Huy facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Huy Hu  (Walloon) Hoei  (Dutch)
Municipality
Flag Coat of arms
Huy Location in Belgium
Country	Belgium
Community	French Community
Region	Wallonia
Province	Liège
Arrondissement	Huy
Area
• Total	47.74 km2 (18.43 sq mi)
Population  (2018-01-01)Lua error in Module:Wd at line 1575: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
• Total	Lua error in Module:Wd at line 1,575: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
Postal codes	4500
Area codes	085
Website	www.huy.be

Huy is a city and municipality in Wallonia, a region in Belgium. It is located in the province of Liège. Huy sits right along the Meuse river, where the smaller Hoyoux river flows into it. This area, known as the sillon industriel, used to be a major industrial center in Wallonia.

The municipality of Huy includes several smaller areas called districts. These are Ben-Ahin, Huy itself, Neuville-sous-Huy, and Tihange.

History of Huy

The first settlement in Huy began around an old Roman fortress. This fortress was built on the right side of the Meuse river. In the 6th century, Saint Domitian, a bishop, helped spread Christianity here. The town is first mentioned in a document from the 7th century, called Hoius vicus, named after the Hoyoux river.

Early Prosperity and Growth

During the early Middle Ages, Huy was a very busy and rich city along the Meuse river. Its economy was strong, mainly because of metallurgy, which is the science of working with metals. People also worked with leather, made sculptures, did woodworking, and produced wine.

In the 10th century, Huy became a county. However, it soon joined the Prince-Bishopric of Liège, a powerful church-state. Huy stayed connected to Liège for over 800 years. In 1066, Huy received the first known charter north of the Alps. This document officially recognized Huy as a city. Around this time, a famous person named Peter the Hermit encouraged local people to join the First Crusade. He had already been part of other crusades.

Challenges and Changes

In the 13th and 14th centuries, Huy's economy grew again, thanks to its cloth industry. The city had a strong castle on a hill, which was used for defense during wars. By the 15th century, this castle became a symbol of Huy.

However, the next two centuries were difficult for the city. Its important location on the Meuse river meant it was often attacked. In the late 1600s, during the wars of Louis XIV, Huy was repeatedly attacked. The people of Huy were so tired of the fighting that they decided to take down their own castle in 1715. They hoped this would stop the attacks.

Modern Huy

In 1818, the Dutch built a new fortress in the same important spot above the town. This new fortress is called Fort de Huy. The 19th century brought good times for Huy, with new industries like paper making. But in the 20th century, like many other parts of Wallonia, Huy faced challenges as heavy industries declined.

Today, Huy is becoming prosperous again. It is known for its tin products and for attracting tourists. In 1970, the Tihange Nuclear Power Station was built nearby, which is an important part of the region's energy supply.

Folklore and Traditions

Every seven years, Huy holds a special religious procession. This event, called the 'septennial festivities', celebrates the end of a long drought that happened in 1656. The most recent procession took place on August 15, 2019.

Main Sights in Huy

Huy is famous for its four 'wonders'. In the local Walloon language, they are:

• Li Pontia: This is the bridge that crosses the Meuse River.
• Li Rondia: This refers to the beautiful round window, called a rose window, of the Gothic Notre-Dame collegiate church.
• Li Bassinia: This is a 15th-century fountain located in the middle of the main town square, the Grand Place.
• Li Tchestia: This is the Citadel of Huy, the fortress built in 1818 that stands high above the city.

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  'Li Pontia'

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  'Li Bassinia'

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  'Li Tchestia'

Cycling in Huy

Huy is a very important place for cycling fans. It is the finish line for La Flèche Wallonne, which means Walloon Arrow. This is a big one-day cycling race held in mid-April. The race ends at the top of a very steep hill called the Mur de Huy, or Wall of Huy. This climb is about 1 kilometer long and has an average slope of 10%, with some parts as steep as 20%!

Huy has also been part of the famous Tour de France cycling race four times. It was a stage town in 1995, 2001, 2006, and 2015.

Famous People from Huy

Many interesting people have connections to Huy:

• Renier de Huy (early 12th century): A skilled metalworker.
• Yvette of Huy (1158-1228): A religious woman who lived a solitary life.
• Joseph Lebeau (1794-1865): An important politician.
• Anne-Marie Lizin (1949-2015): A well-known politician.
• Christophe Lombardi (born 1978): A poet.
• André Malherbe (born 1956): A three-time world champion in motocross, a type of motorcycle racing.
• Meingold of Huy (died 892): A Roman Catholic saint.
• John Joseph Merlin (1735-1803): An inventor, famous for inventing the roller skate.
• Peter the Hermit (1050-1115): A key person who encouraged the First Crusade.
• Le Père Pire (1910-1969): He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1958 and lived in Huy.
• Patrick Sarsfield, 1st Earl of Lucan (1660-1693): A military commander buried in Huy.

Huy's International Friends

Huy has "twin towns" or "sister cities" around the world. This means they have special friendly relationships and often share cultural exchanges.

Gallery

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  Huy town hall

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  Huy train station

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  Old street of Huy

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  City and fortress

See also

In Spanish: Huy (Bélgica) para niños