Viroinval
Viroinval is a municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Namur, Belgium.
On January 1, 2006, Viroinval had a total population of 5,680. The total area is 120.90 km2 which gives a population density of 47 inhabitants per km2.
The municipality consists of the following districts: Dourbes, Mazée, Le Mesnil, Nismes, Oignies-en-Thiérache, Olloy-sur-Viroin, Treignes, Vierves-sur-Viroin.
The name Viroinval, Viroin Valley, was chosen for the municipality that was formed by fusing eight villages, in 1977.
Attractions
- From 1995 to 2004, Viroinval was the location of the geographical centre of the European Union, at coordinates in Oignies-en-Thiérache, and a monument there records that finding. On May 1, 2004, the EU expanded from fifteen states to twenty-five, and the geographical centre of the union moved eastwards to the village of Kleinmaischeid, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. On 1 January 2007 it shifted even further south-eastwards.
- The tourist steam train line Mariembourg–Treignes has most of its stations in villages of Viroinval: Nismes, Olloy-sur-Viroin, Vierves-sur-Viroin, and Treignes. The latter village has a relevant museum.