Lay low in Charleroi: the city on the other side of Europe. Open left menu charleroi charleroi belgium

... Probably, each of us at least once in his life saw such films, when at the very beginning of the picture the main character opens his eyes, looks around and says something like: "How did I end up here?". This is how I felt walking around Charleroi (Belgium). "How did I get here? .." - I asked myself this question again and again, even knowing exactly the answer to it. Every time I came across another construction site or another homeless man nestled right in the middle of the street, I thought about why I wasn't on a direct flight.

One of the main cities of Wallonia is a place away from the traditional tourist routes. The vast majority of foreigners arriving at Brussels-Charleroi Airport follow either the capital of Belgium or the nearby city of Bruges. And only I, as a person with a low level of intellectual development, decided to stay for a day in Charleroi. This place is not visited by tourists. They don't just come here. The only way to get here is to stumble upon a canceled flight. Or to transfer it, as in our case. Probably, trying to connect two Ryanair flights was not the best decision initially. However, the most interesting, as usual, was ahead of us.

Charleroi (Belgium) or The story that not all travel is equally useful

Even before the trip to Wallonia, I once read on one of the forums that Charleroi is something like the Belgian Chelyabinsk. Although at that moment I did not particularly pay attention to this phrase. These words began to resurface in my head when, at the entrance to Charleroi, the sky was covered with the smoke of huge factories. But even then I still thought that comparing the “city of harsh Russian men” and the Belgian town with the romantic name “Char-le-Roi” was somehow stupid. But after about half an hour, the harsh truth, sneaking up on the sly, began to inexorably bite my heels.

At first I wanted to call Charleroi a city of emigrants. Then - the city of coal miners and steelworkers, living under the shadow of heavy lead clouds. However, very soon I realized that any epithets would not be enough to describe the oppressive and depressing atmosphere of this place.

After getting off the bus near the Charleroi station, for some time I tried to look for the best angle and photograph only those buildings that looked more or less decent. But the harsh Belgian reality still stubbornly intermeddle in every frame. That is why after half an hour I began to simply take pictures of everything: dead embankments, dirty gateways, graffiti on the walls of houses, road signs ...

The coolest shot I found is right next to the apartment that we rented through the Airbnb website. There, on the next street, local prostitutes kept their watch. I took a picture of them from afar, and then began to get a little closer with the camera, which in the end turned out to be my fatal mistake. Two or three steps… A shining ray of sun on the camera lens… And a selected French obscenity poured in my direction, which I perfectly understood even without translation. Using all my vocabulary, I came up with something like: "Merci, mademoiselle." And he began to slowly retreat.

What is Charleroi? Charleroi is a city of friendly prostitutes.

... The apartment that we happened to rent, by the way, also turned out to be a match for the whole city: shabby and depressive. If anyone is interested, here it is. I don't want to post pictures of her here. It was located very close to the station and, taking into account the discount coupon, it cost us some 5-6 dollars. Although, to be honest, even this money was not worth it. If I had known what I was signing up for, I would have stayed overnight at the airport. Or go to Bruges... Maybe even on foot...

If Bruges is the heart of Belgium, then Charleroi is its rectum or something close to the digestive system.

In general, the "Belgian Chelyabinsk" turned out to be a rather expensive city. For renting a decent apartment on AIRBNB, you will have to pay about $35-45 per day (although if you wish, this price can be reduced by $11 using the code BRUXELLES2015).

The fare from the airport to the city will cost 5 euros per person. If anyone is interested, you can get to Charleroi by bus "A", which leaves twice an hour (from 5 am to 11.30 pm).

As for the prices in the city, they cannot be called very pleasant either. An ordinary plastic bag in the store here costs a little less than one euro. A bottle of beer (0.75) will cost you 2 euros. At the same time, you will have to pay another 10-20 cents for the bottle itself. A loaf of bread costs 1.25. A kilogram of cheese will cost an average of 13 euros. Chicken meat will cost about 10 euros.

In general, Charleroi is a city that will make you feel like a beggar more than once.

Prices in restaurants also bite. But in principle, we still managed to find one good institution. In the “Italian” restaurant “Pizza Anna”, located in the Rue de Dampremy area, we managed to have a very good lunch.

This set for two cost us 9 euros (plus one more euro, which was formed from somewhere out of thin air). By the way, it was pretty tasty. And in general, this street itself turned out to be one of the few decent places in the whole city. At least I really liked the multi-colored flags hung on it.

Attractions Charleroi or Path to the central square

If we talk about the city itself, then it is also quite difficult to resist criticism. This city is very dirty. And the crowds of emigrants and the bars that are everywhere here on the windows of the first floors somehow constantly keep you in suspense.

Another little thing that constantly catches your eye is the huge amount of graffiti that can be found here almost everywhere. Some of them I liked, others I didn't. Although in fairness it should be said that without them the city would look quite boring. The bright colors of street paintings somehow dilute the overall color. Therefore, it is very, very difficult not to photograph them at least once. At least I didn't resist it.

In general, Charleroi is a city not without interesting places. Interesting cathedrals and beautiful old mansions are quite often found on the local streets. However, due to the huge number of construction sites, it is not easy to enjoy their beauty.

Even on the central square, some kind of fences and bars constantly fall into the frame. Therefore, the very concept sights of Charleroi' is a rather relative thing.

In general, by Belgian standards, Charleroi is a rather ordinary and unremarkable place. At least, some random Belgian told us something similar, with whom we managed to talk a little on one of the central streets of the city.

“You should have gone to Brussels or Bruges,” the local Captain Obvious told us. And then he began to talk for a long time about the fact that Charleroi is a city undergoing a global restructuring. The coal and steel mills that fed the region in the past, with the advent of the 21st century, began to close en masse, and therefore the locals began to leave this city en masse. They were replaced by emigrants from Arab and African countries, who today make up almost half of the city's population. And later the region was overwhelmed by a wave of crime. Therefore, after nine in the evening, the whole city seems to die out.

In general, Charleroi is a classic example of the fact that old Europe can be infinitely different. If you like NTV news about decaying Europeans, then this place will certainly appeal to you. And to everyone else I will say this: Charleroi is not the city that you want to return to again. But perhaps that is why it is worth visiting at least once.

... The next day, when we were returning to the airport, the city's railway station was shackled by another strike of civil servants, apparently considering that a miserable two thousand euros is not the money for which it is worth working hard at work for 8 hours a day. Already in the morning, people in working uniforms, bristling with the flags of their trade unions, calmly drank beer in cafes and chatted about the hardships of their work. At the same time, it seemed that everything was going on as usual. And even the prostitutes, lined up like a guard of honor, seemed to me a little more friendly and welcoming in the morning.

And at that moment I thought: maybe all this time I have been unfair to Charleroi? Yes, Belgian Chelyabinsk is a city with an industrial past. But the locals don't seem to be ashamed of him at all. Yes, there are a lot of expats here, but many of them even in everyday life look like they are going to a cool show or a fashion party. Yes, today's Charleroi is one big construction site. But even in this chaos, you can easily find colorful streets and real masterpieces of architecture here. Yes, probably, I will never go to this place of my own free will, but I do not regret that I had a chance to visit here. After all, where else to the west of Belarus will you see such trash.

Charleroi is the reverse side of a changing Europe: with immigrants, prostitutes and constant strikes and rallies. The Belgians are already used to it. And we?

The city has an interesting nickname: the capital of the Black Country. It did not appear by chance and is due to the fact that there are coal mines in this regional industrial center. However, Charleroi is one of the poorest and most unattractive cities in Belgium. Unemployment rates remain high, in this regard, 2006 can be considered a record year, when unemployment of the able-bodied population in Charleroi reached 30%. Such a gloomy picture is complemented by a high level of crime, including corruption among the ruling political elites in the city.

It would seem that these factors are enough to remove Charleroi from the list of attractive tourist destinations. However, do not rush to conclusions. The capital of the "Black Country" has many bright sides. For example, Charleroi contests with Brussels the title of capital of Belgian comics, and not without success. The well-known publishing house for children Editions Dupuis is also based here, and the local school Marcinelle gave the world such famous and beloved characters as Marsupilami, Boule&Bill, Spirou&Fantasio and Lucky Luke. The city can also boast of its art museums - there are several of them, and we will return to them later.

Charleroi is also a major transport hub, namely rail and air. The city has a strategically important transit station. Through the Charleroi-Brussels canal, the city is connected with the waterways of Flanders, the second, along with Wallonia, historical region of the country. In each of the districts of Charleroi there are interesting sights that attract many travelers. The popularity of this industrial center among visitors is also due to its close location to Brussels, which, as they say, is within easy reach.

Arriving in Belgium, be sure to find the time and opportunity to visit the city of Charleroi - beautiful, original, with its strengths and weaknesses, but that makes it even more attractive.

History of Charleroi

Charleroi was founded in 1666 and is a relatively young city by European standards. The settlement was founded by the governor of the Spanish Netherlands, and it got its name in honor of Charles II of Spain, the last king of the Spanish branch of the Habsburg dynasty. The monarch, however, was then only 5 years old, and he was by no means distinguished by good health. The Habsburgs are notorious for having seriously harmed themselves with numerous blood marriages, so the physical and mental abnormalities that the young king suffered were quite understandable.

After the founding of Charleroi, it did not take long for the city to become a tasty morsel for foreign armies. At first it was besieged and captured by the Dutch. In 1678, according to the Treaty of Nijmegen, he came under the dominion of the Spanish crown. After 15 years, the French captured it, but even after the “five-year plan” they were forced to cede to Spain - under the terms of the Rijswijk Treaty. But this vicissitudes in the style of “power is changing again” did not end there. Subsequently, Charleroi was recaptured by the French, then they ceded it to the Dutch, and then in 1714, Austrian sovereignty was established over the city, in accordance with the Treaty of Baden. In 1745, the restless French captured it again, but three years later they were forced to return it to the Austrians. And then the Great French Revolution arrived in time, after which, in 1830, Belgium became an independent state, and from that moment a new era began in the vague, unstable history of Charleroi.

Between 1867 and 1871 the city walls were destroyed. It would seem, what positive could be in this event? After all, destruction is by no means a synonym for creation. But not in the case of Charleroi. The city walls served as a barrier to progress and development, and with their disappearance, the city had the opportunity to expand. Gradually, it became the economic powerhouse of the country and the second city in Belgium after Brussels with a high standard of living. The prosperity was based on the fact that during the industrial revolution it turned into a major center for coal mining, as well as the production of metal and glass.

Charleroi coal mines provided income not only to the country's treasury - they fed families. Moreover, not only Belgians, but also immigrants who came here for high wages. The Italians were especially persistent. Between the 1920s and 1950s, the city experienced several waves of immigration from Italy. This is confirmed by statistics: in 1955 alone, 32% of the miners of the whole country turned out to be Italians. There are many natives of the Apennines and their descendants in Charleroi today: about 60 thousand people, that is, about a third of the population.

With the completion of the industrial revolution, the economic life of Charleroi began to decline, because this revolution ended with the discovery of oil, which turned out to be a cheaper product than coal. As a consequence, coal mines in Wallonia, including those located in Charleroi, began to close one after another. These processes became the decline of heavy industry, followed by the Second World War, which aggravated the already difficult situation. Serious economic problems that arose in the city and throughout the region at that time have not sunk into oblivion today. The country's government is making every effort to diversify the region's economy, in particular, relying on the development of the aerospace industry.

Some progress in this direction has already been made. By the way, Charleroi and Brussels have one international airport for two, serving both residents of both cities and tourists. The main city-forming enterprises are Industeel and AGC Automotive, subsidiaries of such giants as Arcelor-Mittal and Asahi Glass, respectively, as well as SABCA, Alstom and Sonaca. Their role in the city's economy can hardly be overestimated.

Since the second half of the 70s of the last century, Charleroi has been a stronghold of the Socialist Party of Belgium, which receives great support from the electorate in local elections: in the period from 1982 to 2000, over 50% of the city's population voted for its candidates. After the 2006 elections, the Socialist Party, having gone through a series of high-profile corruption scandals involving politicians from it, lost significant voter support.

Attractions Charleroi

Charleroi is divided into two parts: the Upper City and the Lower City. The latter, let's be completely objective, is especially gloomy. But this circumstance does not prevent it from remaining attractive to tourists, because here are the three most famous sights of the historical center. We are talking about Charleroi Sud - the main railway station of Charleroi, the Exchange Passage and the church of St. Anthony located behind it, built in the neoclassical style.

It is worth mentioning the Exchange Passage separately: it, similar to the Saint-Uber gallery in Brussels, was once one of the first shopping galleries in Belgium. The exchange passage is not empty even today, under its roof there are several second-hand bookshops and a large salon, which presents everything you need for interior design.

The two parts of Charleroi are separated from each other by Albert I Square, the look of which evokes associations with communist times. Maybe this is due to the fact that socialists ruled in the city for several decades in a row? Hard to say. However, the “communist” appearance gives the square a certain unique charm that attracts tourists who like to walk and take pictures here.

Charleroi also has its own main shopping street, it is called Montagne. The street leads to Place Charles II, located in the Upper Town, famous in turn for the neoclassical Town Hall built in 1936. The town hall is crowned by a 70-meter bell tower made of brick and stone in the Art Deco style. The carillon of the town hall is made up of 47 bells, every 15 minutes performing a "ringtone" to the tune of a popular song by Jacques Bertrand. The belfry of the City Hall of Charleroi is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, and this despite the fact that it is the youngest in the kingdom and in comparison with belfries in other countries.

On the second floor of the Town Hall is one of the most famous museums in the country - fine arts. The collection consists of a large collection of paintings by Belgian painters of the 19th century, such as the surrealists Paul Devois and René Magritte, the followers of impressionism James Ensor, the realist Constantin Menier, the caricaturist Felicien Rops and the expressionist Pierre Paulus.

The Basilica of Saint Christopher is located directly opposite the Town Hall. It can rightly be called a virtuoso masterpiece of architecture. Built in the Baroque style, it dates back to 1722. It was originally a small church. In 1957 it was expanded, in 1994 it was updated. The first thing that catches your eye when entering the temple is an amazing mosaic, literally woven from pieces of colored glass. It seems that it took several million fragments to create it. Most likely, the way it is.

On Manege Square, just behind the Town Hall, there is the Palace of Fine Arts, built in 1954. And if you walk a little east of the Basilica of St. Christopher, on the corner of Boulevard de Fontaine and Rue Tumelaire, you will see an art nouveau house - Maison Dorée, it was built back in 1899. The building is called one of the few houses in Charleroi that tourists should pay attention to.

No less remarkable attraction of Charleroi is the Museum of Photography, located in the former monastic cloister. The museum's collection contains 8,000 photographs, but for some reason only a thousand are on public display. In addition to photographs, the museum also houses old publications from different times, so this institution is more of an archive than a museum in the traditional sense.

Tourists, as well as local residents, are happy to visit the city art museum with the unusual name BPS22, which exhibits works by contemporary artists, both local and foreign. It also presents the creative research of graffiti artists and representatives of other creative areas. The museum building itself is also of interest - it is a real monument of architecture in the Art Nouveau style.

We have already said above that Charleroi was once famous for its glass production. A kind of reminder of those prosperous times is the Museum of Glass, located near the Palace of Justice. Visiting it, you can see a unique collection, which presents samples of Venetian glass, crystals shining like diamonds (they date back to the 19th century), art nouveau glassware and many more interesting exhibits.

Among other similar institutions, I would like to single out the Archaeological Museum, as well as the Jules Destre Museum, a well-known Belgian political and statesman of the late 19th - first half of the 20th century. These museums also enjoy the constant attention of tourists. And yet, having arrived in Charleroi, it is impossible not to visit the Cartier castle - a magnificent building of the Late Middle Ages, built in 1635. In 1932, unfortunately, there was a fire in the castle, and most of it was destroyed by fire. It would seem that the historical landmark will never be restored, but in 2001 this monument of military architecture was completely restored, and then its government premises were given over to a public library.

Travelers, once in Charleroi, do not confine themselves to acquaintance only with intra-city sights, turning their eyes to the suburbs. Here you should see the amazing castle of Monse-sur-Sambre, built in the 17th century. It is located on the road to the capital of Hainaut, Mons, just a few kilometers from the main train station. An excellent addition to the castle complex is an English-style park open to visitors all year round. But, unfortunately, tourists are not allowed directly into the castle - you can only admire it from the outside.

Another attraction - the Bois de Casières Park - is located in the city of Marcinelle, it is 2 km from the South City Station. Once upon a time there was an old coal mine on this site, closed after a terrible accident in 1956 that claimed the lives of 262 miners. The Bois de Casières has three cinder hills equipped with comfortable walking paths.

Charleroi can be reached by train from Brussels, on the way you will spend 50 minutes. With the help of rail transport, they also get from Mons and Namur, the travel time will be the same from both cities - 30-40 minutes.

Charleroi stands on the E-42 highway, about halfway between Mons and Namur. If you are coming from Brussels by car, take the E-19 towards Mons and then the A-54 towards Nivelles.

Useful information for tourists about Charleroi in Belgium - geographical location, tourist infrastructure, map, architectural features and attractions.

Charleroi is a Belgian city that has placed its two hundred thousandth population fifty kilometers south of Brussels. Its founders - the Spaniards - initially conceived an ordinary fortress, designed to protect the territory from the French King Louis XIV. Named Charnoy by the Spanish builders, the fortress eventually grew to the city level, acquiring the name Charleroi - in honor of the then five-year-old King of Spain, Charles II.

Unfortunately, this representative of the Spanish branch of the Habsburgs was extremely weak - physically and mentally. Perhaps this is what affected the controversial history of the city named after him. Suffice it to say that soon the foundation field in 1666 was besieged by foreign armies.

During its existence, Charleroi has been in the hands of the Dutch, French, Austrians, periodically returning to the Spaniards. Only in 1830 did it pass to Belgium, under whose jurisdiction it remains to this day.

The true impetus to the entire Belgian economy was given by the destruction of the city walls, which took place gradually in 1867-1871. This event removed the territorial restrictions for the development of Charleroi, bringing Belgium to the second place after the UK in terms of the combined production of glass and metallurgical products, as well as the level of the coal mining industry.

It was the abundance of mines that provided the city with the unofficial name of the "Black Country". Continuing the centuries-old tradition, in the twenties and fifties of the past century, successive waves of Italian miners rushed to Charleroi, sixty thousand of whom now make up a third of the settled part of the townspeople. The subsequent displacement of more expensive coal fuel by oil, which marked the end of the industrial revolution, affected the economy of Charleroi, creating insurmountable problems.

The desire of those in power to compensate for restructuring losses boils down to attempts to diversify the city's economy. In particular, due to the development of the aerospace industry. The railway junction located in Charleroi, which plays a transshipment role, the airport and the canal, which directly leads to the North Sea, also help to keep the bar of financial well-being.

Of interest is the neoclassical town hall of Charleroi, built relatively recently - in 1936. She gave her second floor to the Museum of Fine Arts, whose halls are filled with paintings by artists who honored these places with the fact of their birth or temporary stay. Surrealists, expressionists, impressionists, caricaturists, and unshakably true to nature realists presented the results of inspired creativity here.

The Basilica of St. Christopher, located opposite the town hall, was originally conceived as a small baroque church, has been enlarged and renovated several times. Her appearance was first corrected in 1957, and she underwent her last cosmetic procedure in 1994. Against the background of predominantly concrete buildings that distinguish urban development, the town hall looks very aesthetically pleasing.

Charleroi is the third largest city in Belgium, located in Wallonia, the French-speaking part of the country.

general information

Charleroi was once a very wealthy and powerful city thanks to its long industrial tradition. For the same reason, he became poor when industry in Europe collapsed in the 1970s. Since then, Charleroi has long been considered a poor and inhospitable city. Today this is not entirely true: the city center is a pleasant place, people are easy-going, the crime rate is not above the average for cities of the same size (yielding to the cities of Leuven and), and there are at least two things that attract tourists: one of one of them is the museum of photography, which has achieved worldwide recognition, and the other is the festival of modern dance "Dances of Charleroi", which has achieved worldwide fame. However, compared to the rest of Belgium and Wallonia, Charleroi still lags behind in terms of economic development, and the abandoned suburbs, as well as the ruined factories, remain a sad confirmation of this.

This city is well known to those who prefer to travel by plane, but do not like to spend a lot. Brussels-Charleroi Airport is located 55 km north of Brussels. Ryanair and Wizzair operate flights from Charleroi to many European and North African destinations.

Charleroi is also well known as the birthplace of the "mayonnaise bracelet", which gained wide popularity soon after it was invented by Nicolas Bizzart. In Charleroi itself, almost every fast food establishment recommends using them.

You can book a hotel in Charleroi at, and you can compare accommodation prices from different sites

Charleroi from A to Z: map, hotels, attractions, restaurants, entertainment. Shopping, shops. Photos, videos and reviews about Charleroi.

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The third largest city in Belgium, Charleroi, is located in the Walloon French-speaking part of the country. There is an opinion among the Belgians that Charleroi is a poor and polluted city that cannot boast of anything interesting. It lures tourists with the Museum of Photography, which has achieved worldwide recognition, as well as the annual festival of modern dance.

Charleroi has gained some popularity among passengers of low-cost airlines, because Brussels-Charleroi Airport is located a few kilometers north of the city.

How to get there

Brussels-Charleroi Airport is located 7 kilometers north of the city center, serving budget airlines Ryanair, Jet4you, Jetairfly and Wizzair, flying to Europe and North Africa.

The main railway station is considered to be Charleroi-South, where the first railway line opened in 1843, connecting the city with Brussels. Currently, the station has a connection with Paris, Liege, Tournai, Braine-le-Comte, Mons, Antwerp, Essen and other cities.

Charleroi-West is considered a secondary railway station and, due to its proximity to the southern station, which takes the main "shock", serves very small passenger flows.

The center and suburbs of Charleroi can be traveled on foot or by metro.

Search for flights to Brussels (nearest airport to Charleroi)

Weather in Charleroi

Attractions and attractions in Charleroi

With its pedestrian zones, squares, parks, shopping centers and developed infrastructure, Charleroi has earned the status of a well-maintained city - an ideal place for walking and shopping. And the reputation of his Museum of Fine Arts, Museum of Photography and Ballet is recognized far beyond Belgium.

glass museum

An echo of the “past” life of Charleroi, once the former city of glass craftsmen, is the Museum of Glass, whose exposition traces the history of the origin, development and use of this “substance”, as well as its composition and application features. The museum's collection covers a vast time frame - from the origins to the present. The museum displays Venetian glassware, 19th century crystals, fine glass from Germany and Bohemia, as well as magnificent Art Nouveau "pieces".

Museum of Fine Arts

The already mentioned Museum of Fine Arts (Musée Des Beaux-Arts) is represented by a rich collection covering the main Belgian schools of painting: neoclassicism, realism, socialist realism, impressionism, expressionism and surrealism. And among the outstanding artists whose works have replenished the museum's exposition, one can single out Rene Magritte, Felicien Rops, Eugene Bosch, Constantin Meunier.

The museum is open to visitors: Tue-Fri. 09:00-17:00; Sat-Sun: 10:00-18:00. Guided visit as part of a group - 50-65 EUR per group. Visit without a group - on the first Saturday of the month at 11:00 (8 EUR), or on any day by prior reservation (at least 4 visitors). Prices on the page are for October 2018.

photography museum

In the southwestern part of Charleroi, in the Mont-sur-Marchienne area, a large photography museum is located in the building of a former monastery. The museum's collection covers the history of photography: from its inception to the latest modern developments. Exploring the museum's exposition, as if through a camera lens, the visitor is immersed in the rich and dynamic world of photography. The museum is open: Tue-Fri: 09:00-12:30, 13:15-17:00; Sat-Sun: 10:00-12:30, 13:15-18:00. The entrance ticket costs 7 EUR.

Cartier castle

One of the "pearls" of Charleroi is Cartier Castle. Located in Marchien-au-Pont (a former commune, now the district of Charleroi), the castle served as the residence of more than one aristocratic family. Erected by order of the Honore family in the 17th century, the castle changed hands more than once and changed its owners.

Popular hotels in Charleroi

Walks in the city center

Let's start our walk around Charleroi from the Upper Town: namely from Manege Square (Place du Manège), to the west of which rises the Palace of Fine Arts. From Manezhnaya Square, across Rue du Dauphin, we move towards Place Charles II, where we admire the City Hall building (1936), look into the Jules Destre museum located in it, dedicated to the life of the Belgian political figure; and contemplate the Basilica of Saint Christopher (1801)

Then we move along the semi-pedestrian shopping street Rue Neuve, turn left onto Paul Janson Boulevard, then right, and following along Gustave Roullier Boulevard, we get to Paul Pastour University (1901) .

At the end of Boulevard Gustave Roulier we cross the square and find ourselves on Boulevard Dewandre. Then we take to the right and get to Joseph II Boulevard (Boulevard Joseph II), from where we move towards Boulevard Alfred de Fontaine, where the Museum of Glass is located.

You can relax and take a breath in the nearby Queen Astrid Park.

Turning right onto Boulevard Audent, we continue to move until we reach the monument to Jules Destre. Then you can return to Place Charles II or, after walking along Rue de la Montagne, which is a shopping pedestrian area, go down to the Lower Town.

Going down the Rue Montagne, we go straight to Rue de Dampremy, where the facades of houses built in 1694 and 1731 are hidden behind numbers 67 and 69. respectively. Walking a little forward, on the right you can find the ruins of an ancient fortress, and turning left, at the end of the street, the chapel of St. Fiacre (17th century)

We turn onto Boulevard Joseph Tirou, once the bed of the Sambre River, and turn left towards Place Albert I. After passing along Rue du Collège, we move towards Place Emile Buisset and exit to the monument to Constantin Meunier.

From Place Buise we move along Rue Léopold, then turn left onto Rue des Peines Perdues and go to Rue Navez, where the magnificent facade of the Notre Dame Institute (18th century) flaunts. Returning back to Boulevard Joseph Thirou, turn left, move along Rue Pont de Sambre, then up from Montagne Street to Charles II Square, from where we return to Manezhnaya Square, where our walk comes to an end.