- Chimay
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For the Belgian brewery named after this location, see Chimay Brewery.
Chimay Chimay: Grand Place
Flag
Coat of armsLocation in Belgium
ChimayCoordinates: 50°03′N 04°19′E / 50.05°N 4.317°E Country Belgium Region Wallonia Community French Community Province Hainaut Arrondissement Thuin Government – Mayor Denis Danvoye – Governing party/ies CLE Area – Total 197.10 km2 (76.1 sq mi) Population (1 January 2010)[1] – Total 9,854 – Density 50/km2 (129.5/sq mi) Demographics – Foreigners 4.00% (7 January 2005) Postal codes 6460, 6461, 6462, 6463, 6464 Area codes 060 Website www.ville-de-chimay.be Map of Chimay
Chimay (French pronunciation: [ʃi.mɛ], Walloon: Chimai) 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.
Contents
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)
Population
Year Population Change Density 2003 9,871 - - 2006 9,774 22 or 0,23% 50/km² Etymology
The origin of the name comes either from the Celtic word coimos meaning "pretty, pleasant " or the Old French: Chimeye jameye les pieyes
Information
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.
Main sights
The central town square, Chimay
- 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.
Personalities
- Daniel van Buyten (b. 1978), football player
- Emile Coulonvaux (1892–1966), politician
- François Duval (b. 1980 ), automobile pilot
- 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 2010 (XLS; 221 KB)
External links
- Official website
- Chimay at the Union des Villes et Communes de Wallonie asbl.
- http://www.chimay.be
- http://atheneeroyaldechimay.free.fr/
Ath 
Charleroi Mons Mouscron Soignies Thuin Anderlues · Beaumont · Binche · Chimay · Erquelinnes · Estinnes · Froidchapelle · Ham-sur-Heure-Nalinnes · Lobbes · Merbes-le-Château · Momignies · Morlanwelz · Sivry-Rance · ThuinTournai Antoing · Brunehaut · Celles · Estaimpuis · Leuze-en-Hainaut · Mont-de-l'Enclus · Pecq · Péruwelz · Rumes · TournaiCategories:- Municipalities of Hainaut
- Wallonia
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