Malmedy

Municipality

Malmedy from the south

Flag

Coat of arms

Malmedy

Location in Belgium

Location of Malmedy in the province of Liège

Coordinates: 50°25′N 06°01′E / 50.417°N 6.017°ECoordinates: 50°25′N 06°01′E / 50.417°N 6.017°E

Country

Government

• Mayor

André Denis

Area

• Total

99.96 km² (38.59 sq mi)

Population (1 January 2016)

• Total

12,415

• Density

120/km² (320/sq mi)

Postal codes

4960

Area codes

080

Website

http://malmedy.be

Malmedy (French pronunciation: [malmədi]; German obsolete Malmünd) is a Walloon city and municipality of Belgium. It lies in the province of Liège. On January 1, 2006, Malmedy had a total population of 11,829. The total area is 99.96 km² which gives a population density of 118 inhabitants per km².

The municipality consists of the following sub-municipalities: Malmedy proper, Bellevaux-Ligneuville, and Bévercé.

Under the complex administrative structures of Belgium, which has separate structures for territorial administration and for language community rights, Malmedy is part of Wallonia and of the French Community of Belgium. But since it has a German speaking minority, it is one of Belgium's municipalities with language facilities (or "municipalities with facilities"). Malmedy and Waimes are the two Walloon municipalities with facilities for German speakers. The population of Malmedy is approximately 95% French speakers and 5% German speakers. The variety of German spoken is Moselle Franconian.

The name of “Malmedy” comes from the Latin sentence “A malo mundarum,” meaning “purifying from evil”. The name originated due to regular flooding in the past from the Warche river, which passes through the town.

The city was created in 648 by Saint Remacle, Provost of Solignac abbey in France. He had established his Benedictine Monastery in Malmedy. Between this date and 1794, the history of Malmedy is linked to the religious Principality of Stavelot-Malmedy, a clerical microstate.

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Wikipedia