Charleroi does not court tourists. This former industrial city in Wallonia has a reputation for grit rather than glamour. But its belfry, a UNESCO World heritage Site, rises above the city centre with quiet dignity. The tower was built in the 17th century as part of a Franciscan monastery and later became a prison, a school, and finally a bell tower. climb the 238 steps and the view reveals a city in transformation: old coal mines turned into museums, abandoned factories reborn as creative spaces, and the river Sambre winding through it all. Charleroi is honest, unpretentious, and full of surprises for those who look.
Belgian city of Charleroi is situated at the banks of the river Sambre in the province of Hainaut, the westernmost part of Wallonia, located about 50 kilometers south of the capital city of Brussels. It has about 200,000 inhabitants and was founded in 1666. Due to its geographical position in the industrial region, focused especially on heavy industry, does not have a reputation of a beautiful city. Even here, however, you can find several enticing attractions that will certainly attract curious tourists.
Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by isamiga76
The historic center of Charleroi is divided into upper and Lower Town. The center of the upper Town is formed by the square of Charles II., where you can see the most important monument of Charleroi. That is the Town Hall and the Bell tower called Belfry of Charleroi, which is together with other fifty-five Belgian and Northern France Belfries inscribed on a UNESCO World heritage Site since 1999. Very interesting is also St. Christopher basilica standing at the opposite side.
Lower City is situated around the square of Albert I., which is the commercial center of Charleroi. The city is also known for a number of interesting museums, which you can not miss on your visit. Head to the Museum of Glass, Museum of Photography and the Archaeological Museum. Museum of Fine Arts and Jules Destré Museum are waiting for you in the building of Town Hall, dating from the 30′s of the 20th century.
View Charleroi with a belfry included in the World heritage Sites List Belgium in a larger map
Architecture of the Belfry and Charleroi Industrial heritage
The Belfry of Charleroi stands 70 metres tall in the centre of the city’s upper town, a solid baroque tower of red brick and blue stone that has been a UNESCO World heritage site since 1999. It was built between 1636 and 1666 as part of the fortified walls designed by the Spanish military engineer Jean de Ramez, making it one of the few belfries in Belgium that began life as a defensive tower. Its square base, thick walls, and small gunports betray its military origins. The upper section features a graceful octagonal lantern capped with a bulbous spire and a wrought-iron weather vane in the shape of a crowned lion. A spiral staircase of 238 steps leads to the top, where a carillon of 47 bronze bells still rings out the hours and plays concerts on summer weekends.
Charleroi’s industrial past is inseparable from the story of its belfry. The city was a powerhouse of coal mining and steel production throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries. The nearby Bois du Cazier, a former coal mine that is now a UNESCO World heritage site, preserves the headframe, winding engines, and underground galleries of the mine where a catastrophic fire in 1956 killed 262 miners. The Photography Museum of Charleroi, housed in a former Carmelite convent, holds one of the largest collections of cameras in Europe. Together, these sites form a complete portrait of a city that powered Belgium’s industrial revolution and is now reinventing itself.
Day Trips from Charleroi: A Transport Hub Worth Using
Charleroi Brussels South Airport is the second busiest airport in Belgium and a major base for low-cost airlines, which means many travellers pass through Charleroi without seeing it. But the city is an excellent starting point for several rewarding day trips. The medieval city of Namur, the capital of Wallonia, lies just 30 minutes away by train. Namur’s citadel, one of the largest fortified sites in Europe, was built and rebuilt by every major European power. A guided tour of the underground tunnels reveals the layers of military engineering that made the fortress nearly impregnable. From the top of the citadel, the view of the confluence of the Sambre and Meuse rivers is one of the finest in Belgium.
An equally accessible day trip is the city of Mons, 25 minutes from Charleroi by train. Mons is home to the Grand Place with its baroque Town Hall, the Collegiate Church of Sainte-Waudru, and the Mons Memorial Museum. For a completely different experience, drive 40 minutes south to the Abbaye de la Trappe de Chimay, where the Trappist monks brew Chimay beer, one of only twelve Trappist beers in the world. The abbey shop sells the beer and cheeses made by the monks.
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