Gembloux (French: [ʒɑ̃blu] ; Walloon: Djiblou; Dutch: Gembloers [ˈɣɛmbluːrs]) is a city and municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Namur, Belgium.

Gembloux
Djiblou (Walloon)
Gembloers (Dutch)
Town hall with belfry in the background
Town hall with belfry in the background
Flag of Gembloux
Coat of arms of Gembloux
Location of Gembloux
Map
Gembloux is located in Belgium
Gembloux
Gembloux
Location in Belgium
Location of Gembloux in Namur Province
Coordinates: 50°34′N 04°41′E / 50.567°N 4.683°E / 50.567; 4.683
Country Belgium
CommunityFrench Community
RegionWallonia
ProvinceNamur
ArrondissementNamur
Government
 • MayorBenoît Dispa (Bailli)
 • Governing party/iesBailli, Ecolo
Area
 • Total
96.48 km2 (37.25 sq mi)
Population
 (2018-01-01)[1]
 • Total
25,933
 • Density270/km2 (700/sq mi)
Postal codes
5030-5032
NIS code
92142
Area codes081
Websitewww.gembloux.be

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.

The municipality consists of the following districts: Beuzet, Bossière, Bothey, Corroy-le-Château, Ernage, Gembloux, Grand-Leez, Grand-Manil, Isnes, Lonzée, Mazy, and Sauvenière.

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 is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as part of the Belfries of Belgium and France site, in recognition of its architecture and testimony to the rise in municipal power in the area.[2]

History

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The central city grew around the Gembloux Abbey, founded in the tenth century. In the vicinity of the city, 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.

Notable inhabitants

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Twin towns

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Gembloux is twinned with

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Wettelijke Bevolking per gemeente op 1 januari 2018". Statbel. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  2. ^ "World Heritage List | Belfries of Belgium and France". UNESCO. Retrieved 2021-03-16.
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