Chimay

Chimay
Municipality
Chimay: Grand Place

Flag
Coat of arms
Chimay
Location in Belgium
Location of Chimay in Hainaut
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 Françoise Fassiaux
 • Governing party/ies BOUGE
Area
 • Total 197.10 km2 (76.10 sq mi)
Population (1 January 2017)[1]
 • Total 9,879
 • 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 in the Belgian province of Hainaut.[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.

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.

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

YearPopulationChangeDensity
1904 3,383[2]
—
17.1/km²
2003 9,871+6,48850.1/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 2017 (XLS; 397 KB)
  2. 1 2 Wikisource Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Chimay". Encyclopædia Britannica. 6 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 164.
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