Ath
Ath (French pronunciation: [at] ⓘ; Dutch: Aat, Dutch pronunciation: [aːt] ⓘ; Picard: Ât; Walloon: Ate) is a city and municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium.
Ath
Ât (Picard) | |
|---|---|
Municipality | |
Ath City Hall | |
|
Flag Coat of arms | |
Location of Ath | |
Ath Location in Belgium
Location of Ath in Hainaut | |
| Coordinates: 50°37′N 03°46′E | |
| Country | Belgium |
| Community | French Community |
| Region | Wallonia |
| Province | Hainaut |
| Arrondissement | Ath |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Bruno Lefèbvre (PS) |
| • Governing party/ies | PS-MR-Ecolo |
| Area | |
| • Total | 127.9 km2 (49.4 sq mi) |
| Population (2018-01-01) | |
| • Total | 29,164 |
| • Density | 230/km2 (590/sq mi) |
| Postal codes | 7800, 7801, 7802, 7803, 7804, 7810, 7811, 7812, 7822, 7823 |
| NIS code | 51004 |
| Area codes | 068 |
| Website | www.ath.be |
The municipality consists of the following districts: Arbre, Ath, Bouvignies, Ghislenghien, Gibecq, Houtaing, Irchonwelz, Isières, Lanquesaint, Ligne, Maffle, Mainvault, Meslin-l'Évêque, Moulbaix, Ormeignies, Ostiches, Rebaix, Villers-Notre-Dame, and Villers-Saint-Amand.
Ath is known as the "City of Giants" after the Ducasse d'Ath festivities which take place every year on the fourth weekend in August. Huge figures representing Goliath, Samson, and other allegoric figures are paraded through the streets, and Goliath's wedding and his famous fight with David are re-enacted.
Ath is the point of origin of the river Dender from the merger of its Eastern and Western branches.