Walcourt

Municipality in French Community, Belgium

Walcourt Walcoû (Walloon)
Municipality
Walcourt centre with the Basilica of Saint Maternus
Coat of arms
Location of Walcourt
Walcourt Location in Belgium Location of Walcourt in the province of Namur
Coordinates: 50°15′N 04°25′E / 50.250°N 4.417°E / 50.250; 4.417
Country	Belgium
Community	French Community
Region	Wallonia
Province	Namur
Arrondissement	Philippeville
Government
• Mayor	Christine Poulin (PS)
• Governing party/ies	PS - MR
Area
• Total	123.64 km² (47.74 sq mi)
Population (2018-01-01)^[1]
• Total	18,376
• Density	150/km² (380/sq mi)
Postal codes	5650, 5651
NIS code	93088
Area codes	071
Website	www.walcourt.be

Walcourt (French pronunciation: [walkuʁ] ^ⓘ; Walloon: Walcoû) is a city and municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Namur, Belgium.

On 1 January 2006, the municipality had 17,516 inhabitants. The total area is 123.18 km², giving a population density of 142 inhabitants per km².

The municipality consists of the following districts: Berzée, Castillon, Chastrès, Clermont, Fontenelle, Fraire, Gourdinne, Laneffe, Pry, Rognée, Somzée, Tarcienne, Thy-le-Château, Vogenée, Walcourt, Yves-Gomezée.

History

The Basilica of Saint Maternus is a Gothic minor basilica, founded in 1026. It contains one of the oldest Madonnas in Western Christianity. In 1689, the Battle of Walcourt was fought here between French troops and the Grand Alliance during the Nine Years' War.