Charleroi

Charleroi is a big city and a municipality in Wallonia, located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium. It is the largest city in both Hainaut and Wallonia. The city sits in the valley of the Sambre River, in the southwest part of Belgium, close to the border with France.

As of January 1, 2008, the city had a population of 201,593 people. When you include the surrounding areas where people travel to work or live, the total population was 522,522, making it the fifth largest metropolitan area in Belgium after Brussels, Antwerp, Liège, and Ghent. People who live in Charleroi are called Carolorégiens or simply Carolos.

History

The Charleroi area has been settled since ancient times, with evidence of early metalworking and trade along the Sambre River. During the Roman period, many public buildings were constructed there.

Charleroi was founded in 1666 by Spanish rulers who wanted to build a fortress near the Sambre River. It was named after King Charles II of Spain. Over the next centuries, the city changed hands many times between Spanish, French, Dutch, and Austrian forces. Despite these changes, the city began to grow, especially in industries like glass, steel, and coal.

In the 19th century, Charleroi became a center for industry and saw many workers' strikes. By the 20th century, it was one of Belgium's largest cities. During World War I, the city suffered damage but was saved from more destruction by an agreement with German forces. After World War II, heavy industry declined, but the city continues to be an important place in Wallonia. In 2015, Charleroi adopted a new logo that reflects its industrial history and cultural symbols.

Geography

Charleroi is a city in Belgium, sitting along the Sambre River. The area was once busy with coal mining and steel work, earning it the name "Black Country." Though many factories have shut down since the 1950s, old industrial sites and hills made from mining waste still shape the land.

The city is about 50 kilometres south of Brussels. It includes several smaller areas that joined together in 1977, such as Dampremy, Lodelinsart, and Gilly. Charleroi also shares borders with places like Fleurus and Châtelet. The land is shaped by rivers and streams, with heights ranging from around 100 metres in the river valleys to over 220 metres in some spots. Some of the old mining hills rise even higher. These unique landscapes support many special plants and animals, making them important to protect.

Politics

Before the city joined together with other nearby towns in 1977, Charleroi had only had leaders from one political group from 1830 until 1976, except during the time of the Second World War. In 1976, elections brought a new group, the Socialist Party, to lead the city, and Lucien Harmegnies became the first leader from this group.

Since 1977, the Socialist Party has always been part of the city's leadership group, either leading alone or working with other parties. In 2006, some leaders faced questions about their actions, which affected the elections that year.

In 2012, the Socialist Party, led by Paul Magnette, won again and chose to work with other groups. In 2018, Magnette was elected again and included new groups in the city's leadership.

See also: Carolorégienne affair

(*)Under the local list name "C+" (**)Under alternative name

Landmarks

Charleroi has many interesting places to see. The belfry, part of the City Hall, was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1999. The Maison Dorée building, made in 1899, has golden designs on its outside. The city also has museums for art, glass, and photography.

Other notable spots include the Castle of Monceau-sur-Sambre, which is in a big park and dates back to the 1600s and 1700s. St. Christopher's Church began building in 1667 and was updated in 1956. St. Antoine's Church, opened in 1830, shows a classic style of architecture. The Tour Bleue, a tall blue building finished in 2015, serves as the Police headquarters. The Bois du Cazier area, a former coal mine from the 1800s, is also a UNESCO World Heritage site and has a museum about industry and glassware.

Economy

Charleroi is located in an area rich in coal, steel, and glass. However, since the 1970s, many factories in these industries have closed down.

Today, the economy of Charleroi has grown to include many different fields. These include health care, logistics, biotechnology, energy, railway transportation, and telecommunications. Recently, aeronautics (making airplanes and spacecraft), printing, and biotechnology have also become important.

The Brussels South Charleroi Airport has grown a lot, with many more passengers flying each year. This has helped create many jobs and brought economic growth to the area. Charleroi is also well-connected by highways, has a port, and offers access to important waterways.

In recent years, new shopping malls, cinemas, and local breweries have opened in and around the city center, attracting more visitors and shoppers.

Education

Charleroi is Belgium's largest city without its own university. In 1966, the University of Louvain began offering classes in Charleroi with three faculties on its UCLouvain Charleroi campus, including the Louvain School of Management and the Louvain School of Engineering. Since then, other universities, such as Namur, Mons, and the Université libre de Bruxelles, have also started operating in the city.

Thanks to support from the European Regional Development Fund of the European Union, a new Campus of Sciences, Art and Trade is being built in downtown Charleroi. This campus will include training, teaching, and research facilities, such as a Cité des Métiers, a University Center, and a Center for Technological Higher Education.

Secondary schools in Charleroi include:

• Athénée Royal Jules Destrée
• Athénée Royal Orsini Dewerpe
• Athénée Royal de Gilly
• Athénée Royal Les Marlaires
• Athénée Royal Ernest Solvay
• Athénée Royal Vauban
• Athénée Royal Yvonne Vieslet
• Centre Educatif Communal Secondaire — La Garenne
• Institut d'Enseignement Technique Secondaire de l’UT
• Institut Jean Jaurès de l’UT
• Centre Educatif Communal Secondaire de Couillet-Marcinelle
• Institut Provincial d’Enseignement Secondaire Paramédical La Samaritaine

Catholic secondary schools include:

• Institut Saint-Joseph (ISJ)
• Institut Saint-André (ISA)
• Institut Notre-Dame (IND)
• IET Notre-Dame (IETND)
• Collège du Sacré-Cœur
• Collège Technique Aumôniers du Travail de Charleroi (ATC)

Transport

Air

Brussels South Charleroi Airport is located in Gosselies, about 7 kilometers north of the city center. It started in 1919 as a place to learn flying and later housed a building for making airplanes. Today, it serves as an extra airport for Brussels. The airline Ryanair is the biggest one there, with other airlines like Wizz Air and Jetairfly also flying in and out. In January 2008, a new, bigger terminal opened to replace the old, small one. In October 2021, the runway got longer by 650 meters, making it 3,200 meters long.

Rail

Charleroi has trains connecting it to other big cities in Belgium through Charleroi-Central railway station. There is also a second station called Charleroi-West on the line going to Ottignies.

River transport

The Port autonome de Charleroi helps move goods through canals and rivers to big ports like Dunkirk, Antwerp, and Rotterdam. It has twenty-nine ports along the river Sambre and the Brussels-Charleroi canal. Every year, it moves five million tons of goods, handles ten thousand containers, and supports many jobs.

Public transport

Public transport in Charleroi is run by TEC, the public transport service for the Walloon region. Buses and a light-rail system called the Métro Léger de Charleroi serve the area. Part of this light-rail is special because it includes parts of an old tramway network. Charleroi also plans to build a suburban rail system.

Charleroi light rail system

The Métro Léger de Charleroi was planned in the 1960s to be a big network with many lines, but only a few parts were built and opened between 1976 and 1996. Some parts, like the line to Châtelet, were built but never opened because there weren’t enough passengers. In 2012, more parts were finished, and in 2013, another branch opened. In June 2021, plans were made to fix and open more of the unfinished parts by 2026, and a new look for the trams was shown. This renovation will cost €22 million and will be finished by 2026.

Demographics

Culture

Charleroi has many interesting places to visit and things to do. There are several museums, including one for photography and another for military history. You can also find art museums and historic buildings turned into galleries.

The city has theatres, dance halls, and places for concerts and shows. There are also media offices, like a comic book publisher and a local TV channel.

Charleroi holds fun yearly events, such as marches in old uniforms, a carnival with big puppets, and fairs in the spring and summer. You can also explore the city on walks or bike rides along special paths.

Sports

Charleroi has many great sports teams. Spirou Charleroi is a famous basketball team that has won many championships in Belgium. La Villette Charleroi is excellent at table tennis and has won several top prizes in Europe. Action 21 Charleroi is a top futsal team, having won important cups and leagues. The city also has football teams like Royal Charleroi SC and ROC Charleroi, which have done very well in the Belgian league. The Stade du Pays de Charleroi is a big stadium that hosted games during a major European football event.

Notable people

Born in Charleroi

Charleroi has been home to many famous people throughout history. Some well-known individuals born in Charleroi include physicist Léon Rosenfeld, football player Alexandre Czerniatynski, and businessman Albert Frère, who was once the richest person in Belgium. Others include priest and astronomer Georges Lemaître, music producer Fabrice Lig, and musician Loïc Nottet.

Resided in Charleroi

Many notable figures have also lived in Charleroi. These include writer Robert Arcq, painter and comics artist Paul Cuvelier, and famous violinist Arthur Grumiaux. The city was also home to painter René Magritte and poet Arthur Rimbaud.

Twin cities

Charleroi has friendly relationships with several cities around the world. These include:

• Hirson, France
• Saint-Junien, France
• Sélestat, France
• Schramberg, Germany
• Waldkirch, Germany
• Manoppello, Italy
• Casarano, Italy
• Follonica, Italy
• Himeji, Japan (since 1965)
• Donetsk, Ukraine (since 1983)
• Pittsburgh, US