Belgium / AEROBOP
Charleroi
Places, experiences, your kind of trip.
Beyond its airport, Charleroi reveals industrial heritage, distinctive museums and former mining hills turned green. A city break offering a different perspective on Wallonia.
SEE & EXPERIENCE
Places to put on your list
Upper Town & City Hall
The town hall and its belfry provide a landmark in the upper town. Study the arrangement of the façades, then look closely at neighbouring buildings rather than simply crossing the square. The district reveals different periods of Charleroi’s development. If you want to explore interiors, check the tourism office’s guided visits before travelling.
Art nouveau
Maison Dorée, Maison Lafleur and Maison des médecins reveal an elegant side of Charleroi through curved lines, decoration and contrasting materials. Compare their windows, ironwork and façade motifs. An architectural route map helps connect the addresses; appreciate the buildings from public space rather than assuming that their interiors are open to visitors.
Sambre waterfront
The quays help explain the Sambre’s role in Charleroi’s industrial development. Notice bridges, reused buildings and the changing landscape between the centre and former production areas. Choose a stretch suited to how far you want to walk; for the industrial towpath beyond the centre, follow the route described by the tourism office.
ART, CULTURE & CURIOSITY
Museums worth exploring
Museum of Photography
Set in a former Carmelite convent in Mont-sur-Marchienne, it explores photographic history and creativity.
Bois du Cazier
A former coal mine and memorial site: a key visit for understanding labour and industrial history.
BPS22 & the Glass Museum
Contemporary art at BPS22; glass collections at the Bois du Cazier site.
STEP OUTSIDE
Nature, beaches and nearby places
Boucle Noire
A walking route through industrial traces and former spoil heaps; choose a suitable section and stay on authorised paths.
Thuin & Aulne Abbey
Hanging gardens, a historic small town and abbey ruins for a day in the surrounding area.
Eau d’Heure Lakes
An excursion for walks and watersports; check which activities operate in your season.
DISCOVER TOGETHER
Things to do with family
Explore the Bois du Cazier
The Bois du Cazier’s mine structures and collections make the region’s industrial past tangible. Ask about discovery materials for children and choose features to investigate together. This is also a memorial to a mining disaster, so tailor the explanations to their age, questions and sensitivity.
Façade detectives
Turn the centre’s balconies, stained glass and carved decoration into clues to discover. The tourism office presents a route dedicated to hidden façade details; ask about its materials before setting off. Pick a small area, let children lead the observation and finish by comparing everyone’s favourite architectural discovery.
TIME TOGETHER
Ideas for couples
Photography and a garden in Mont-sur-Marchienne
Inside the former convent housing the Museum of Photography, each choose an image that intrigues you and compare your interpretations. Displays connect photographic history with contemporary perspectives. The park offers a quiet continuation outside; check current exhibitions to find themes that particularly appeal to you both.
Thuin’s lanes and hanging gardens
In Thuin, the upper town’s lanes reveal terraced hanging gardens and views towards the valley. Wander along public passages, looking for perspectives between walls and gates. Many gardens are private, so enjoy the viewpoints without entering them, and wear shoes suited to the sloping streets and cobbles.
THE JOY OF DISCOVERY
With children
Explore our family ideas together. Check age limits, access and booking requirements with each venue before visiting.
Explore family activities ↑The story behind the city
The fortified town founded in the seventeenth century took its name from Charles II. Coal, steel and glass later transformed the Charleroi basin. Today, museums, reused buildings and contemporary culture tell the story of its industrial past and ongoing change.
Practical pointers for your stay
Getting around and enjoying the city
Major museums are spread out: plan bus, light-rail or car journeys. Charleroi’s centre is separate from Brussels. From CRL, check transport to Charleroi-Central and your accommodation. Guided visits add context to the industrial landscape.
Seasons & weather
The climate is temperate and damp, with quickly changing weather. Spring and summer suit hills and lakes; autumn paths can be muddy. Keep a museum option for rainy days and bring suitable walking shoes.
Find your way around
Useful local contacts
Pays de Charleroi / CM Tourisme ↗
Visitor assistance, routes and local tours: Place Vauban 20, Charleroi.
Bois du Cazier ↗
Contact the site to organise a visit and ask about guided options.
Sources and visitor information
- Musée de la Photographie ↗
- Découvertes culturelles ↗
- CM Tourisme — Bois du Cazier ↗
- CM Tourisme — family activities ↗
- CM Tourisme — Thuin ↗
- CM Tourisme — access to the hanging gardens ↗
- CM Tourisme — architecture and neighbourhoods ↗
Official sources checked on 27 October 2026. Confirm opening times, bookings and conditions with the venues.
Photo credits
- Charleroi — Jmh2o · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Bois du Cazier, Marcinelle — Trougnouf (Benoit Brummer) · CC BY 4.0
- Bois du Cazier — Bourgeois.A · CC BY-SA 3.0
- Musée de la photographie — Jmh2o · CC BY-SA 3.0
Photographs cropped to fit the layout.