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Charleroi, a leading cultural city


Charleroi, an industrial town and Wallonia's first city, is a leading cultural city which is full of surprises.


Charleroi is the Walloon capital of comic strips. This is where publisher Dupuis first released "Spirou" and heroes like Gaston Lagaffe, Lucky Luke, the Smurfs and Boule et Bill.



Charleroi and its rich heritage


Did you know that Charleroi, together with Liège, is the Walloon town with the most Art Nouveau buildings?


As you travel through the historic centre of Charleroi, you can discover many beautiful Art Nouveau façades, like the Maison Dorée and the Maison Lafleur.


If you find that tempting, the Pays de Charleroi tourist office gives guided tours on all subjects and for all tastes.


If you visit Charleroi, don't miss its belfry, a UNESCO world heritage site, and its remarkable Museum of Photography, the largest photography museum in Europe.


Charleroi and its mining past

Charleroi was once a mining city, and the Bois du Cazier, which was added to the Unesco world heritage list in 2012, bears witness to this today.


At the Bois du Cazier, you'll find three museums illustrating the region's ancestral knowledge and its flourishing industrial past: the Mining Museum, the Glass Museum and the Industry Museum.


Charleroi's mining past is also reflected in its slagheaps formed by the extraction of coal.


The slagheaps have a microclimate favouring extremely diversified landscapes, making it a popular destination for local flora and fauna walks.


Charleroi, a city on the rise.