Chimay

For the brewery, see Chimay Brewery.
Chimay
Municipality

Chimay: Grand Place

Flag
Coat of arms
Chimay

Location in Belgium

Coordinates: 50°03′N 04°19′E / 50.050°N 4.317°E / 50.050; 4.317Coordinates: 50°03′N 04°19′E / 50.050°N 4.317°E / 50.050; 4.317
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 2016)[1]
 • Total 9,850
 • Density 50/km2 (130/sq mi)
Postal codes 6460, 6461, 6462, 6463, 6464
Area codes 060
Website www.ville-de-chimay.be

Chimay (French pronunciation: ​[ʃimɛ], Walloon: Chimai) is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut.[2] 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.

Demographics

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

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.

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

Twin cities/towns

References

  1. ↑ Population per municipality as of 1 January 2016 (XLS; 397 KB)
  2. 1 2  Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Chimay". Encyclopædia Britannica. 6 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 164.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chimay.
 Eppe-Sauvage (FR-59) Sivry-Rance, Froidchapelle
Moustier-en-Fagne (FR-59)
Baives (FR-59)
Momignies		 Couvin (WNA)
   Chimay  
Signy-le-Petit (FR-08) Neuville-lez-Beaulieu (FR-08) Regniowez (FR-08)
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/30/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.