Flémalle (; ) is a municipality of Wallonia within the Liège Province in Belgium.
As of 2024, it has a population of 27,002, and together with the municipalities of Liège, Seraing, Herstal, Saint-Nicolas, and Ans, forms the Liège metropolitan area, with a total population of 381,340. Flémalle's geographical location, between valleys, Hesbaye, and Condroz, as well as between countryside and urban areas, offers a mix of nature, as seen in the locality of Gleixhe, and urban environments like its center or the suburb of Les Trixhes.
Despite its steep terrain, the municipality must address the increasing population in the metropolitan area; it is located near Seraing, highways, the Meuse, and the Liège Airport. To address this, the municipality has launched several large-scale projects, such as the construction of a brand-new neighborhood, Flémalle-Neuve, which is expected to be completed in a few years.
Historically, the municipality has witnessed the birth and advancement of paleontology and prehistoric studies thanks to Dr. Philippe-Charles Schmerling. A Roman diploma was also discovered in the area. During the Middle Ages, the municipality experienced economic prosperity due to the Prince-Bishopric of Liège, particularly in the village of Chokier, where a tsar, Peter the Great, and several generals from various empires stayed. During both World Wars, it played a crucial role in the defense of Liège with its fort.
André Cools is a historical figure in Flémalle's politics, but his influence extended beyond the municipality. He served as Minister of the Budget, Vice Prime Minister, President of the PSB, the PS, and the Walloon Parliament, before being assassinated in 1991.
Sports are also a significant source of recognition for the municipality, with several prominent athletes from the region and the country having connections to Flémalle. Notably, two kickboxing world championships have been held in the municipality. In team sports, ROC Flémalle is one of the top handball clubs in the country, with three Belgian Cups and eleven national titles.
Toponymy Like Bomal, Emael, Fumal, Hermalle-sous-Argenteau, Hermalle-sous-Huy, Lamalle, Momalle, Omal, and Xhendremael, Flémalle bears the suffix "-malle" (mal, mael), which is the Walloon version of the Dutch suffix "-maal," commonly found in Hesbaye..
The name of the municipality was first mentioned in 1086 in a charter as Fleimala. In 634, the locality was called Flédismamalacha.The name of Flémalle, where does it come from?, through the centuries, Historical Commission, August 2009, p. 2.
History Prehistory
The prehistoric and paleontological advancements we know today about the Flémalle region as well as the world, are due to Dr. Philippe-Charles Schmerling, a professor from University of Liège, who explored several caves in the Liège region including those at Chokier and Schmerling Caves.
They were named "Engis Caves" by Schmerling before being named in his honor. Schmerling believed the caves were located within the territory of the commune of Engis. They are known worldwide for being the site where the first Neanderthal-type fossil bone, Engis 2, was discovered.. He also discovered the second fossil deposit of Homo sapiens in these caves. Other bones of this type were only found in Wales. at that time.
There was a second cave, but it has collapsed. The site is listed on the Exceptional Heritage List of the Walloon Region. The discovery of the Schmerling Caves dates back to 1929.
The other cave in the commune, located in the entity of Ivoz-Ramet, is the Ramioul Cave. It was discovered in 1911 by Les Chercheurs de la Wallonie. Various excavations have uncovered several layers corresponding to successive occupations between 70,000 BC (Neanderthals) and 2300 BC with Aurignacian and Mousterian remains.. The cave belongs to the Préhistomuseum, one of the largest European museums on Prehistory.
Antiquity When, between 57 and 50 BCE, Julius Caesar conquered Gaul, the population of Flémalle and its surroundings became Roman. This conquest of Gaul allowed Belgium to adopt the knowledge, customs, and traditions of the Romans.
A document, a pagan altar stone, informs us about the worship of the deity Mosea.
Roman Diploma The Flémalle Roman diploma is an archaeological document of great importance. It dates from the reign of Trajan, from the year 98. It was recovered from the Meuse River in 1880.. This diploma, belonging to a soldier from Tongeren (though this is disputed), tells us that the holder of such a document, a Roman soldier, could obtain leave to return to his village. However, this document poses a problem because many soldiers had a villa built where they conducted their military campaign.
Middle Ages
When the Western Roman Empire came to an end, the Franks took advantage to invade the former Roman territories. The historical period we are interested in here is that of the Principality of Liège, which emerged through misunderstandings and succession wars after the death of Charlemagne.
The Awirs stream brought prosperity to the locality with mills,C. Martin, Why a mill square in Chokier?, Historical Commission, Flémalle Chronicles, May 2012. zinc and lead mines that were exploited until the 15th century. Also in Awirs, the presence of a Cistercian monastery can be noted.
In the village of Chokier, it is believed that lime kilns were present due to a 1086 charter that specifies a land exchange between the village and the Saint-Jacques Abbey. This parcel was located under "Calchariae," meaning lime kiln.Luc Malchair, Commune of Flémalle – Aigremont – Chokier – The Hermitage, Memoir, Center for Continuing Education for Nature Protection, 1993–1994.
Industry was already very present as, besides the lime kilns of Chokier, there was also coal and quarry exploitation dating back to the 14th and 15th century. This exploitation lasted over time as the last Flémalle coal mine closed in 1955.
Seigneuries The Principality is divided into several districts, including La Hesbaye, where the current territory was located. This district was composed of counties, including Hozémont, to which the Awirs, Gleixhe, Chokier, and the two Flémalle (the Grand and the Small) were attached.Joseph Daris, Histoire du diocèse et de la principauté de Liège pendant le XIIIe et le XIVe siècle, Liège, Louis Demarteau, 1891, 710 p. The Council of Hozémont played an important role in the region.
Flémalle, within its current territory, was divided into several seigneuries:
Seigneurie de Flémalle-Haute
By the end of the 12th century, Flémalle and its seigneury belonged to the Chapter of Saint Peter. In 1173, according to the knowledge of canon Van den Berghe, it is learned that the seigneury was given to the Templars.. Another lord owned lands in Flémalle, which were confirmed by pope Honorius III.Bormans Stanislas, II. Notice des Cartulaires de la collégiale de Saint-Denis, à Liège. In: Compte-rendu des séances de la commission royale d'histoire. Deuxième Série, Tome 14, 1872. pp. 23–190
In the 13th century, Flémalle was shared between four seigneuries: the Chapter of Saint Peter, the Brethren of Saint John, the Abbey of Saint-Laurent, and the Regular Brethren of Saint Augustine of Val-Benoît.
Seigneurie des Awirs
In the 12th century, the seigneuries of Awirs and Aigremont were united and belonged to a vassal of the Bishop of Liège. In the 13th century, the seigneuries were held by the Limbourg family, and in the 14th century, by the La Marck family. The seigneury had its own court of justice and the village of Chokier.
Seigneurie de Gleixhe
Gleixhe, formerly Awirs-Notre-Dame, named after the church of the seigneury which venerated the Virgin, was located near the seigneury of Haute-penne, whose castle still exists.. It also had its own court of justice.
Seigneurie de Chokier
The seigneury was held by the family of Hozémont before passing to the Surlet and then to the Berio.. Like the other two seigneuries mentioned above, it also had a court of justice.
Seigneurie d'Ivoz
It is part of the municipality of Ivoz-Ramet, which includes two other seigneuries. It belonged to the chapter of Saint-Lambert Cathedral and was transferred to the Abbey of Val-Saint-Lambert in 1261.. It had a court of justice.
Seigneurie de Ramet
Like Ivoz, it is part of the municipality of Ivoz-Ramet. It is known to have been a seigneury because several people between the 12th and 13th centuries bore the name Ramet. It had its court of justice.
Seigneurie de Ramioul
Ramioul, along with Sart-Diable, belonged to the Duke of Lower Lorraine. The seigneury was transferred to the collegiate church of Saint-Servais in Maastricht, donated by Godfrey of Bouillon. It was then transferred to the Abbey of Val-Saint-Lambert in 1236, and later to André de Bincken and finally to the Hemricourt.
Seigneurie de Mons
Mons, like Souxhon, Ruy, and the two Crotteux (Saint-Martin and Saint-Pierre), belonged to the municipality of Mons-lez-Liège. The seigneury had its court of justice.
War of the Awans and the Waroux This war began in 1297 and lasted 38 years. It profoundly marked the history of La Hesbaye, which never recovered from this war. This conflict between seigneuries gained significant magnitude because the Prince-Bishop of Liège was unable to end it.
The war pitted the seigneuries of Awans, Bovenistier, Diepenbeck, Fermes, Fontin, Haneffe, and Hozémont against the seigneuries of Waroux, Berloz, Hermalle, Horion, Jemeppe, and Oborne. This war was fratricidal, meaning that the Awans and the Waroux descended from the same lineage and fought each other. The war began when Adoule, a young maid who was to marry a cousin of the Awans, was abducted by a squire of the Waroux. The war devastated the region completely and led to the rise of the bourgeoisie, the decline of the power of the Prince-Bishop of Liège, and the destruction of several castles, including those of Awans and Waroux. It is Jacques de Hemricourt, through his chronicle, who informs us about this war..
During the period of municipal management, the Chapter of Saint Peter exercised legislative and regulatory power, judicial power (the municipality had its own court of justice), and fiscal power..
Modern times In the 16th century, the small chapel in the village of Chokier was dedicated to Saint Marcellin. It became a parish church in 1592.. On the grounds of the Chokier Castle, a farm exploiting several hectares of vineyards appeared in the 17th century.. The village also saw the exploitation of alum..
In 1717, Tsar Peter I stopped at Chokier while traveling to Liège.. He was welcomed by the mayor with festivities.
In the basin of the Awirs stream, there are traces of alum workings from the 17th and 18th centuries. This alum activity is also found in Flémalle-Haute and Flémalle-Grande, with alum mines exploited from the 16th to the 18th century.. This interest in the industry began in the 15th century with the Saint-Pierre chapter that operated numerous quarries. The parish of Saint-Mathias, in 1762, replaced the former..
The church located in Gleixhe, which gave the name Awirs-Notre-Dame to the locality, was destroyed during the Middle Ages. In 1779, it was reconstructed and placed under the authority of the Saint-Lambert Cathedral.
Contemporary Era
The last alum mine in Awirs, specifically that of Aigremont, closed in 1816, with the last one in the municipality also closing in the 19th century. Still in this locality, coal mining operations began, leading to a prosperous industrial period. The last coal mine in Awirs closed in 1928. This coal industry covered almost the entire territory. The last coal mine in Flémalle closed in 1955.
In 1938, the Ivoz-Ramet barrage bridge was inaugurated. It was dynamited two years later in 1940 to slow the advance of the Wehrmacht. It was rebuilt during World War II.