A Journey to Wallonia

Wallonia is located in the southeastern part of Belgium. The languages that are spoken in Belgium are what technically divide the country.

Following that description, Wallonia is Belgium’s French-speaking territory that is located right at the southern part. Its counterpart is Flanders, which is positioned to the north. People from Flanders mostly speak Flemish.

Wallonia is officially referred to as the romance region. It had reinvented itself several times from the day it was conquered and ruled over by different nations.

The territory was once a part of the Germanic Empire and has been under colonization until Belgium gained its independence in 1831. Wallonia officially became what it is right now in 1970, when it was asserted as a region of its own right.

Wallonia expands to a total land area of 16,844 square kilometers. It encompasses more than half of Belgium’s total land area. It is composed of five provinces namely Hainaut, Liege, Walloon Brabant, Namur, and Luxembourg.

Many believe that the name “Wallonia” means the land of the valleys. This would be quite accurate, since Wallonia is composed of many hills compared to Flanders, which is mostly flat.

During the early times, Wallonia is believed to establish its economy with coal and iron mining. But that is not all Wallonia is rich with. Wallonia’s abundant forest makes it a place of quality timber and other forest products.

Wallonia also supports a range of agricultural regions with a strong labor force of farmers and foragers. Wallonia is actually one of the cradles of Europe’s industrial revolution.

Right now, the Walloon region is responsible for Belgium’s foreign trade, agriculture, international relations, development cooperation, and management of local authorities. Belgium’s legislative assembly is referred to as the Walloon Parliament. The nation follows a constitutional monarch with parliamentary democracy.

The backbone of Wallonia is sillon industriel and it runs from Mons to Verviers, from east to west. That particular area is home to around two thirds of Wallonia’s population. Wallonia’s key cities are Eupen, Wavre, Dinant, Arlon, and Liege, among others.