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CHARLEROI
Charleroi was founded in 1666, which is relatively late
compared to the other cities in Belgium. The Spanish who
ruled the Low Countries in the 17th century built a
fortification close to the village of Charnoy. This
fortification was meant to keep the troops of the
imperialist French king Louis XIV out of the Spanish
possessions. The star-shaped stronghold received the
name CHARLE-ROY (after the Spanish king Charles II).
However, in 1667-1678 the French took the new city and
expanded it. Already then, the difference between upper
and lower city was made.
In the 19th century, Charleroi became the heart of the 'pays
noir' (the black country), the country of the coal-mines.
This area was (together with the Liège region) the
center of the rapidly industrialized Belgium. The city
walls were destroyed in 1867 and new boroughs were
founded. The coal miners of the 'pays noir' settled in
the nearby villages, which until today, have preserved a
relative autonomy and independence from the big city.
Nowadays, greater Charleroi has a population of about
200.000 inhabitants.
The two centers of the city are situated around two
squares. The oldest one is the Place Charles II (Charles
II square). It lies in the upper town. The town hall
built in 1936 by Joseph Andre in neo-classicist style
has Art Déco decorations on the inside. The town hall
harbors two museums : the Musée des Beaux Arts (with
19th and 20th century paintings) and the Jules Destrée
museum (a famous Walloon politician who lived from 1863
to 1936). The main church around the square is the
Saint-Christopher Basilica, built in Baroque style at
the end of the 17th century. The dome of the Basilica
and the mosaics in the choir date from 1956. The 'Place
du Manège' is dominated by the 'Palais des Beaux Arts' (palace
of fine arts), a concert and theater hall. Close to the
Palace of Justice is another museum worthy of a visit.
In the 'Musee du Verre' (Glass museum) the visitor can
learn all about the glass industry which was once the
pride of Charleroi.
The lower part of the city is situated around 'Place
Albert Ier' (Albert I square). Most of the seats of the
commercial and financial companies are concentrated in
this part. It is also here that the important annual
Mardi Gras of the city takes place. The boulevard Joseph
Triou is situated on the old bedding of the Sambre river
which flows through Charleroi. The pedestrian bridge
leading to the Charleroi-Sud train station is decorated
with two sculptures of one of the most famous 19th
century Belgian sculptors: Constantin Meunier. The
sculptures are called : the Coalminer and the Blacksmith. |
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