Gembloux

Gembloux
Gembloers  (Dutch)
Municipality
Town hall with belfry in the background

Flag
Coat of arms
Gembloux
Location in Belgium
Location of Gembloux in the province of Namur
Coordinates: 50°34′N 04°41′E / 50.567°N 4.683°E / 50.567; 4.683Coordinates: 50°34′N 04°41′E / 50.567°N 4.683°E / 50.567; 4.683
Country Belgium
Community French Community
Region Wallonia
Province Namur
Arrondissement Namur
Government
 • Mayor Benoît Dispa (Bailli)
 • Governing party/ies Bailli, Ecolo
Area
 • Total 95.86 km2 (37.01 sq mi)
Population (1 January 2017)[1]
 • Total 25,763
 • Density 270/km2 (700/sq mi)
Postal codes 5030-5032
Area codes 081
Website www.gembloux.be

Gembloux (French pronunciation: ​[ʒɑ̃.blu]; in Walloon: Djiblou; in Dutch: Gembloers) is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Namur, on the axis Brussels–Namur

On 1 January 2006 the municipality had 21,964 inhabitants. The total area is 95.86 km², yielding a population density of 229 inhabitants per km². The mayor, who was elected on 8 October 2006, is Benoît Dispa.

This city is well known for its Agricultural University and for its cutlery. The university is housed in the historical Abbey of Gembloux, which dates from the tenth century.

Gembloux's belfry belongs to the set of belfries of Belgium and France inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2005.

History

The town grew around the Gembloux Abbey, founded in the tenth century. In the vicinity of the town, in 1578, the Battle of Gembloux was fought during the Eighty Years' War. In May 1940 the Battle of Hannut and the Battle of the Gembloux Gap took place nearby, tank battles during the larger Battle of France.

Sections

Gembloux is composed by the sections of Gembloux, Beuzet, Bossière, Bothey, Corroy-le-Château, Ernage, Grand-Leez, Grand-Manil, Isnes, Lonzée, Mazy & Sauvenière.

Notable inhabitants

Twin towns

Gembloux is twinned with

See also

References

  1. ↑ Population per municipality as of 1 January 2017 (XLS; 397 KB)
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