Enghien Facts for Kids

For the suburb of Paris, France, see Enghien-les-Bains. For the title of nobility, see Duke of Enghien.

Quick facts for kids

Enghien

Inguî (Picard)

Edingen (Dutch)

Municipality

Coat of arms

Enghien

Location in Belgium

Country

French Community

Arrondissement

Ath

Population

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• Total

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Postal codes

7850

Area codes

Website

www.enghien-edingen.be

Enghien is a city and municipality in Wallonia, Belgium. It is located in the province of Hainaut. Wallonia is the southern part of Belgium where people mostly speak French.

As of January 1, 2006, Enghien had about 11,980 people living there. The city covers an area of 40.59 square kilometers. This means there are about 295 people living in each square kilometer.

The municipality of Enghien includes three main areas. These are Enghien, Marcq, and Petit-Enghien. Enghien is located near the border with Flanders. Flanders is the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium. Because of this, some Dutch-speaking people in Enghien have special language rights. These are called language facilities.

History of Enghien's Name
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History of Enghien's Name

Enghien is famous because its name was given to a French duchy. It also gave its name to a town near Paris, called Enghien-les-Bains. This happened because of a long series of family connections.

How the Name Traveled

In 1487, a noblewoman named Mary of Luxembourg got married. She was the only child of Peter II of Luxembourg. He was a Count from a powerful family. Mary brought many lands with her as a dowry when she married. These lands included the county of Enghien.

Mary's grandson was Louis I de Bourbon, Prince de Condé. He was an uncle to King Henry IV of France. Louis I started a famous branch of the French royal family. They were known as the Princes of Condé.

The Duchy of Enghien

In 1566, the county of Enghien was supposed to become a duchy. A duchy is a land ruled by a duke or duchess. This new title also came with a special rank called a peerage. However, the official paperwork was never finished. So, the title ended when Louis I de Bourbon died in 1569.

Later, in 1633, Henry II, Prince of Condé inherited another duchy. This was the duchy of Montmorency, near Paris. In 1689, King Louis XIV allowed Henry II's grandson, Henry III, Prince of Condé, to change the name of the Montmorency duchy. It was renamed the "duchy of Enghien." This was done to remember the original duchy of Enghien that the family had lost.

Enghien-les-Bains: A Spa Town

The city of Montmorency kept its name. But the name "Enghien" became linked to a nearby lake and marshland. This area later grew into a popular spa resort. In the 1800s, it became the town of Enghien-les-Bains.