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Charleroi
The main station in Charleroi, Charleroi-South (Gare du Sud), operates an Airport Express bus that takes passengers to Charleroi Airport. Trains to Charleroi leave Brussels-Centraale every hour, most of the city is accessible by bus lines and the TEC light rail Metro system, and the Charleroi Inner City Train takes only 50 minutes. Second class single fares are only 6.80€ each. Eurostar trains between St Pancras International and Charleroi have average journey times of 1 hour, 51 minutes; the route passes through Lille and Brussels. The Belgian rail network makes access to Brussels even more popular and easier for tourists via high speed rail. The best time to book tickets is for spring travel, as temperatures will not be as hot as in summer. Charleroi, located in the province of Hainaut, is the largest city and municipality in Wallonia, with around half a million people. It is located in Belgium and was founded in 1666 by the Spanish as a fortress, named after Charles II of Spainat. Charleroi was strategically important during the 17th – 19th centuries and has been occupied by France, Spain, Austria, and Holland. The fortress was dismantled in the late 19th century but was still significant as the scene of one of the first battles of the First World War. The city was the former capital of the Black Country and one of the most prosperous hubs of the Industrial Revolution, especially in the coal, steel and glass industries. It is now a commercial and rail centre in full re-conversion. |
Points of Interest
pic1 | Palais des Beaux Arts The Palace of fine Arts, is a concert and theatre hall, and home of the well-known Ballet Royal de Wallonie, on the far side of the Place du Manège in the Avenue de l'Europe. |
pic2> | Hôtel de Ville The town hall has neo-classical architecture, internal art déco decorations and houses the Fine Arts Museum and the Destrée Museum. The tower is a UNESCO site. It is located in upper Charleroi, at the important square the Place Charles II. |
pic3> | Marchienne-au-Pont The western suburb is a major industrial centre with the Chateau de Cartier. Visitors can take advantage of the swimming pool, sports complex and the old ramparts. It is crossed by two rivers. |
pic4> | Marches Militaire Charleroi has a long history of military processions, such as the Marche de la Madeleine, where 1500 infantry, 150 horsemen and 30 bands march 12 miles starting from Jumet. |
pic5> | Musée de la Photographie The museum of photography shows the development of photography as well as exhibitions of cameras and photographs, both modern and old, and is located inside the former Carmelite convent in Mont-sur-Marchiennes. |
pic6> | Musée d'Histoire, de Folklore et d'Archéologie Industrielle The Museum of Local History and Industrial Archaeology shows the history of industrial development in the areas around Charleroi and is located in the Place des Martyrs. |
pic7> | Château d'Hanzinelle The chateau is framed by symmetrical French botanical gardens, a lake, a rocky hill, and dates back to the 18th century. |
pic8> | Abbaye d'Aulne The ruins of the 7th century abbey are about 7.5 miles west of Charleroi. It was founded by St Landelin of Lobbes and taken over by the Cistercians in 1147. Visitors can see the Great Court and Prince-Bishops' reception hall, the 14th to 15th century choir and transepts of the ruined abbey church which is still impressive today. |
pic9> | Musée du Verre The Glass Museum on the Boulevard Defontaine is made up of two large departments inside the Institut National du Verre. It is primarily concerned with the development of the Belgium glass industry in particular, and global glass production. There are examples on display, including a permanent exhibition showing current glassware manufactured in Belgium. |
Attractions
Restaurants and cafés: Polyphonic Café, Le Luxembourg, The Star Rock Cafe, Robert La Frite, Restaurant Shanghai (Asian cuisine), Chez Raoul (Turkish kebabs), L'Empire Ottoman (Turkish cuisine), La Bruxelloise (Belgian specialities)
Bars and clubs: El Gringo, La Cour des Miracles, La cuve A Biere, La petite scène, The Irish Times, Route 66, La Nova, l’Impasse, Le Corto
Rue de la Montagne for international and chain shops
The Dog Market on the Place Charles II and in the Rue Vauban
Ville 2 shopping centre with Carollywood cinema
Galeries de la Bourse for bookshops