As the fifth-largest urban area in Belgium, Charleroi has plenty for visitors to explore despite its reputation as an industrial coal mining city. True, much of the downtown retains an urban grittiness reflective of Charleroi’s working-class roots and post-industrial decline. However beyond the remnants of abandoned factories and rusty decades-old infrastructure lies a city actively reinventing itself.
| Activity | Description |
|---|---|
| Marvel at Modern Street Art | Explore large-scale street art murals all over Charleroi. |
| Ride Glass Elevators Through Historic Site Boch | Visit Site Boch Museum of Industry and Work to experience Charleroi’s history. |
| Sample the On-Trend Street Food Scene | Try gourmet waffles, hamburgers, and local microbreweries. |
| Ride Belgium’s Only Metro System | Explore Charleroi via the citywide premetro system. |
| Wander Magical Rive Gauche Park | Enjoy the green space along the Sambre River with playful features. |
| Admire World-Renowned Photography | Visit the Musée de la Photographie de Charleroi with a vast photo collection. |
| Gaze Up at Mind-bending Comic Murals | Discover towering comic book page reproductions in the city. |
| Browse the Flea Market Bargains | Explore the Saturday morning flea market at Place du Manège. |
| See Rare Birds at Charleroi Aviary Park | Visit the Aviary Park with over 150 bird species and wildlife. |
| Tour Historic Outlying Châteaus & Ruins | Explore castles, châteaus, abbeys, and historic ruins in the outskirts. |
| Explore New Riverfront Development Districts | Discover revitalized riverfront areas and trendy districts. |
| Experience Quirky Hilltop Fun at Plopsa Coo | Enjoy family fun at Plopsa Coo amusement park in the Ardennes Forest. |
Dynamic street art murals splash color onto repurposed reinforced concrete buildings. Young entrepreneurs energize the food and nightlife scenes with creative new businesses. Extensive restoration projects underway in 2023-2024 seek to revitalize Charleroi’s historic buildings, waterways, and public parks.
For travelers curious to experience the real Wallonia region beyond Brussels and Bruges, Charleroi in 2024 offers the perfect blend of urban exploration, cultural experiences and history to discover Belgium’s francophone heart. Read on for our picks of the 15 best things to do in Charleroi in 2024 and beyond.
Marvel at Modern Street Art
Name and Location:
Street art throughout Charleroi.
History and Significance:
Charleroi has become a canvas for modern street artists, transforming the city’s landscape into a vibrant gallery.
What to Expect:
Discover a diverse range of street art, from large murals to intricate stencils, showcasing both local and international artists.
Visitor Information:
Accessible all year round, free of charge. Self-guided walking tour maps are available online.
Perhaps nothing symbolizes Charleroi’s transformation more than the spectacular large-scale murals splashed across buildings all over town. Abandoned factories, concrete housing projects, bridges, underpasses…almost anything goes as an artistic “canvas” here! Graffiti and street artists come from all over the world to contribute paint to Charleroi’s unique open-air street art repository .
Some of the most impressive works include vivid surreal portraiture and giant fantastical creatures watch over the industrial landscape. Make a game out of spotting surreal motifs, manifold color explosions or hyperrealistic human faces while exploring Charleroi’s diverse neighborhoods by foot, bike or tram.
Ride Glass Elevators Through Historic Site Boch
Name and Location:
Glass elevators at the Boch site in Charleroi.
History and Significance:
The Boch site, a historic industrial area, now repurposed with modern installations like glass elevators.
What to Expect:
Experience a unique view of the city’s industrial heritage and urban landscape through these transparent elevators.
Visitor Information:
Open to the public. Operational hours and any potential fees should be checked in advance.
Travel back in time to Charleroi’s origins exploring at Site Boch: Museum of Industry and Work tracing the city’s development over the centuries. Wander through their fledgling recreated 19th century neighborhood and climb four transparent glass cylinders housing different eras: the Middle Ages, Industrial Revolution, 20th century, and present-day.
The clever design lets you experience the rapid transformations Charleroi has undergone while overlooking the present-day city center. Temporary exhibits highlight specific time periods or future advances in science and technology. Site Boch gives invaluable context to grasp Charleroi’s turbulent past and its path toward regeneration.
Sample the On-Trend Street Food Scene
Name and Location:
Street food vendors throughout Charleroi.
History and Significance:
Reflecting the city’s culinary evolution, the street food scene offers a blend of traditional Belgian flavors and international cuisine.
What to Expect:
From Belgian fries to international dishes, the street food here offers a quick, delicious, and affordable way to sample a variety of flavors.
Visitor Information:
Available throughout the city, especially in busy areas and during events. Hours vary by vendor.
Visitors to Charleroi can now sample some of Wallonia’s hottest culinary trends! WaffleLab’s new shipping container food court experiments with gourmet sweet & savory Liege waffles while Plan B’s graffiti-covered alley serves epic hamburgers instead of hipster brunch. The comfy Café Maison Georges features rotating chefs cooking locally sourced seasonal entrees.
Be sure to also try the city’s artisan microbreweries in 2024 like Richer, Monk & Babette breweries. Perhaps Charleroi’s revitalization manifests most vibrantly in its creative up-and-coming dining scene!
Ride Belgium’s Only Metro System
Name and Location:
Charleroi Metro System, Charleroi.
History and Significance:
The only metro system in Belgium, it serves as a key transport link in Charleroi and surrounding areas.
What to Expect:
A convenient way to navigate the city, offering a unique view of Charleroi’s urban landscape.
Visitor Information:
Operational daily with various ticket options available. Check the local transport website for schedules and fares.
That’s right: Charleroi, not Brussels, boasts Belgium’s only true citywide metro system called simply “the premetro”. First launched in the 1970’s, it recently got upgraded with modernized stations, more comprehensive track coverage and even new driverless trains for 2024.
Visitors can easily navigate Charleroi’s farthest reaches via the safe, reliable premetro. It covers key destinations like the raucous Saturday flea market at Place du Manège, the photography museum in Mont-sur-Marchienne, or even the city zoo. One day tickets cost only 3 euros! Hop on the premetro to explore Charleroi at your own pace.
Wander Magical Rive Gauche Park
Name and Location:
Rive Gauche Park, Charleroi.
History and Significance:
A green oasis in the heart of the city, offering a tranquil escape from urban life.
What to Expect:
A serene environment with walking paths, benches, and lush greenery. Perfect for a leisurely stroll or a peaceful break.
Visitor Information:
Open year-round, free of charge.
As Charleroi’s historic industrial downtown underwent extensive renovations, city planners realized the Sambre River banks offered attractive public green space options. Enter Rive Gauche, a delightful linear park system full of whimsical touches like fairy-tale tunnels, magical hillside slides, and imaginative jungle gym structures .
Pathways curve through surprising mini-worlds with one spanning a children’s train track, another showcasing feats of engineering. Continue along Rive Gauche’s paths toward to find even more magical realms awaiting exploration in the city center parks.
Admire World-Renowned Photography
Name and Location:
Photography exhibitions in various galleries and museums in Charleroi.
History and Significance:
Charleroi hosts several events and exhibitions showcasing both local and international photographers.
What to Expect:
View a range of photographic styles and subjects, offering insights into different cultures and perspectives.
Visitor Information:
Exhibition dates and times vary. Admission fees may apply.
Charleroi surprises many first-time visitors with its astonishing photography museum located inside a 15th century Carmelite convent. The Musée de la Photographie de Charleroi contains outstanding collections spanning the entire history of photography since inception. 60,000 photographs occupy multiple galleries dedicated to various techniques, cameras through time, and influential artists.
Notable names include 19th century pioneer Nadar, humanist icon Dorothea Lange, avant-garde Man Ray plus famed National Geographic and Magnum agency photographers. Spanning classics to the contemporary cutting edge, Charleroi’s photography museum holds universal appeal as a can’t miss cultural attraction.
Gaze Up at Mind-bending Comic Murals
Name and Location:
Comic murals throughout Charleroi.
History and Significance:
Reflecting Belgium’s rich comic book culture, these murals add a playful and artistic element to the city’s streets.
What to Expect:
Large-scale murals featuring famous comic characters and scenes, often in surprising and imaginative settings.
Visitor Information:
Available to view all year round, free of charge. Maps for self-guided tours can be found online.
In addition to Charleroi’s colorful street art murals, visitors should watch for towering comic book page reproductions paying homage to Belgium’s iconic comic book legacy. Thanks to beloved series like The Adventures of Tintin and The Smurfs plus acclaimed graphic novels, Belgians rightfully celebrate comics as the “9th Art”.
Nowhere embodies this ahead-of-its-time artistic innovation better than 30 monumental building facades around Charleroi depicting enlarged comic pages. Follow the informal Comic Book Route to spot your favorite Belgian characters as you explore Charleroi!
Browse the Flea Market Bargains
Name and Location:
Flea markets in various locations in Charleroi.
History and Significance:
These markets are a tradition in Charleroi, offering a glimpse into the local culture and lifestyle.
What to Expect:
Find an array of items from antiques and vintage goods to crafts and local produce. Great for bargain hunters and souvenir seekers.
Visitor Information:
Typically held on weekends or specific weekdays. No entrance fee.
Every Saturday morning, Place du Manège morphs into a vibrant open-air flea market packed with amazing bargains on used goods, eclectic antiques, clothing, shoes, tools, jewelry, vintage toys, vinyl records, and everyday household items. Rain or shine, hundreds of vendors unfold card tables bearing their motley collections while shoppers sort through boxes unearthing unexpected treasures.
It’s the perfect opportunity to chat with locals while snagging unique souvenirs – all helping support Charleroi’s creative community. Just leave room in your luggage for all the cool flea market scores you’ll discover in Charleroi!
See Rare Birds at Charleroi Aviary Park
Name and Location:
Charleroi Aviary Park, located on the outskirts of Charleroi.
History and Significance:
A haven for bird enthusiasts, the park is dedicated to the conservation and display of various bird species.
What to Expect:
View a variety of rare and exotic birds in naturalistic habitats. Educational for both children and adults.
Visitor Information:
Open daily with an admission fee. Guided tours may be available.
Home to over 150 bird species in specialized habitats, the Aviary Park makes for a scenic day escaping the city. Meander through their tropical greenhouse, walk-through aviary dome, raptor enclosures, and wildfowl ponds while colorful parrots, eagles, storks and flamingos greet visitors.
Kids delight spotting black swans, snowy owls and funny penguins while parents appreciate the rare endangered species conservation happening. Don’t miss their PSZ old-fashioned zoo section too. With affordable admission, Charleroi’s Aviary Park delights birding enthusiasts and families alike year-round!
Tour Historic Outlying Châteaus & Ruins
Name and Location:
Various châteaus and ruins in the outskirts of Charleroi.
History and Significance:
These sites offer a glimpse into the region’s rich history and architectural heritage.
What to Expect:
Explore historical buildings and ruins, some dating back to medieval times. Many sites offer guided tours and have picturesque settings.
Visitor Information:
Visiting hours and admission fees vary. Some locations may require advance booking.
Beyond the city outskirts, Charleroi area landscape holds various castles, châteaus, abbeys and ruins waiting to be explored. The imposing crumbling stone skeleton of Montfort Castle surveils the valley below. Château de Ham-sur-Heure’s moat and turrets transport visitors to French Renaissance times. And the Trappist Scourmont Abbey where monks craft beer and cheese welcome respectful guests.
Lesser-known gems like crumbling 17th century Franchimon Château ruins surrounded by farmers’ fields feel like you’ve stumbled upon hidden history. For a change of pace from the city, delve into Charleroi’s treasure trove of historic sites.
Explore New Riverfront Development Districts
Name and Location:
New development districts along Charleroi’s riverfront.
History and Significance:
Part of Charleroi’s urban renewal projects, these areas are transforming the city’s landscape and economy.
What to Expect:
Modern architecture, public spaces, and a mix of residential, commercial, and recreational facilities.
Visitor Information:
Open to the public. Various activities and attractions available, depending on the district.
As part of downtown Charleroi’s extensive facelift, developers turn attention toward revitalizing the Sambre River waterfront areas. The Rive Créative project transforms defunct industrial warehouse properties into dynamic mixed-use spaces for creative startups plus cool cafes and event venues. Luxury apartment high rises Shooting Gardens and UP-Site spring up injecting modern affordable housing.
Historic locks and canalways get restored for leisure boating through newly trendy districts. By 2025, Charleroi’s makeover should be largely complete – with riverfront neighborhoods leading revitalization!
Experience Quirky Hilltop Fun at Plopsa Coo
Name and Location:
Plopsa Coo, an amusement park located on a hilltop near Charleroi.
History and Significance:
This park offers a combination of natural scenery and entertaining attractions, appealing to families and children.
What to Expect:
Roller coasters, water rides, and themed attractions set in a picturesque location. Ideal for a fun day out with the family.
Visitor Information:
Seasonal operation with varying hours. Admission fees apply.
Tucked high in the Ardennes Forest outside Charleroi, Plopsa Coo amusement park delivers family fun amongst enchanting scenery. Attractions range from Coo Falls log flume ride torollercoasters zipping along mountain cliffs. Little ones adore the Coo Park fairy tales zone’s castle towers, magic mirrors and mini roller coasters just their size.
Picnic seating throughout encourages guests to savor Belgian snacks between rides. Combining theme park thrills surrounded by nature makes Plopsa Coo’s unique Highlands setting a can’t miss attraction near Charleroi!