Charleroi: capital of street art and Walloon industrial heritage

An open-air street art trail

Since 2002, Charleroi has been a pioneer of street art in Belgium. Successive festivals have turned entire sections of the city into an open-air gallery. Along the Sambre river, a collective mural stretches over 700 metres, while the biennial Asphalte project invites Belgian and international artists to reinterpret industrial facades. From the Ville Basse district to the area around the South station, every street holds a visual surprise.

The light metro, an underground museum

Charleroi's light metro is a curiosity in itself. Several stations pay tribute to the region's cultural heritage. Janson station, designed by architect Jean Yernaux, celebrates Belgian comic-strip heroes published by Dupuis: Spirou, the Smurfs and Gaston Lagaffe. Near the Beaux-Arts station, murals commissioned by major brands sit alongside works by local artists. The aerial metro ride between Porte Ouest and Villette offers a spectacular journey through rehabilitated industrial heritage.

The slag heaps, sentinels of the mining past

The slag heaps, artificial hills formed by coal mining residues, now shape Charleroi's skyline. The Sentier des Terrils, a 22-kilometre loop, connects four accessible slag heaps on foot. From the top of the Terril des Piges, a 360-degree panorama takes in the city, the belfry, neighbouring municipalities and other slag heaps on the horizon. Nature has reclaimed these mounds: wild flora, nesting birds and wooded paths offer an unexpected hike in an urban setting.

Practical tips from the airport

Charleroi Airport (Brussels South) is connected to the city centre in 20 minutes by the Bus A shuttle. A TEC metro ticket then provides access to the main points of interest on the street art trail. Allow half a day for the urban walk and half a day for the slag heaps. Spring and autumn are the ideal seasons for enjoying the walking routes without the summer heat.