
| Area codes | 060 |
| Website | www.ville-de-chimay.be |
In the administrative district of Thuin, the municipality was created with a merger of 14 communes in 1977. The Trappist monastery of Scourmont Abbey in the town is famous for the Chimay Brewery.
Toponymy
editThe etymology of the name is ultimately, via Vulgar Latin, from the Proto-Celtic word koimos meaning "pretty, pleasant".
Subdivisions
editThe Walloon names of the place names are in brackets and italics.
Demographics
edit| Year | Population | Change | Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1904 | 3,383[2] | — |
17.1/km2 |
| 2003 | 9,871 | 6,488 | 50.1/km2 |
| 2006 | 9,774 | −22 or −0.23% | 49.6/km2 |
| 2016 | 9,850 | 76 or 0.78% | 50.0/km2 |
Attractions
edit- Chimay Castle, the château of the princes of Chimay
- Lake Virelles
- The source of the Oise
Chimay has traditionally hosted an annual motor racing event, run on a street circuit formed from local public roads. From the 1920s to 1960s the event was run for contemporary Grand Prix and sportscar categories, and included the famous Grand Prix des Frontières. In recent times, while the event has persisted it has been run for historic race series. The track briefly lost its licence in 2006 related to safety fears, but has since had it reinstated.
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The central town square, Chimay -
Chimay Trappist beers and cheeses are produced in the town by the Chimay Brewery, run by the Trappist monks of Scourmont Abbey, and are internationally renowned.
Notable people
edit- Daniel van Buyten (b. 1978), football player
- Émile Coulonvaux (1892–1966), politician
- François Duval (b. 1980), rally car driver
- Jean Froissart (c.1337-c.1405), medieval historian
- Georges Hostelet (1875–1960), mathematician, philosopher, and sociologist
- François-Joseph-Philippe de Riquet (1771–1843), Prince of Chimay, and his wife Thérésa Tallien (1773–1835), French social figure
Twin cities/towns
edit
References
edit- ^ "Wettelijke Bevolking per gemeente op 1 januari 2018". Statbel. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
- ^ a b Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 6 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 164.
External links
edit
- Official website
- Chimay at the Union of Cities and Municipalities of Wallonia
- chimay.be
- atheneeroyaldechimay.free.fr