Chimay

Chimay (French pronunciation: [ʃimɛ] ⓘ, Walloon: Chimai) is a city and municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium.[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.

For the brewery, see Chimay Brewery. For the imaginary lake in early modern cartography, see Lake Chimay.
Chimay
Chimai (Walloon)
Municipality
Chimay: Grand Place
Chimay: Grand Place
Flag of Chimay
Flag
Coat of arms of Chimay
Coat of arms
Location of Chimay
Chimay is located in Belgium
Chimay
Chimay
Location in Belgium
Location of Chimay in Hainaut
Coordinates: 50°03′N 04°19′E
Country Belgium
CommunityFrench Community
RegionWallonia
ProvinceHainaut
ArrondissementThuin
Government
 • MayorDenis Danvoye (cdH)
(CLE)
 • Governing party/iesConstruisons l´Avenir Ensemble (CLE)
Area
 • Total198.6 km2 (76.7 sq mi)
Population
 (2018-01-01)[1]
 • Total9,841
 • Density50/km2 (130/sq mi)
Postal codes
6460, 6461, 6462, 6463, 6464
NIS code
56016
Area codes060
Websitewww.ville-de-chimay.be
Bottles of Chimay beer represented on a mural of the railway station of Louvain-la-Neuve (Belgium).

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.

Toponymy

The etymology of the name is ultimately, via Vulgar Latin, from the Proto-Celtic word koimos 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)
  • Saint-Remy (Sint-Rmey)
  • Salles (Sale)
  • 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

Twin cities/towns

References
  1. "Wettelijke Bevolking per gemeente op 1 januari 2018". Statbel. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  2. Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Chimay" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 6 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 164.
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