The city of Charleroi (Belgium) is located in the Wallonia region near Brussels and is one of the five largest settlements in the state. Belgians call Charleroi the capital of the”Black Country”. This nickname reflects the history of the region – the fact that Charleroi was a major industrial center in Belgium, where numerous coal mines worked. Despite this, the city is included in the list of the poorest localities with a high unemployment rate. In addition, Charleroi has a fairly high crime rate.
However, you should not delete the city from the list of places where a tourist should come. There are attractions and historical monuments here.
General information
Charleroi is located on the banks of the Sambre River, the distance to the capital is only 60 km (in a northerly direction). About 202 thousand people live here.
Charleroi was founded in Belgium in the middle of the 17th century. The name of the city is given in honor of the last monarch of the Habsburg dynasty-Charles II of Spain.
The history of Charleroi is full of drama, because for many centuries it was besieged by numerous foreign armies-Dutch, Spanish, French, Austrian. Only in 1830 did Belgium acquire the status of an independent state. This event marked the beginning of a new stage in the development of the country as a whole and the city of Charleroi in particular.
During the Industrial Revolution, Charleroi became a center of steelmaking and glass production, at which time the city’s borders expanded. At the end of the 19th century, Charleroi was called the locomotive of the economy of the Kingdom of Belgium, the city ranked second in the list of the richest settlements in the country after the capital.
Interesting fact! Due to the industrial capacity of Charleroi, Belgium was considered the second economic capital in the world after Great Britain.
In the 20th century, many immigrants from Italy came to work in the mines of Charleroi. It is not surprising that today 60 thousand inhabitants have Italian roots.
The Second World War caused an industrial decline – mines and enterprises were massively closed. In the post-war years, the Belgian government and the city administration took measures to revive the economy of the entire region.
Today, the Charleroi industrial complex is developing at an active pace, but they also do not forget about the historical heritage and architectural monuments.
Liege — overview of the Belgian city with photos
What to see
Charleroi in Belgium is divided into two parts: upper and lower.
The lower part, despite its external gloom, attracts tourists with interesting memorable places:
- Albert I Square;
- exchange passage;
- St. Anthony’s church
- central station.
All commercial and financial organizations of Charleroi are located in the central part of the Lower City. A couple of kilometers from Albert I Square, there is an elegant English-style garden – a beautiful place for leisurely walks.
It is better to start exploring the Upper part of Charleroi from Manezhnaya Square, where the Museum of Fine Arts is located to the west. The next stop is Charles II Square, where the Town Hall and St. Christopher’s Basilica are located.
Also in the Upper Town, you can walk along the shopping street Neuve, along the boulevards of Paul Jeanson, Gustave Roulier, Frans Devandre. Boulevard Alfred de Fontaine is notable for the Glass Museum, and the picturesque Queen Astrid Park is nearby.
Le Bois du Cazier Park
It is a park dedicated to the city’s past associated with industry and hard work in the mines. The cultural site is located south of Charleroi.
The park is located on the site of the mine where the biggest disaster in Belgium occurred in 1956, which killed 262 people, 136 of them were Italian immigrants. After the tragic event, the authorities tightened security measures for miners and improved working conditions.
The Charleroi attraction is not the most remarkable in Belgium, it is worth a walk here for those who want to see a little from a different angle. On the one hand, it is a green garden, where it is pleasant to relax with the whole family, and on the other hand, there are exhibits that remind you of the difficult, tragic history of the city.
On the first floor of the Museum building there is a Memorial in memory of all those who died during the fire at the mine. On the second floor, the equipment used for forging and casting is presented. The area of the park is 25 hectares, on its territory there is an outdoor theater, an observatory.
Useful information:
- The attraction is located at: Rue du Cazier 80, Charleroi.
- Official site of a cultural object: www.leboisducazier.be.
You can visit the attraction:
- from Tuesday to Friday – from 9-00 to 17-00;
- weekends – from 10-00 to 18-00.
- Monday is a day off.
Ticket price:
- adult – 8 euros;
- tourists from 6 to 18 years old and students – 4.5 euros.
- Admission is free for children under 6 years of age.
Museum of Photography
The attraction was founded in 1987 in the building of the Carmelite monastery. In the past, Mont-sur-Marchiennes, where the museum is located, was a village, and only in 1977 it became part of the city.
The museum is recognized as the largest in Europe among the attractions dedicated to the same subject. Exhibits are presented in two chapels, where temporary exhibitions are held dedicated to photographers of different nationalities. About 8-9 exhibitions are held throughout the year.
The permanent exhibition introduces visitors to the history of photography, the museum’s collection includes more than 80 thousand printed images and more than 2 million negatives. In addition to photographs, the museum has a collection of old photographic equipment and literature dedicated to the art of photography.
- The attraction is located at 11 Avenue Paul Pastur.
- It accepts visitors every day, except Mondays, from 10-00 to 18-00.
- The ticket price is 7 euros, there is no entrance fee for children under 12 years old. You can take a free walk in the garden surrounding the museum.
- Official website: www.museephoto.be.
On a note! For more information about Brussels attractions, see this page
St. Christopher’s Church
The attraction is located on Charles II Square and was founded in the middle of the 17th century. Locals call the church a basilica. It was built by the French in honor of Saint Louis, but only one stone with a memorable inscription has been preserved from the first construction.
In the 18th century, the basilica was expanded and renamed, since then it has been called St. Christopher. From the 18th-century building, decorated in the Baroque style, the choir and part of the nave have been preserved.
In the middle of the 19th century, a large-scale reconstruction of the church was carried out, as a result of which a copper dome was installed. The main entrance to the basilica is located on rue Vauban.
The main attraction of the basilica is a huge mosaic panel covering an area of 200 sq. m. The mosaic was laid out in Italy.
Namur — attractions and features of the city
Charleroi Airport
Charleroi International Airport is the second largest in Belgium in terms of the number of passengers. It serves flights of many European airlines, mostly low-cost ones, including Ryanair and Wizz Air .
Charleroi Airport is located on the outskirts of the city, the distance to the capital is 60 km. Belgium has excellent transport links, so getting here from any part of the country is not difficult.
The terminal of Brussels-Charleroi Airport, built in 2008, is designed to serve 5 million passengers annually.
Airport services:
- large area with shops and restaurants;
- there is a Wi-Fi zone;
- ATMs;
- points where you can exchange currency.
There are hotels near the airport.
You can get there by different means of transport:
- taxi – to Charleroi trip costs about 75-90€;
- shuttle-Charleroi is served by shuttle buses to the central station, ticket price-14.7€;
Useful information: official website of Charleroi Airport — www.charleroi-airport.com.
How to get from Charleroi Airport to Brussels
There are several ways to cover the distance from Charleroi Airport to the Belgian capital:
- Shuttle bus
- commuter bus service;
- transfer trip-bus-train.
By Shuttle bus
The best way to get from Charleroi Airport to Brussels is to take the Brussels City Shuttle bus.
- Ticket price when buying online on the website www.flibco.com -from 5 to 14.7 EUR, the price of travel when paying at the ticket office or vending machine will be higher. The ticket is valid throughout the day, you can choose any flight. Luggage transportation is included in the price
- The duration of the route is slightly less than one hour.
- Flights follow in 20-30 minutes, the first at 7-30, the last at 00-00. Departure from the airport building is about 4 exits, platforms-1-5.
It is important! The ticket price depends on the bus occupancy rate. The earlier you buy a ticket, the lower the price will be. For example, when paying online on the carrier’s website, the price may drop to 6 euros.
The shuttle arrives in Brussels at the Bruxelles Midi station.
The same carrier provides the “Door2Gate” service. This is the most reasonable way to get to / from Charleroi Airport from / to Brussels city center. Door2Gate shuttles pick you up from home just like taxis, but they are much cheaper because they allow you to share the ride with other passengers traveling the same way.
All you have to do is book a Door2Gate on the website www.flibco.com by specifying the time when you want to reach the airport during your trip or the time when you want to be picked up at the airport on your way to your place of residence in Brussels. The cost of the service starts from 29.99 euros per person.
By Commuter Bus
The cheapest, but not the most convenient way to get from Charleroi Airport to Brussels is to take a commuter bus.
- The ticket price is 5€.
- The trip duration is 1 hour and 30 minutes.
- Bus departs in 45-60 minutes.
The disadvantage is that the nearest bus stop is 5 km away — on GOSSELIES Avenue des Etats-Unis. The final stop in the Belgian capital is Bruxelles-Midi (train station).
By bus with train transfer
If for some reason it is inconvenient for you to get from Charleroi airport to Brussels by Shuttle Bus, you can get to the Belgian capital by train.
- Price-15.7€ – a single ticket for two modes of transport.
- The duration of the route is 1.5 hours.
- Flights depart in 20-30 minutes.
The route includes a bus marked with the letter A from Charleroi Airport. The final stop is the city’s train station, from where the train goes to Brussels.
It is important! Tickets can be purchased directly at the Charleroi airport. It is possible to book a ticket on the website of the Belgian Railways (www.belgianrail.be) or on ru.goeuro.com.
Charleroi (Belgium) – a city with a rather tragic history, it can not be called bright and spectacular. However, from the point of view of tourism, it deserves attention. Visiting it, you will be able to see unique architectural monuments, museums and visit shops.
