Wallonia
Wallonia (French: [Wallonie] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help), German: [Wallonie(n)] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help), Dutch: [Wallonië] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help), Luxembourgish: [Wallounien] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help), Picard: Walonnie, Walloon: [Walon(r)eye] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help)) or the Walloon Region (French: Région wallonne) is a French-speaking region in the south of Belgium. Its official languages are French (98%) and German (2%). Many people understand the local language Walloon, some still speak it, and few people write it. German is spoken mainly in the area of the German-speaking Community of Belgium.
|
Wallonie (French) | |
|---|---|
Flag of Flag Coat of arms of Coat of arms | |
| Anthem: Le Chant des Wallons ("The Song of the Walloons") | |
| Present-day Belgian Wallonia (dark green) shown within Belgium and Europe. Present-day Belgian Wallonia (dark green) shown within Belgium and Europe. | |
| Country | Belgium |
| Region in Belgium | 1980 |
| Seat | Namur |
| Government | |
| • Executive | Walloon Government |
| • Minister-President | Elio Di Rupo (PS) |
| • Legislature | Walloon Parliament |
| Area | |
| • Land | 16,901 km2 (6,526 sq mi) |
| Population (1 January 2022) | |
| • Total | 3,662,495 [1][2] |
| • Density | 217/km2 (560/sq mi) |
| • Official language | French and German |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| ISO 3166 code | BE-WAL |
| Website | www |
| The area and population figures are given for the Walloon Region, not the French Community. | |
The capital of the region is Namur. Other important cities are: Liège, Charleroi, Mons, Tournai and Verviers.
French speaking Walloons share the French community with French speaking people of Brussels.
Current Minister-President of the Walloon Government is Elio Di Rupo.
Provinces
Wallonia has five provinces:
| Province | Capital | Population 2022 |
Area km² |
Density km² |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hainaut | Mons | 1,351,127 | 3,813 | 354 |
| Liège | Liège | 1,110,989 | 3,857 | 288 |
| Luxembourg | Arlon | 291,143 | 4,459 | 65 |
| Namur | Namur | 499,454 | 3,675 | 136 |
| Walloon Brabant | Wavre | 409,782 | 1,097 | 374 |
Wallonia Media
- Hymne - Le Chant des Wallons.ogg
Hymne - Le Chant des Wallons
- Ludwigslied Manuscript Valenciennes p. 1+2.jpg
The Sequence of Saint Eulalia, the oldest surviving text written in what would become Old French, likely originated in or near Wallonia.
- Renier de Huy MCL3.jpg
Baptismal font of Renier de Huy, an example of Mosan art and of medieval Walloon brass working expertise
- Braine-L'Alleud - Butte du Lion dite de Waterloo.jpg
The Lion's Mound commemorates the Battle of Waterloo, fought in present-day Wallonia. Belgium was united with the Netherlands following the Napoleonic Wars.
- Canal du Centre, l'Ascenseur No. 3.jpg
The boat lifts on the old Canal du Centre were first opened in 1888 and are now a World Heritage Site.
- Bardouxha Mont 1893-mw-c.jpg
Mons fusillade on 17 April 1893
- Belgium resources 1968.jpg
Coalmining and steelmaking industrial areas in Belgium. The sillon industriel is the blue area along the Meuse and Sambre.
- Régions naturelles de Belgique.jpg
The natural regions of Belgium
- Charleroi - place Charles II.jpg
Charles II square aka. Ville-Haute square in Charleroi, Belgium. View from the belfry on market day.
- Liege View 03.jpg
View of Liège with the Meuse
Related pages
Wallonia (or Walloon Region) is one of three regions in Belgium. The other two regions are:
- Flanders (or Flemish Region) for the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium
- Brussels-Capital Region is bilingual (Dutch and French)
References
- ↑ Population, Statbel
- ↑ Area, Statbel
Other websites
- The Walloon Region, belgium.be
This short article about a place or feature can be made longer. You can help Wikipedia by adding to it.
