Chimay
| Chimay | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Municipality | |||
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Chimay: Grand Place | |||
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  Chimay Location in Belgium | |||
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Location of Chimay in Hainaut  | |||
| Coordinates: 50°03′N 04°19′E / 50.050°N 4.317°ECoordinates: 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 | ||
| • Governing party/ies | CLE | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 197.10 km2 (76.10 sq mi) | ||
| Population (1 January 2013)[1] | |||
| • Total | 9,847 | ||
| • Density | 50/km2 (130/sq mi) | ||
| Postal codes | 6460, 6461, 6462, 6463, 6464 | ||
| Area codes | 060 | ||
| Website | www.ville-de-chimay.be | ||
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Chimay (French pronunciation: [ʃimɛ], Walloon: Chimai) is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut. On January 1, 2006, Chimay had a total population of 9,774. The total area is 197.10 km² which gives a population density of 50 inhabitants per km². The source of the Oise River is located in the municipality.
Situated in the administrative district of Thuin, the municipality was created with a merger of 14 old communes on January 1, 1977. The Trappist monastery of Scourmont Abbey is located in the town and is famous for the Chimay Brewery.
Etymology
The origin of the name would come from the Celtic word coimos meaning "pretty, pleasant".
Subdivisions
The Walloon names of the place names are in brackets and italics.
- Baileux (Balieu)
- Bailièvre (Bailleve)
- Bourlers (Bourlé)
- Chimay (Chimai)
- Forges (Foidjes)
- L'Escaillère (L'Ecayire)
- Lompret (Lompré)
- Rièzes (Rieze)
- Robechies (Robchiye)
- Salles (Sale)
- Saint-Remy (Sint-Rmey)
- Vaulx (Vå)
- Villers-la-Tour (Vilé-al-Tour)
- Virelles (Virele)
Demographics
| Year | Population | Change | Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 9,871 | - | - |
| 2006 | 9,774 | 22 or 0,23% | 50/km² |
Attractions
- 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 of Chimay
- Daniel van Buyten (b. 1978), football player
- Émile Coulonvaux (1892–1966), politician
- François Duval (b. 1980), automobile pilot
- Georges Hostelet (1875–1960), mathematician, philosopher, and sociologist
- Patrick Belpaire (b. 1931), politician
- François-Joseph-Philippe de Riquet (1771–1843), Prince of Chimay, and his wife Thérésa Tallien (1773–1835), French social figure
Twin cities/towns
References
- ↑ Population per municipality on 1 January 2013 (XLS; 607.5 KB)
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chimay. |
- Official website
- Chimay at the Union des Villes et Communes de Wallonie asbl.
- chimay.be
- atheneeroyaldechimay.free.fr
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Eppe-Sauvage (FR-59) | Sivry-Rance, Froidchapelle | | |
| Moustier-en-Fagne (FR-59) Baives (FR-59) Momignies |
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Couvin (WNA) | ||
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| Signy-le-Petit (FR-08) | Neuville-lez-Beaulieu (FR-08) | Regniowez (FR-08) |
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