TOURISM
Why should you visit Charleroi ?
With its striking industrial history, earning it the nickname of the « Black Country », Charleroi is definitely a city with a thousand facets! Unexpected and quirky, this working-class town has more than proved its authenticity. It is as bourgeois as it is modest, as eccentric as it is secretive… just like its inhabitants.
As the cradle of the unusual, many artists seek (and find!) inspiration here. Many artists, such as René Magritte, Jean Dupuis and Loïc Nottet, have come from here or made it their home over the years. In Charleroi, huge empty walls become the setting for magnificent street art frescoes, and old industries are transformed into a cultural playground!
Sports enthusiasts will be delighted by the town’s emblematic slag heaps and the many walks on offer. Between these slag heaps and the many woods, parks and public gardens that the town has to offer, lovers of nature and green spaces have plenty to satisfy them!
Over the last few years, suffering from a bad reputation, the Carolinians have made it a point of honour to restore their image thanks to an incredible metamorphosis imposed on their city. With a perfect blend of its turbulent past and dynamic renewal, it’s almost like being in the middle of a science fiction film, in a mysterious post-apocalyptic city! And perhaps that’s why more and more film productions are choosing the city as their setting? Whatever the case, today coal has turned into diamonds, and it’s now inevitable to linger in Charleroi and enjoy its energy!
The Orange Hotel offers you a selection of activities to consider during your visit to the “new Berlin”.
What to do during your stay in Charleroi ?
« Palais des Beaux-Arts »
Overlooking the Place du Manège, the PBA (as it is known) is a 65-year-old theatre.
The auditorium with 1800 seats, was designed primarily for staging opera performances. The congress hall, meanwhile, is a multi-purpose space that can seat 500 people. To the right of the main auditorium are two other large rooms reserved for exhibitions, with a total surface area of 1500 m2.
Each season, the venue offers a varied programme of theatre, dance, circus, musicals and operas.
« Eden »
Just next door to « Maison de la Laïcité », on the Jacques Bertrand Boulevard, is another theatre: The « Eden ».
More than just a concert or theatre venue, it also houses the city’s Cultural Centre and its Centre for Expression and Creativity.
The purpose of the project? To bring culture to places where it is not necessarily expected: squares, schools, nursing homes, parks…
Eden’s program ranges from concerts and theatre performances to open stages and debates. Encouraging as much individual and/or collective artistic expression as possible, a wide range of workshops are regularly held here: courses, workshops, workshops, etc. You could spend all day here!
« Quai 10 »
Established in 2017 in the former National Bank of Belgium, Quai10 is an exceptional venue that has quickly established itself as a flagship event in the city centre.
With 5 cinemas offering a wide variety of screenings, from independent films to the most popular, the programming guideline is to offer quality cinema, in the original version and with subtitles.
As well as being a cinema, it’s also an excellent brasserie serving quality products, and open 7 days a week!
The icing on the cake? The establishment has also set up a friendly gaming area entirely dedicated to the many independent productions and open all year round!
Street art trail
Treat yourself to a surprising urban route full of surprises through the city!
Whether you choose to walk, cycle or even just take the metro, you’ll have the chance to discover and admire a very ‘underground’ aspect of Charleroi, decorated with the works of hundreds of graffiti artists and painters.
We recommend the intersection of the Rue de Marchienne and the Rue du Moulin, the Parc and Janson metro stations, the Ministère des Finances, the Rue de la Providence or, quite simply, the Chemin de Halage.
Get your cameras ready!
BD trail
When you visit Charleroi, keep your eyes peeled as you go… As a tribute to the Dupuis publishing house, based in Marcinelle, the town has chosen to display several references to their most famous authors in the form of sculptures on roundabouts and frescoes in metro stations !
As you stroll along, you’ll be able to meet familiar faces such as Boule et Bill, Lucky Luke, the Marsupilami, Spirou, Gaston Lagaffe, Yoko Tsuno, the Smurfs, Mélusine, the Tuniques Bleues, Cédric, Papyrus, Largo Winch, and many more!
Art nouveau / art deco
For the connoisseur, the discerning eye and the inquisitive youngster, here’s a treasure hunt suggestion: go in search of the art deco and art nouveau secrets of the city’s facades!
Historically, it was the region’s mining activity that prompted its inhabitants to develop an enterprising and atypical architectural style in the form of art nouveau. After the Second World War, the influence of Holland was felt in a skilful transition to Art Deco.
Be sure to admire the art nouveau Maison Dorée on the corner of rue Tumelaire and boulevard Defontaine, or the art deco Hôtel de Ville on Place Charles II.
The Black Trail
For hikers, sports enthusiasts and lovers of green spaces, don’t think that an industrial city like Charleroi has nothing to offer you. Quite the contrary!
An additional 22km loop to the GR412, this route takes you up four slag heaps linked by sublime landscapes and paths full of surprises along former secondary roads. The route is marked by the remains of a 1980s wall with triangular slabs, in reference to these famous slag heaps.
All in all, the “Pays Noir” is definitely full of surprises!
Ville 2
The city’s first shopping center is located in the area known as the “Ville Haute”, right next to the « Notre-Dame » Hospital. With a free parking on 3 floors, one of which is roofed, Ville2 is a central point in the city.
The shopping mall features no fewer than a hundred brands of all sizes (Fnac, Club, Lola&Liza, Jules, H&M, Yves Rocher, Rituals, Armand Thierry and more), plus a whole restaurant area upstairs.
Opposite the entrance to the food area is a Pathé cinema with a wide selection of films that are regularly renewed. It has a dozen screens, including a 4DX theater and an entire wing dedicated to the IMAX experience.
If it’s raining during your next stay in Charleroi, Ville2 is for sure the best place to spend the day !
Rive Gauche
In the « Ville Basse » district, on Place Verte, the Charleroi’s new shopping center « Rive Gauche » opened in March 2017.
With a Novotel hotel on the rooftop and a 1,000-space underground parking lot, this project has established itself as the city’s focal point, directing visitors’ interest to Boulevard Tirou and the surrounding area. With the opening of Rive Gauche, l’Inno, Quai10, the Molière bookshop and the many nearby restaurants and bars have all benefited.
The 3-storey gallery boasts some 95 names in food, fashion, home decoration, sport and more. Of all the brands present, the following are particularly noteworthy: Bershka, Primark, H&M, JD Sport, MAC, Burger King, Tezenis, Fox&Cie, Kiabi, Zara and many more.
The little extra? A baby corner !
La Manufacture Urbaine
From its signature “Brasserie du Pays de Charleroi”, Manufacture Urbaine (also known as LaM-u) has been brewing artisanal, local and quality beers since 2017!
Having chosen to set up in the former media library of the Lower Town, just a few meters from Place Verte, the brewery has quickly become a focal point of the city. It is told the brewery’s beers carry a message that can be shared and brought together, between innovation and tradition. Their flagship products include the famous CharlesRoy, Pays Noir and Bisous M’Chou, as well as Music Beer.
Rockerill
Another surprising venue full of ideas on the outskirts of Charleroi! Converting the site of the Providence ironworks into a venue for alternative concerts and exhibitions, the Rockerill Art Industry takes advantage of the city’s working-class image.
Divided into 4 multi-functional spaces, the Rockerill exploits the raw aspect of its steelmaking heritage to create very specific atmospheres. The forges host a number of exhibitions and regularly host the « Apéros Industriels », a festive musical event offering an alternative to traditional bar after-work parties. A concert hall has been completely fitted out to accommodate 250 people, while the Grande Salle is reserved for larger events such as vintage markets or larger concerts.
A not-to-be-missed event ?
If there’s one event to recommend in the center of Charleroi, it’s the Quartier d’Été, which takes place every July to unite the city around decadent summer festivities. Organized by the city and regularly supported by a lot of external organizations, this gathering gives Citizens of Charleroi, the opportunity to celebrate the coming of summer in the open air. Initially taking place in Parc Reine Astrid, Place de la Digue is now the venue for this festive event.
So don’t hesitate to target the month of July for your next expedition to the « Pays Noir »! You’ll be able to benefit many activities organized throughout the month, over the course of the whole week: bars, dance evenings, late-night cinema sessions, dance and acrobatics shows, roller-skating rinks, etc. There’s something for everyone and all ages !
Where to sleep near Charleroi ?
Are you looking for a charming, innovative hotel in order to visit Charleroi? The Orange Hotel, less than 30 minutes away, offers rooms equipped with all modern comfort for your business or leisure stays. Our hotel will delight you, whether you’re traveling with your family, as a couple or on your own !