Chimay
Encyclopedia
Chimay 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.
and cheese
s are produced in the town by the Chimay Brewery, run by the Trappist monks of Scourmont Abbey
, and are internationally renowned.
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.
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
located in the Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
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
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
of 50 inhabitants per km². The source of the Oise River
Oise River
The River Oise is a right tributary of the River Seine, flowing for 302 km in Belgium and France. Its source is in the Belgian province Hainaut, south of the town Chimay. It crosses the border with France after about 20 km. It flows into the Seine in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, near Paris...
is located in the municipality.
Situated in the administrative district of Thuin
Thuin
Thuin is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut. The Thuin municipality includes the old communes of Leers-et-Fosteau, Biesme-sous-Thuin, Ragnies, Biercée, Gozée, Donstiennes, and Thuillies.-Origins:...
, the municipality was created with a merger of 14 old communes on January 1, 1977. The Trappist
TRAPPIST
TRAPPIST is Belgian robotic telescope in Chile which came online in 2010, and is an acronym for TRAnsiting Planets and PlanetesImals Small Telescope, so named in homage to Trappist beer produced in the Belgian region. Situated high in the Chilean mountains at La Silla Observatory, it is actually...
monastery of Scourmont Abbey
Scourmont Abbey
Scourmont Abbey is a Trappist monastery on the Scourmont plateau, in the village of Forges which is part of Chimay in the province of Hainaut, Belgium)...
is located in the town and is famous for the Chimay Brewery.
Subdivisions
The Walloon names of the place names are in brackets and italics.- Baileux (Balieu)
- Bailièvre (Bailleve)
- Bourlers (Bourlé)
- Chimay (Chimai)
- ForgesForges, BelgiumForges is a village and a former municipality in the province of Hainaut, Belgium. It became part of the new municipality of Chimay on January 1, 1977. The Trappist abbey Notre-Dame de Scourmont and the source of the river Oise are located near 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 pieyesInformation
Chimay Trappist beersBières de Chimay
Chimay Brewery is a beer brewery in Chimay, southern Hainaut, Belgium. The brewery is located in the Scourmont Abbey, a Trappist monastery, and is one of the seven breweries worldwide that produce Trappist beer. They make three widely distributed ales: Chimay Rouge, Chimay Bleue, and Chimay...
and cheese
Cheese
Cheese is a generic term for a diverse group of milk-based food products. Cheese is produced throughout the world in wide-ranging flavors, textures, and forms....
s are produced in the town by the Chimay Brewery, run by the Trappist monks of Scourmont Abbey
Scourmont Abbey
Scourmont Abbey is a Trappist monastery on the Scourmont plateau, in the village of Forges which is part of Chimay in the province of Hainaut, Belgium)...
, and are internationally renowned.
Main sights
- Chimay Castle, the châteauChâteauA château is a manor house or residence of the lord of the manor or a country house of nobility or gentry, with or without fortifications, originally—and still most frequently—in French-speaking regions...
of the princes of Chimay - Lake VirellesLake VirellesThe lake Virelles is an artificial lake near the city of Chimay in Belgium. The lake is an important nature reserve with a great number of birds. The lake’s area covers 1,25 km²....
- The source of the OiseOise RiverThe River Oise is a right tributary of the River Seine, flowing for 302 km in Belgium and France. Its source is in the Belgian province Hainaut, south of the town Chimay. It crosses the border with France after about 20 km. It flows into the Seine in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, near Paris...
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
Grand Prix motor racing
Grand Prix motor racing has its roots in organised automobile racing that began in France as far back as 1894. It quickly evolved from a simple road race from one town to the next, to endurance tests for car and driver...
and sportscar
Sports car racing
Sports car racing is a form of circuit auto racing with automobiles that have two seats and enclosed wheels. They may be purpose-built or related to road-going sports cars....
categories, and included the famous Grand Prix des Frontières
Grand Prix des Frontières
The Grand Prix des Frontières was a motor race held at Chimay in Belgium. The race was created by Jules Buisseret, who was also responsible for the circuit's existence...
. 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 CoulonvauxEmile CoulonvauxEmile Maurice Léon Coulonvaux was a Belgian liberal lawyer and politician. Coulonvaux was doctor in law and a lawyer. He became an alderman in Dinant and was also liberal senator and President of the Liberal Party in 1937-1940.-Source:*...
(1892–1966), politician - François DuvalFrançois DuvalFrançois Duval is a Belgian rally driver.-1999–2004:With victories in four events Duval won the Belgian Citroën Saxo Challenge title in 1999...
(b. 1980 ), automobile pilot - Patrick Belpaire (b. 1931 ), politician
- François-Joseph-Philippe de RiquetFrançois-Joseph-Philippe de RiquetFrançois-Joseph-Philippe de Riquet , comte de Caraman was the 16th Prince de Chimay from 24 July 1804 to 1843....
(1771–1843), Prince of Chimay, and his wife Thérésa TallienThérésa TallienThérésa Cabarrus, Madame Tallien , was a French social figure during the Revolution. Later she became Princess of Chimay.-Early life:...
(1773–1835), French social figure
External links
- Official website
- Chimay at the Union des Villes et Communes de Wallonie asbl.
- http://www.chimay.be
- http://atheneeroyaldechimay.free.fr/