Editing Charleroi

{{Short description|City in Hainaut, Belgium}}
{{for|the community in the United States|Charleroi, Pennsylvania}}
{{Infobox Belgium municipality
|name            = Charleroi
|native_name     = {{native name|wa|Tchålerwè}}
|type            = city
|picture         = {{Photomontage 
|border=0 
|size=275 
|spacing=2 
|color=none 
|photo1a= Charleroi - Hôtel de ville vu de la place Charles II - 2019-06-01.jpg
|photo2a= Château de Monceau-sur-Sambre - 2022-02-12 - 01.jpg
|photo2b= Charleroi - église Saint-Christophe - 2024-10-16 - 01.jpg
|photo3a= Charleroi - Maison Dorée 2.JPG
|photo3b= Charleroi - Place Verte - 2021-03-27 - 01.jpg
|photo4a= Charleroi - 2019-08-24 - 05 - quai Arthur Rimbaud et quai de Sambre.jpg
}}
|picture-legend  = '''Clockwise from top''': Charleroi's Town Hall; St. Christopher's Church on the Place Vauban; the Place Verte; the [[Sambre]]; the Golden House; and the Castle of Monceau-sur-Sambre
|map             = Charleroi Hainaut Belgium Map.svg
|map-legend      = Location of Charleroi in the province of [[Hainaut (province)|Hainaut]]
|arms            = Héraldique Ville BE Charleroi.svg
|flag            = Drapeau ville be Charleroi.svg
|region          = {{BE-REG-WAL}}
|community       = {{BE-FR}}
|province        = {{BE-PROV-HT}}
|arrondissement  = [[arrondissement of Charleroi|Charleroi]]
|nis             = 52011
|pyramid-date    = 01 January 2018
|0-17            = 21.29
|18-64           = 61.88
|65              = 6.83
|foreigners      = 15.48
|foreigners-date = 01 January 2013
|mayor           = [[Thomas Dermine]] ([[Socialist Party (francophone Belgium)|PS]])
|majority        = [[Socialist Party (Belgium)|PS]], [[Les Engagés]]
|postal-codes    = 6000, 6001, 6010, 6020,<br>6030–6032, 6040–6044, 6060, 6061
|telephone-area  = 071
|web             = [http://www.charleroi.be/ www.charleroi.be]
|coordinates     = {{coord|50|24|N|04|26|E|region:BE|display=inline,title}}
|module          =
|footnotes       = [[File:Charleroi_-_logo_2015_-_noir.png|70px|center]]{{center|[[Logo]] of Charleroi}} 
}}

'''Charleroi''' ({{IPAc-en|UK|ˈ|ʃ|ɑːr|l|ə|.|r|w|ʌ}}, {{IPAc-en|US|-|r|ɔɪ|,_|-|r|w|ɑː}},<ref>{{Cite American Heritage Dictionary|Charleroi|access-date=17 April 2019}}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20190417163249/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/us/Charleroi "Charleroi"] (US) and {{Cite encyclopedia |url=http://www.lexico.com/definition/Charleroi |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200322182511/https://www.lexico.com/definition/charleroi |url-status=dead |archive-date=2020-03-22 |title=Charleroi |dictionary=[[Lexico]] UK English Dictionary |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]}}</ref> {{IPA|fr|ʃaʁləʁwa|lang|LL-Q150 (fra)-Manestra-Charleroi.wav}}; {{langx|wa|Tchålerwè}} {{IPA|wa|tʃɑːlɛʀwɛ|}}) is a [[City status in Belgium|city]] and a [[Municipalities in Belgium|municipality]] of [[Wallonia]], located in the [[Provinces of Belgium|province]] of [[Hainaut (province)|Hainaut]], [[Belgium]]. It is the largest city in both Hainaut and Wallonia. The city is situated in the valley of the Sambre, in the south-west of Belgium, not far from the border with France. By 1 January 2008, the total population of Charleroi was 201,593.<ref name="BelMun2008">[http://statbel.fgov.be/downloads/pop200801com.xls Statistics Belgium; ''Population de droit par commune au 1 janvier 2008'' (excel-file)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090126165629/http://statbel.fgov.be/downloads/pop200801com.xls|date=26 January 2009|title=}} Population of all municipalities in Belgium, as of 1 January 2008. Retrieved on 19 October 2008.</ref> The [[metropolitan areas in Belgium|metropolitan area]], including the outer commuter zone, covers an area of {{convert|1462|km²}} with a total population of 522,522 by 1 January 2008, ranking it as the 5th most populous in [[Belgium]] after [[City of Brussels|Brussels]], [[Antwerp]], [[Liège]], and [[Ghent]].<ref name="BelMun2008" /><ref name="BelMetr">[http://www.statbel.fgov.be/pub/d0/p009n014_nl.pdf Statistics Belgium; ''De Belgische Stadsgewesten 2001'' (pdf-file)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081029020131/http://www.statbel.fgov.be/pub/d0/p009n014_nl.pdf|date=29 October 2008|title=}} Definitions of metropolitan areas in Belgium. The metropolitan area of Charleroi is divided into three levels. First, the central agglomeration (''agglomeratie'') with 288,549 inhabitants (2008-01-01). Adding the closest surroundings (''banlieue'' or suburbs), the total of 405,236. And, with the outer commuter zone (''forensenwoonzone''), the population is 522,522. Retrieved on 19 October 2008.</ref> The inhabitants are called ''Carolorégiens'' or simply ''Carolos''.

==History==
The Charleroi area was already settled in the [[prehistoric]] period, with traces of metallurgical and commercial activities along the [[Sambre]]. Several public buildings, temples and villas were built in the area in the [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] period. Burial places, with jewels and weapons, have been found. The first written mention of a place called Charnoy dates from a 9th-century offering in the [[Lobbes]] abbey, which lists various neighboring towns and related [[tithe]] duties. During the [[Middle Ages]], Charnoy was one of the many small hamlets in the area, with no more than about 50 inhabitants, part of the [[County of Namur]].

===Foundation===
Spanish territorial losses in the 1659 [[Treaty of the Pyrenees]] left a gap between the key fortresses of [[Mons, Belgium|Mons]] and [[Namur]]; to fill this, [[Francisco Castel Rodrigo]], then Governor of the Spanish Netherlands, expropriated land around Charnoy to build a fortress near the Sambre. In September 1666, it was renamed Charle-roi, or King Charles, in honour of five-year-old [[Charles II of Spain]]; the [[chronogram]] F'''V'''N'''D'''AT'''V'''R '''C'''ARO'''L'''OREG'''IVM''' (MDCLVVVI) can be found in the register of the parish of Charnoy.<ref name="Belgium & Luxembourg">{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/belgiumluxembour00dunf_0 | url-access=registration | page=[https://archive.org/details/belgiumluxembour00dunf_0/page/303 303] | quote=charleroi 1666. |title = Belgium & Luxembourg| publisher=Rough Guides |isbn = 9781858288710|last1 = Dunford|first1 = Martin|last2 = Lee|first2 = Phil|year = 2002}}</ref>

Construction had only just begun when the [[War of Devolution]] with France began in 1667, and the Spanish withdrew. France retained the town under the 1668 [[Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (1668)|Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle]], and its fortifications were completed by [[Vauban]]. A bridge was built over the Sambre, connecting the ''Ville Haute'' and ''Ville Basse'', with incentives offered to persuade people to settle there. The French relinquished control in 1678, and although it changed hands several times over the next 50 years, the town remained part of the Netherlands until the foundation of modern Belgium.<ref>{{cite web |title=Charleroi |url=http://www.fortified-places.com/charleroi/default.htm |website=Fortified Places |access-date=2 March 2020 |archive-date=11 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191111170450/http://www.fortified-places.com/charleroi/default.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===1666–1830===
[[File:Charleroi - Ferraris map (1770-1778).jpg|thumb|left|upright|Map of Charleroi in 1770s]]
[[File:Charleroi - plan-relief - vue depuis le Sud - copie.jpg|thumb|Copy of the [[plan-relief]] of Charleroi made in 1696. View from the south. On display at the Town Hall.]]

Shortly after its foundation, the new city was in turn besieged by the Dutch, ceded to the Spanish in 1678 ([[Treaty of Nijmegen]]), taken by the French in 1693, ceded again to the Spanish in 1698 ([[Treaty of Rijswijk]]), then taken by the French, the Dutch and the Austrians in 1714 ([[Treaty of Baden (1714)|Treaty of Baden]]). The [[France|French]] [[Prince of Conti]] took the city again in 1745, but it was ceded back to [[Austria]] in 1748, beginning a period of prosperity under [[Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor|Joseph II]]. Glass, steel and coal industries, which had already sprung up a century earlier, could now flourish.

Trouble began again in 1790, the year of the civil uprising that eventually led to the [[United States of Belgium]]. The Austrians occupied the city, were forced out by the French after the [[Battle of Jemappes]] on 6 November 1792, and took it back again four months later. On 12 June 1794, the French revolutionary [[Army of Sambre-et-Meuse]] under the command of [[Jean-Baptiste Jourdan]], invested Charleroi and won a decisive victory in the ensuing [[Battle of Fleurus (1794)|Battle of Fleurus]]. The city took the revolutionary name of Libre-sur-Sambre until 1800. After France's defeat in 1814, the whole area was annexed to the [[Netherlands]], and new walls were built around the city. [[Napoleon]] stayed in Charleroi for a couple of days in June 1815, just before the [[Battle of Waterloo]].

===1830 to present===
[[File:Charleroi - pont de la gare - mai 1940 - 01.jpg|thumb|The station bridge partially collapsed in May 1940 under the effect of French army explosives]]

The [[Belgian Revolution]] of 1830 gave the area its freedom from the Netherlands and ushered in a new era of prosperity, still based mostly on glass, metallurgy and coal, hence the area's name, ''Pays Noir'' ("Black Country"). After the [[Industrial Revolution]], Charleroi benefited from the increased use of coke in the metallurgical industry. People from across [[Europe]] were attracted by the economic opportunities, and the population grew rapidly.

Following the [[Industrial Revolution]] in [[Wallonia]], Charleroi from the 1850s–1860s became one of the most important places where labor strikes broke out. In 1886, 12 strikers were killed by the Belgian army in [[Roux, Belgium|Roux]]. In the 1880s, miners in [[Province of Hainaut|Hainaut]] were recruited by the Dominion Coal Company in [[Glace Bay, Nova Scotia]].<ref>But a consular report indicated they were dissatisfied with wages and working conditions, and they moved to other mining centers. These Walloon miners were experienced in organizing unions and working-men's associations. They immigrated also to collieries on [[Vancouver Island]] in Canada. See Louis Balthazar, Leen Haenens, ''Images of Canadianness: Visions on Canada's Politics, Culture, Economics'', International Council for Canadian Studies, University of Ottawa Press, 1998, {{ISBN|0-7766-0489-9}}.</ref> These miners were anxious to flee the repression following bloody strikes and riots in [[Liège]] and Charleroi<ref>Louis Balthazar and Leen Haenens, ''Images of Canadianness: Visions on Canada's Politics, Culture, Economics'', International Council for Canadian Studies, University of Ottawa Press, 1998, p. 73, {{ISBN|0-7766-0489-9}}.</ref> during the [[Walloon Jacquerie of 1886]]. Walloon miners from Charleroi also emigrated to [[Alberta]], Canada.<ref>
Miners from Wallonia began arriving at the collieries in Alberta to work for West Canadian Collieries, founded in 1903 by a group of French and Belgian entrepreneurs, and for Canadian Coal Consolidated, a [[Paris]]-based firm. Léon Cabeaux, a well-known union leader, who had organized a particularly [[Walloon Jacquerie of 1886|violent strike]] in Hainaut in 1886, settled in [[Lethbridge]] and soon attracted disgruntled compatriots from the collieries in [[Pennsylvania]] in the US. The miners soon became deeply involved in labor radicalism, because in Alberta the [[mine disaster]]s were among the worst anywhere, and there were no provisions for the welfare of families of the miners maimed or killed in the workplace. Frank Soulet, Joseph Lothier and Gustave Henry emerged as dedicated socialist union leaders. in Louis Balthazar and Leen Haenens, ''Images of Canadianness: Visions on Canada's Politics, Culture, Economics'', International Council for Canadian Studies, University of Ottawa Press, 1998, p. 75, {{ISBN|0-7766-0489-9}}.</ref> The working men of Charleroi always played an important role in [[Belgian general strikes]] and particularly during the Belgian general strike of 1936, the [[Royal Question|general strike against Leopold III of Belgium]], and the [[Belgian general strike of 1960–1961|1960–1961 winter general strike]].

By 1871, the fortified walls around the city were completely torn down.

[[Battle of Charleroi|Heavy fighting]] took place during [[World War I]] due to the city's strategic location on the Sambre. The city was badly damaged with further destruction only being prevented by the [[Couillet Treaty]] agreed with the German forces which required the payment of 10 million Belgian Francs, foodstuffs, vehicles and armaments.<ref>{{cite news|author=Harriet O'Brien |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/europe/charleroi-phoenix-from-the-flames-8658772.html |title=Charleroi: Phoenix from the flames &#124; Europe &#124; Travel |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |access-date=2016-08-07}}</ref> The magazine ''[[Spirou (magazine)|Spirou]]'', which featured the popular cartoon characters [[Lucky Luke]] and [[the Smurfs]], was launched by the publishing company [[Éditions Dupuis]] in 1938.<ref name="independent1">{{cite news|title=Charleroi: A richly rewarding gem &#124; Europe &#124; Travel|newspaper=[[The Independent]]|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/europe/charleroi-a-richly-rewarding-gem-2348130.html|access-date=7 August 2016}}</ref> After [[World War II]], Charleroi witnessed a general decline of its heavy industry.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theculturetrip.com/europe/belgium/articles/the-10-best-things-to-see-and-do-in-charleroi-belgium/|title=The 10 Best Things To Do In Charleroi, Belgium|first=Ester|last=Meerman|website=Culture Trip|date=10 April 2018}}</ref> Following the merger with several surrounding municipalities in 1977, the city {{as of | 2013 | lc = on}} ranks as the largest city in [[Wallonia]] and the 4th largest in Belgium.

===Logotype===
As part of the effort to improve its identity, the city adopted a new logo and [[graphic charter]] in early 2015, designed by the Brussels studio Pam and Jenny.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Le logo de la ville de Charleroi plébiscité par un magazine canadien |url=https://www.rtbf.be/article/le-logo-de-la-ville-de-charleroi-plebiscite-par-un-magazine-canadien-9168950 |access-date=2022-07-28 |website=RTBF |language=fr}}</ref>

The crown of three triangles above the C has several meanings:<ref>{{Cite web |title=IDENTITÉ GRAPHIQUE DE CHARLEROI |url=http://www.charleroi-bouwmeester.be/identity-charleroi-logo |access-date=2022-07-28 |website=CHARLEROI BOUWMEESTER |language=fr-BE}}</ref>

* The triangular shape evokes the [[slag heaps]], yesterday black and today green, which symbolise the city's industrial past and its factories.
* It also recalls the crest of the cockerel designed by [[Pierre Paulus]] and [[Wallonia|symbol of Wallonia]].
* The crown refers to [[Charles II of Spain|King Charles II]] who gave his name to the city at the time of its foundation.
* The typography used is also very similar to that used in the logo of [[Ateliers de Constructions Electriques de Charleroi|ACEC]], a historic company founded, developed and finally closed down in Charleroi in 1989 after more than a century of existence.
<gallery>
File:Bruay-la-Buissière - Terril n° 10, 3 de Bruay Ouest (03).JPG|[[Slag heap]]
File:Flag of Wallonia.svg|Flag of Wallonia
File:Juan Carreño de Miranda and Assistants - Charles II, King of Spain - A61 - Hispanic Society of America.jpg|King [[Charles II of Spain|Charles II]]
File:ACEC - Logo venant des sacs plastique du Service Technique.jpg|Typography
</gallery>

==Geography==
[[File:Map Charleroi.svg|thumb|The 15 districts of Charleroi, in Roman numerals, with the surrounding municipalities labelled with letters|alt=Charleroi has 15 districts, and is surrounded by nine other municipalities]]

The municipality of Charleroi straddles both banks of the river [[Sambre]] in an area marked by industrial activities ([[coal mining]] and [[steel industry]]), which has been nicknamed the ''[[Pays Noir]]'' ("Black Country"), part of the larger ''[[sillon industriel]]''. Even though most of the factories have closed since the 1950s, the landscape remains dotted with [[spoil tip]]s and old industrial buildings.

Charleroi lies around {{convert|50|km}} south of [[Brussels]].

The [[Municipalities in Belgium|municipality]] comprises:
*I. the central district of Charleroi

and the following former municipalities, now [[Deelgemeente|sections]], merged into Charleroi in 1977:
{{Div col}}
*II. [[Dampremy]]
*III. [[Lodelinsart]]
*IV. [[Gilly, Belgium|Gilly]]
*V. [[Montignies-sur-Sambre]]
*VI. [[Couillet, Belgium|Couillet]]
*VII. [[Marcinelle]]
*VIII. [[Mont-sur-Marchienne]]
*IX. [[Marchienne-au-Pont]]
*X. [[Monceau-sur-Sambre]]
*XI. [[Goutroux]]
*XII. [[Roux, Belgium|Roux]]
*XIII. [[Jumet]]
*XIV. [[Gosselies]]
*XV. [[Ransart, Belgium|Ransart]]
{{Div col end}}
{{clear left}}
Neighboring municipalities:
{{Div col}}
* a. [[Les Bons Villers]]
* b. [[Fleurus]]
* c. [[Châtelet, Belgium|Châtelet]]
* d. [[Gerpinnes]]
* e. [[Ham-sur-Heure-Nalinnes]]
* f. [[Montigny-le-Tilleul]]
* g. [[Fontaine-l'Évêque]]
* h. [[Courcelles, Belgium|Courcelles]]
* i. [[Pont-à-Celles]]
{{Div col end}}

===Topography and hydrography===
[[File:Charleroi_-_2019-08-24_-_04_-_quai_Arthur_Rimbaud_et_quai_de_Sambre.jpg|thumb|The Quai Arthur Rimbaud (formerly Quai de Brabant) along the [[Sambre]] after renovation]]
The topography of Charleroi is influenced by the valley of the river [[Sambre]], which flows from west to east before joining the [[Meuse]] at [[Namur]]. The [[Piéton]] river flows from north to south to join the Sambre at [[Dampremy]]. The [[Brussels–Charleroi Canal|Charleroi-Brussels canal]] is dug in the valley of this stream. The [[Eau d'Heure]] river comes from the south and also flows into the Sambre at [[Marchienne-au-Pont]]. About twenty streams run through the territory of the municipality.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Carte d'identité du sous-bassin hydrographique de la Sambre |url=https://www.crsambre.be/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Carte-d%E2%80%99identit%C3%A9-du-sous-bassin-hydrographique-de-la-Sambre.pdf |access-date=2022-07-29 |website=Contrat de Rivière Sambre & Affluents |language=fr-FR }}</ref>

The altitude ranges from 100 metres (Sambre and Piéton valleys) to over 220 metres at the [[Bois du Prince]] in [[Marcinelle]]. The level is 132 metres on the [[Place Charles II]]. The height of the slag heaps often exceeds 200 metres, the Saint-Charles slag heap in the [[Bois du Cazier]] reaches 241 metres.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/66924806 |title=Topografische atlas België = Atlas topographique Belgique : 1:50.000 |date=2002 |publisher=Touring |others=Marcel, Fietsgidsen Gevaert, Nationaal Geografisch Instituut |isbn=90-209-4853-9 |location=[Brussel] |pages=206–207 |oclc=66924806}}</ref>

=== Biodiversity ===
The six slag heaps in the [[Pays Noir]] are reservoirs of biodiversity that should be preserved.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Biodiversity 2020, Update of Belgium's National Strategy {{!}} Convention on Biological Diversity |url=https://www.biodiv.be/documents/BE-national-strategy |access-date=2022-07-29 |website=www.biodiv.be}}</ref>

Like the [[calcareous grassland]], the slag heaps are habitats created by human activity that are home to many very specific and often threatened animal and plant species. The rarity of these species depends on the rarity of the environment itself (the [[biotope]]). [[Biodiversity]] is also present in other environments: in a wasteland, a body of water, a meadow, etc. In terms of biodiversity, it is therefore preferable to maintain a mosaic of habitats, hence the interest in preserving different types of environments on the slag heaps.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Danna-Allegrini |first1=Brunella |last2=Henry |first2=Marion |date=2020-01-01 |title=Charleroi: Slag Heaps and New Landscape |url=https://revistas.upr.edu/images/informa/2020/v12/e2.pdf |journal=Informa |language=en |volume=12 |pages=32–38 |issn=2637-7950}}</ref>

The Viviers site, for example, is an [[Coal mining|old mining site]] located in the east of Charleroi ([[Gilly, Belgium|Gilly]]). This site has a small conical [[slag heap]] and large open areas consisting mainly of pioneer grassland and wasteland. It also includes a small body of water as well as temporary ponds, and some wooded areas on the western and northern edges. This particular biotope is of great biological interest and acts as a refuge for a diverse fauna. The vast [[reed bed]] surrounding the pond is home to the [[red warbler]], a [[passerine bird]] specific to this type of vegetation. Several species of amphibians can be seen here, including a population of the [[natterjack toad]], as well as certain insects, such as the magnificent [[Oedipoda caerulescens|blue-winged grasshopper]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=2638 - Terril des Viviers {{!}} Rechercher un site intéressant ou protégé {{!}} Sites {{!}} La biodiversité en Wallonie |url=http://biodiversite.wallonie.be/fr/2638-terril-des-viviers.html?IDD=251661361&IDC=1881# |access-date=2022-07-29 |website=biodiversite.wallonie.be}}</ref>

The Martinet site, a former colliery on the boundary of the [[Monceau-sur-Sambre]] and Roux sections, is in the process of being rehabilitated and reallocated. Like the Viviers slag heap in Gilly, this vast site is of great biological interest.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Terril du Martinet (FR) |url=https://www.destinationterrils.eu/en/terril-du-martinet |access-date=2022-07-29 |website=Destination Terrils |language=en}}</ref>

===Climate===
Similar to the rest of Belgium Charleroi has an [[oceanic climate]] as a result of the [[Gulf Stream]] influence warming winters, while also moderating summer warmth in spite of its inland position.

{{Weather box
|width = auto
|location = Charleroi (1991–2020 normals)
|collapsed = 
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|Jan record high C = 15.2
|Feb record high C = 19.5
|Mar record high C = 23.9
|Apr record high C = 28.7
|May record high C = 31.8
|Jun record high C = 34.4
|Jul record high C = 40.4
|Aug record high C = 36.6
|Sep record high C = 35.4
|Oct record high C = 26.0
|Nov record high C = 20.4
|Dec record high C = 16.7
|year record high C = 40.4
|Jan avg record high C = 
|Feb avg record high C = 
|Mar avg record high C = 
|Apr avg record high C = 
|May avg record high C = 
|Jun avg record high C = 
|Jul avg record high C = 
|Aug avg record high C = 
|Sep avg record high C = 
|Oct avg record high C = 
|Nov avg record high C = 
|Dec avg record high C = 
|year avg record high C = 
|Jan high C = 5.8
|Feb high C = 6.9
|Mar high C = 10.7
|Apr high C = 14.8
|May high C = 18.4
|Jun high C = 21.4
|Jul high C = 23.6
|Aug high C = 23.4
|Sep high C = 19.6
|Oct high C = 14.8
|Nov high C = 9.6
|Dec high C = 6.3
|year high C = 
|Jan mean C = 3.2
|Feb mean C = 3.7
|Mar mean C = 6.5
|Apr mean C = 9.7
|May mean C = 13.4
|Jun mean C = 16.4
|Jul mean C = 18.5
|Aug mean C = 18.2
|Sep mean C = 14.9
|Oct mean C = 11.0
|Nov mean C = 6.8
|Dec mean C = 3.8
|year mean C = 
|Jan low C = 0.6
|Feb low C = 0.6
|Mar low C = 2.4
|Apr low C = 4.7
|May low C = 8.4
|Jun low C = 11.3
|Jul low C = 13.4
|Aug low C = 13.1
|Sep low C = 10.1
|Oct low C = 7.2
|Nov low C = 3.9
|Dec low C = 1.4
|year low C = 
|Jan avg record low C = 
|Feb avg record low C = 
|Mar avg record low C = 
|Apr avg record low C = 
|May avg record low C = 
|Jun avg record low C = 
|Jul avg record low C = 
|Aug avg record low C = 
|Sep avg record low C = 
|Oct avg record low C = 
|Nov avg record low C = 
|Dec avg record low C = 
|year avg record low C = 
|Jan record low C = -17.5
|Feb record low C = -16.7
|Mar record low C = -10.1
|Apr record low C = -5.5
|May record low C = 0.1
|Jun record low C = 3.7
|Jul record low C = 5.6
|Aug record low C = 6.0
|Sep record low C = 2.9
|Oct record low C = -5.3
|Nov record low C = -8.7
|Dec record low C = -11.8
|year record low C = -17.5
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 79.7
|Feb precipitation mm = 69.9
|Mar precipitation mm = 65.5
|Apr precipitation mm = 47.9
|May precipitation mm = 65.1
|Jun precipitation mm = 76.0
|Jul precipitation mm = 75.6
|Aug precipitation mm = 85.6
|Sep precipitation mm = 63.3
|Oct precipitation mm = 67.1
|Nov precipitation mm = 75.7
|Dec precipitation mm = 98.3
|year precipitation mm = 
|unit precipitation days = 1 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 12.8
|Feb precipitation days = 11.6
|Mar precipitation days = 11.3
|Apr precipitation days = 9.1
|May precipitation days = 10.2
|Jun precipitation days = 10.2
|Jul precipitation days = 10.2
|Aug precipitation days = 10.3
|Sep precipitation days = 9.6
|Oct precipitation days = 10.6
|Nov precipitation days = 12.1
|Dec precipitation days = 14.4
|year precipitation days = 
|Jan sun = 55
|Feb sun = 73
|Mar sun = 126
|Apr sun = 178
|May sun = 204
|Jun sun = 208
|Jul sun = 217
|Aug sun = 206
|Sep sun = 157
|Oct sun = 114
|Nov sun = 64
|Dec sun = 47
|year sun = 
|source 1 = [[Royal Meteorological Institute]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.meteo.be/resources/climatology/climateCity/pdf/climate_INS52011_9120_nl.pdf|title=Klimaatstatistieken van de Belgische gemeenten - Charleroi|publisher=[[Royal Meteorological Institute]]|language=nl|access-date=26 October 2023}}</ref>
|source 2 = Infoclimat<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.infoclimat.fr/climatologie/normales-records/1991-2020/charleroi/valeurs/06449.html|title=Normales et records climatologiques 1991-2020 à Charleroi|publisher=Infoclimat|language=fr|access-date=26 October 2023}}</ref>
}}

==Politics==
[[File:Charleroi - hôtel de ville vu de la place Charles II - 2014-08-07.jpg|thumb|Charleroi's Town Hall]]

Before the merger of municipalities, from [[Belgian Revolution|Belgian independence]] in 1830 until 1 January 1977 (with the exception of the period linked to the [[Second World War]]), Charleroi only experienced liberal mayors and majorities. The municipal elections in 1976, just before the merger of municipalities, brought an absolute majority for the [[Socialist Party (Belgium)|Socialist Party (Parti Socialiste or PS)]], and Lucien Harmegnies, previous minister and until then mayor of [[Marcinelle]], became the first socialist mayor of the new entity. Since 1977, the Socialist Party has constantly been part of the political majority within the municipal council, either holding an absolute majority or being in coalition with other parties.

In 2005, numerous judicial affairs put into question Charleroi's elected socialist municipal councillors. The media resonance and the impact were significant at local, regional and even national level. At local level, the PS lost its absolute majority as a result of the municipality elections of 8 October 2006.
{{See also|Carolorégienne affair}}

[[File:Voka-20220201-Toppol-Thomas Dermine-web-106 (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|[[Thomas Dermine]], mayor of Charleroi since 2024]]

At the elections of October 2012, the PS, under the leadership of [[Paul Magnette]], regained the absolute majority at the municipal council. Mayor Paul Magnette chose, however, to open the socialist majority and to reconduct the coalition of socialists, liberals and centrists.<ref name="52 serments devant 500 spectateurs">[http://www.lavenir.net/article/detail.aspx?articleid=DMF20121204_00240104 52 serments devant 500 spectateurs], [[L'Avenir (Belgique)|L'Avenir]], {{date|4|décembre|2012}}</ref> At the municipal elections of 2018, Magnette, re-elected mayor, opened the socialist city majority to ecologists and centrists (C+).

===Municipal elections===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Party
![[Belgian municipal elections, 2000|2000]] (%)
![[Belgian municipal elections, 2006|2006]] (%)
![[2012 Belgian local elections|2012]] (%)
![[2018 Belgian local elections|2018]] (%)
|-
|[[Socialist Party (francophone Belgium)|Socialist Party]] (''Parti Socialiste'')
|51.4
|38.4
|47.7
|41.3
|-
|[[Reformist Movement]] (''Mouvement Réformateur'')
|16.1
|24.6
|16.3
|11.2
|-
|[[Humanist Democratic Centre]] (''Centre Démocrate Humaniste'')
|9.6
|14.4
|10.6
|7.61<sup>(*)</sup>
|-
|[[National Front (Belgium)|National Front]] (''Front National'')
|6.9
|9.5
|5.8<sup>(**)</sup>
|/
|-
|[[Ecolo]]
|11.4
|8.1
|7.4
|7.4
|-
|[[Workers' Party of Belgium|PTB/PTB+]]
|1.3
|2.1
|3.4
|15.7
|-
|[[DéFI]]
|/
|/
|1.8
|5.2
|-
|}

<small> (*)Under the local list name "C+" </small>
<small> (**)Under alternative name </small>

==Landmarks==
*The [[Belfry (architecture)|belfry]], part of the City Hall, was inscribed on the [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage List]] in 1999 as part of the [[Belfries of Belgium and France]] site.<ref>{{cite web|date=3 January 2016|title=Charleroi Belfry, UNESCO World Heritage Site|url=http://www.opt.be/informations/tourist-attractions-charleroi-charleroi-belfry-unesco-world-heritage-site/en/V/32202.html|access-date=7 August 2016|website=Opt.be|archive-date=19 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819095402/http://www.opt.be/informations/tourist-attractions-charleroi-charleroi-belfry-unesco-world-heritage-site/en/V/32202.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*The Maison Dorée was built in 1899 by [[Art Nouveau]] architect Alfred Frère. Its name is derived from the golden [[sgraffito|sgraffiti]] that adorn the [[façade]].
*The city is home to several museums of fine art, glass and other disciplines, as well as a significant one specializing in photography, in the Mont-sur-Marchienne district.<ref>{{cite web|date=2 March 2015|title=Museum of Photography in Charleroi|url=http://www.opt.be/informations/tourist-attractions-mont-sur-marchienne-museum-of-photography-in-charleroi/en/V/16750.html|access-date=7 August 2016|website=Opt.be|archive-date=28 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160728073751/http://www.opt.be/informations/tourist-attractions-mont-sur-marchienne-museum-of-photography-in-charleroi/en/V/16750.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* Castle of Monceau-sur-Sambre : set into a large English style park, high building flanked by circular towers, dating mainly from the seventeenth and eighteenth century.
* St. Christopher's Church (Charleroi Ville-Haute) : construction started in 1667 under the reign of Louis XIV. The church has been several times restored and transformed in a modern-style architecture in 1956.
* St. Antoine's Church (Charleroi Ville-Basse) : it was inaugurated in 1830 in a [[Neoclassical architecture|neoclassical style]], its architect is Jean Kuypers.
* The Protestant Church of Belgium (Charleroi Ville-Haute) : the church has held English-speaking (Anglican) services since 1933.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-12-08 |title=Brief history of Anglican worship in Charleroi {{!}} Église Protestante de Charleroi |url=https://www.epubcharleroi.be/a-propos/christ-church-charleroi/brief-history-of-anglican-worship-in-charleroi/ |access-date=2024-08-08 |website=Église Protestante de Charleroi |language=en-GB}}</ref>  Episcopal services in English continue on the second and fourth Sundays of the month until the present day.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Christ Church Charleroi |url=https://www.english-church-brussels.be/about.html |access-date=2024-08-08 |website=www.english-church-brussels.be}}</ref>
* Former hôtel des Postes (Charleroi Ville-Basse) : building with a belfry in Flemish neo-renaissance style on the place Verte constructed in 1907.
* The Caserne Caporal Trésignies (Charleroi Ville-Basse) : Former [[Gothic Revival]] Infantry Barracks, now houses the Museum of the Chasseurs à pied.
* Monument to the Martyrs (Charleroi Ville-Haute) : a neoclassical memorial inaugurated in 1923, honoring the memory of the victims of both world wars.
* Eden (Charleroi Ville-Haute) : The building was built by Auguste Cador towards the end of the 19th century.
* In remembrance to the Jews of Charleroi being murdered by the Nazi regime, the German artist [[Gunter Demnig]] has collocated nine [[Stolpersteine in Charleroi]].
* [[Bois du Cazier]] ([[Marcinelle]]) : coal mining dating from the nineteenth century inscribed in 2012 on the UNESCO World Heritage List. A museum of industry and glassware is located in the buildings of the industrial era.
* The Passage de la Bourse (Charleroi Ville-Basse) : is a commercial gallery inaugurated in 1892 in a mixture of [[Neoclassical architecture|neoclassical]] and Flemish neo-Renaissance styles.
* The Tour Bleue ("Blue Tower"), located in the centre of Charleroi and 75 m high. Realised in 2015 by [[Jean Nouvel]], it is the headquarters of the Police.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hôtel de police de Charleroi + Extension de Charleroi Danses |url=http://www.jeannouvel.com/projets/hotel-de-police-de-charleroi-et-extension-de-charleroi-danses/ |access-date=2022-07-27 |website=Ateliers Jean Nouvel |language=fr-FR}}</ref>

<gallery widths="170" heights="170">
File:Charleroi - Palais des Beaux-arts - 2024-03-14 - 01.jpg|Palais des Beaux-Arts
File:Charleroi - caserne Trésignies - 2020-06-23 - 01.jpg|Caserne Caporal Trésignies
File:Charleroi - Eden - 2022-05-03 - 02.jpg|Eden theater
File:Charleroi - Église Saint-Antoine de Padoue - café les Milles colonnes.jpg|St. Antoine's Church (left) with the Passage de la Bourse (right)
File:Église Saint-Christophe de Charleroi (DSCF7701).jpg|St. Christopher's Church
File:Charleroi - Beffroi vu de la place du Manège - 2023-07-06 - 01.jpg|The belfry in front of the Place du Manège
File:Charleroi-ville-belgique-tour-bleue-paysafe.jpg|The Tour Bleue in the Charleroi skyline
</gallery>

==Economy==
[[File:Charleroi - Place Verte 2017-03-11 - 07.jpg|thumb|Rive Gauche]]

Charleroi was in the center of a coal basin as well as steel and glass industries. Even so, due to the widespread loss in industrial power in the area since the 1970s, the coal and steel areas experienced a significant decline for most of the 1980s and 1990s.

From these industrial activities, the region of Charleroi has inherited a wide industrial area for electrical engineering and production of iron, steel, glass and chemicals. The conglomerate [[ArcelorMittal]] subdivided its [[Industeel]] unit to encompass the Charleroi steelworks.<ref name="nlejsl">{{cite news |title=ArcelorMittal se donne six mois pour vendre Industeel |url=https://www.lejsl.com/economie/2020/11/20/arcelormittal-se-donne-six-mois-pour-vendre-industeel |publisher=Le Journal de Saône et Loire |date=20 November 2020}}</ref><ref name="jlejsl">{{cite news |title=Vente d'Industeel : la CGT en appelle à l'intervention de l'Etat |url=https://www.lejsl.com/economie/2021/01/11/vente-d-industeel-la-cgt-en-appelle-a-l-intervention-de-l-etat |publisher=Le Journal de Saône et Loire |date=11 January 2021}}</ref>

Moreover, from the early 2000s, the overall economy of the area has diversified to include health care, logistics, biotechnologies, energy (Suez), railway transportation (Alstom) and telecommunications (Alcatel).

More recently, other sectors have developed, mainly civil and military aeronautics (SABCA, SONACA), logistics, printing and biotechnology. The aeronautics and space industry is developing rapidly around Charleroi-Brussels-South airport with the foundation of two university research centres: the Center of Excellence in Information Technologies (CETIC) serving as a center of expertise for the development of Walloon companies and founded by UCLouvain with the universities of Namur and Mons, as well as the Cenaero (Centre for research in aeronautics) of the University of Liège (ULiège), the University of Louvain (UCLouvain) and the University of Brussels (ULB).

Likewise, the Brussels South Charleroi Airport has evolved in a major commercial success with a grow of passengers from 210.000 in 1998<ref>{{cite web|access-date=22 May 2023|title=Statistiques et chiffres clés|url=https://www.brussels-charleroi-airport.com/fr/statistiques-et-chiffres-cles|website=Brussels South Charleroi Airport}}<!-- auto-translated by Module:CS1 translator --></ref> to 8.3 millions passengers in 2023.<ref>{{Cite journal|author1=Agence Belga|title=L'aéroport de Charleroi dépasse sa fréquentation pré-Covid, Liège et Bruxelles progressent en 2022|periodical=La Dernière Heure|date=30 January 2023|url=https://www.dhnet.be/conso/vacances/2023/01/30/laeroport-de-charleroi-depasse-sa-frequentation-pre-covid-liege-et-bruxelles-progressent-en-2022-IZ2P23AT6ZEYRPZJCJIBYILVPQ/}}</ref> Therefore, it has become the second airport of Belgium for passenger transport which is a  substantial asset for the economical and commercial development of the region of Charleroi. The activity of the airport thus generates numerous direct and indirect jobs.

The Intercommunale Igretec is the official body of the region of Charleroi giving assistance and support for the installation and development of high-tech companies around the airport and in the region of Charleroi.

Charleroi is also connected through highways with all the major cities of Belgium and the French border. It has also a port ("Port autonome de Charleroi") and a river network giving access to three major ports (Dunkirk, Antwerp and Rotterdam).

From the 1990s, two big shopping malls (Ville 2 and Rive Gauche), cinemas and even a local craft brewery have been created in and around the city center also bringing back shops and customers downtown.

==Education==
Charleroi is Belgium's biggest city without having its own university. In 1966 the [[UCLouvain|University of Louvain]] began operations in Charleroi with three faculties on its [[UCLouvain Charleroi]] campus based in the city center and in [[Montignies-sur-Sambre]], including the [[Louvain School of Management]] and, more recently, the [[Louvain School of Engineering]], issuing Bachelor's and Master's degrees and conducting research. Other universities have since started operations in Charleroi, including the Universities of [[Université de Namur|Namur]], [[University of Mons|Mons]] and the ''[[Université libre de Bruxelles]]''.

Thanks to the [[European Regional Development Fund]] (ERDF) of the [[European Union]], a Campus of Sciences, Art and Trade is currently being developed in downtown Charleroi.  This Campus, located on the site of the University of Labor, will constitute a real center of excellence for training - teaching - research in the city center equipped with a Cité des Métiers, a University Center, a Center for Technological Higher Education, a “Design – Innovation” Competence Center.

===Primary and secondary schools===
[[File:Charleroi - Athénée royal Vauban - façade.jpg|thumb|[[Athénée Royal Vauban]]]]

Secondary schools include:<ref>{{cite web|title=Ecoles Secondaires|url=https://www.charleroi.be/annuaire/ecoles-secondaires|access-date=28 December 2019|publisher=City of Charleroi}}</ref>
* Athénée Royal Jules Destrée
* Athénée Royal Orsini Dewerpe
* Athénée Royal de Gilly
* Athénée Royal Les Marlaires
* Athénée Royal Ernest Solvay
* [[Athénée Royal Vauban]]
* Athénée Royal Yvonne Vieslet
* Centre Educatif Communal Secondaire — La Garenne
* Institut d'Enseignement Technique Secondaire de l’UT
* Institut Jean Jaurès de l’UT
* Centre Educatif Communal Secondaire de Couillet-Marcinelle
* Institut Provincial d’Enseignement Secondaire Paramédical La Samaritaine
The catholic secondary schools include:
* Institut Saint-Joseph (ISJ);
* Institut Saint-André (ISA);
* Institut Notre-Dame (IND) ;
* IET Notre-Dame (IETND);
* Collège du Sacré-Cœur (jesuits);
* Collège Technique Aumôniers du Travail de Charleroi (ATC).

==Transport==

===Air===
[[File:Charleroi-Bruxelles-sud-aéroport-Christophe-Vandercam.jpg|thumb|[[Brussels South Charleroi Airport]]]]

The [[Brussels South Charleroi Airport]] in [[Gosselies]], {{convert|7|km|abbr=on}} north of the centre, opened in 1919 as a flight school.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20081114102611/http://www.charleroi-airport.com/doc.php?nd=115&tid=15&site=1&lg=2&deploy=1 How it all started]. Charleroi-airport.com</ref> Later, it housed the [[Avions Fairey|Fairey]] aircraft-factory building.<ref>[http://www.baha.be/Webpages/Navigator/Belgian_Aviation_History/Industry/Sonaca.htm Avions Fairey Gosselies] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100620005139/http://www.baha.be/Webpages/Navigator/Belgian_Aviation_History/Industry/Sonaca.htm |date=2010-06-20 }}. Baha.be. Retrieved on 21 December 2012.</ref>

Gosselies is now used as an alternate airport for [[Brussels]]. Low-cost carrier [[Ryanair]] is the largest airline to provide service there; others include [[Wizz Air]], [[Jetairfly]].  Seasonal holiday charters also use the airport.

A new terminal opened in January 2008,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Brussels South Charleroi Airport|url=http://www.charleroi-airport.com/doc.php|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120629052642/http://www.charleroi-airport.com/doc.php?nd=162&tid=62&docid=357&lg=2&page=5&site=1|archive-date=29 June 2012|access-date=7 February 2008}}</ref> replacing a much smaller building which had exceeded capacity.

[[Brussels]] is {{convert|47|km|abbr=on}} north of Charleroi Airport.

In October 2021, the {{convert|650|m|abbr=on}} extension of the runway was officially opened, bringing it to a total length of {{convert|3200|m|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Orban |first=André |date=2021-10-08 |title=The runway extension of Brussels South Charleroi Airport is inaugurated, paving the way for long-haul flights |url=https://www.aviation24.be/airports/brussels-south-charleroi-crl/the-runway-extension-of-brussels-south-charleroi-airport-is-inaugurated-paving-the-way-for-long-haul-flights/ |access-date=2022-07-28 |website=Aviation24.be |language=en-GB}}</ref>

===Rail===
[[File:Station Charleroi-Sud.jpg|thumb|[[Charleroi-Central railway station]]]]

Charleroi is connected by train to other Belgian major cities through the main [[Charleroi-Central railway station]]. The city also has a secondary railway station, [[Charleroi-West railway station|Charleroi-West]],<ref name="Belgium & Luxembourg"/> on the Charleroi-to-[[Ottignies]] line.

===River transport===
The Port autonome de Charleroi gives access through the Belgian, Dutch and French canal and river network to three major ports (Dunkirk, Antwerp and Rotterdam). Il is composed of twenty-nine ports in the region of Charleroi distributed along the [[river Sambre]] and the [[Brussels-Charleroi canal]]. It has 8&nbsp;km of embankments, 5 million tons of goods transported each year, 10.000 containers and a trimodal platform for the containers;
100 companies have a concession and there are 1700 direct and 1000 indirect jobs associated.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=25 May 2023|title=Les sites portuaires|url=https://www.portcharleroi.be/fr/sites|website=Port autonome de Charleroi}}<!-- auto-translated by Module:CS1 translator --></ref>

===Public transport===
[[File:Métro léger de Charleroi - station Sud - travaux - 2022-11-26 - 01.jpg|thumb|''Gare centrale'' (MLC)]]

Public transport is provided by [[Société Régionale Wallonne du Transport|TEC]] (Transport En Commun), the [[Walloons|Walloon]] public transport service. The greater Charleroi region is served by bus lines and a [[light-rail]] [[semi-metro]] system,<ref name="LRTA">{{cite book |last1=Davies |first1=W. J. K. |last2=Thompson |first2=K. G. |last3=Winchester |first3=B. G. |title=100 Years of the Belgian Vicinal: SNCV/NMVB, 1885-1985: a Century of Secondary Rail Transport in Belgium |date=1986 |publisher=Light Rail Transit Association |isbn=978-0-900433-97-9 |page=181 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i5O1IgAACAAJ |language=en}}</ref> named ''[[Métro Léger de Charleroi]]''. Part of the latter is famous for incorporating one of the few remnants of the [[Vicinal tramway|Vicinal]], the former Belgian national tramway network.
Charleroi also has a planned four-line S-bahn type suburban rail system, the {{interlanguage link|Réseau express régional de Charleroi|fr}} (Réseau S).

====Charleroi light rail system====
[[File:Métro léger de Charleroi - véhicule 7429 rénové - 2024-02-01 - 01.jpg|thumb|Métro Léger de Charleroi]]

The ''[[Métro Léger de Charleroi]]'' is equally famous for the parts of the system which were never built, partially built or fully completed but not opened. It was planned in the 1960s as a 48&nbsp;km (30&nbsp;mi.) light-rail network, operating partly on [[rapid transit|metro]] infrastructure, consisting of eight branch lines radiating from a central loop downtown.<ref>{{cite web|title=Urbanrail.net|url=http://www.urbanrail.net/eu/cha/charleroi-planned-network.gif|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100410071629/http://www.urbanrail.net/eu/cha/charleroi-planned-network.gif|archive-date=10 April 2010|access-date=7 August 2016|format=GIF}}</ref> However, only one line (to Petria), part of another line (to Gilly) and three-quarters of the loop were actually built and opened to traffic, all from 1976 to 1996. Another branch line toward the suburb of Châtelet (Châtelineau) was almost fully built, to the extent of installing power cables, escalators and still-working electric signals in the first three stations<ref>{{cite web|title=Diggelfjoer: Abandoned|url=http://diggelfjoer.swalker.nl/index.php?main=aband&sub=abandcharl&page=abandcharl2|access-date=7 August 2016|website=Diggelfjoer.swalker.nl}}</ref> but was never opened as passenger numbers would be too low to economically justify the extra staff. The high costs of construction, a decline in Charleroi's traditional "smokestack" industries and questioning of the scope of the whole project in proportion to the actual demand for it are cited as reasons for the original plan's becoming unfulfilled.

The central loop and the Gilly branch as far as Soleilmont were completed in 2012, with funds from the [[European Investment Bank]].<ref>{{cite web|title=EIB loan for Charleroi light metro|url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/eib-loan-for-charleroi-light-metro.html|access-date=7 August 2016|publisher=[[Railway Gazette International]]|archive-date=23 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160823025545/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/eib-loan-for-charleroi-light-metro.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Gosselies branch opened as a street-level tramline in 2013.<ref>[http://www.urbanrail.net/eu/be/char/charleroi.htm > Europe > Belgium > Charleroi Prémétro (Belgium)]. UrbanRail.Net (28 August 1992). Retrieved on 21 December 2012.</ref> In June 2021 it was announced that €60m will be allocated to refurbish and open the long-ago completed but never served inner section of the Châtelet "ghost" line, and extend it to the new hospital development in the area.<ref>[https://www.rtbf.be/article/le-metro-de-charleroi-se-prolongera-bien-vers-le-futur-grand-hopital-a-gilly-10789907?id=10789907] RTBF.be - The Charleroi metro will extend well towards the future large hospital in Gilly, June 23rd 2021</ref>

in June 2021, the new look of the first renovated tram was presented. This €22 million fleet-wide renovation will be completed by 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-21 |title=Les trams du TEC Charleroi complètement reliftés: 500.000€ nécessaires pour chacun! |url=https://www.sudinfo.be/id469723/article/2022-06-21/les-trams-du-tec-charleroi-completement-reliftes-500000eu-necessaires-pour |access-date=2022-07-28 |website=sudinfo.be |language=fr}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible"
! rowspan="3" |Group of origin
! colspan="2" |Year
|-
! colspan="2" |2023<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |title=Origin {{!}} Statbel |url=https://statbel.fgov.be/en/themes/population/origin |access-date=2022-02-10 |website=statbel.fgov.be}}</ref>
|-
!Number
!%
|-
|
|
|
|-
!Belgians with Belgian background
|98,798
!48.48%
|-
!Belgians with foreign background{{efn|The number includes Belgian nationals who either previously were foreign nationals themselves or at least one of their parents was a foreign national.|name=}}
|70,839
!34.76%
|-
|Neighboring country{{efn|Countries included within this are:
*Germany;
*France;
*Luxembourg;
*the Netherlands;
*the United Kingdom;|name=}}
|5,991
|2.94%
|-
|EU27 (excluding neighbouring country)
|26,518
|13.01%
|-
|Outside EU 27
|38,330
|18.81%
|-
!Non-Belgians
!32,367
!15.88%
|-
|Neighbouring country{{efn|Countries included within this are:
*Germany;
*France;
*Luxembourg;
*the Netherlands;
*the United Kingdom;|name=}}
|2,529
|1.24%
|-
|EU27 (excluding neighbouring country)
|15,152
|7.44%
|-
|Outside EU 27
|14,686
|7.21%
|-
|
|
|
|-
!Total
|203,785
!100%
|}

==Culture==

===Museums===
[[File:Charleroi - Musée des Beaux-arts - 2022-12-27 - 02.jpg|thumb|The Musée des Beaux-Arts]]
[[File:Charleroi musee-de-la-photographie 050711.jpg|thumb|Musée de la photographie]]
[[File:Bois du Cazier in Marcinelle, Charleroi (DSCF7718).jpg|thumb|The Bois du Cazier]]

* Musée de la photographie, opened in 1987, is housed in a former [[Gothic Revival architecture|Gothic Revival]] [[Carmelites|Carmelite monastery]]. It is the largest photography museum in Europe, featuring a diverse collection and hosting various exhibitions in [[Mont-sur-Marchienne]]
* Musée des Chasseurs à pied, located in the former Corporal Tresignie barracks (named after Léon Trésignies, a Belgian hero of [[World War I]]), is a military museum.
* BPS22, art museum of the [[Hainaut Province|Hainaut province]] installed in a former industrial hall built during the Charleroi exhibition in 1911, in which training was provided for industrial professions.
* [[Bois du Cazier]], in [[Marcinelle]]
* Musée des Beaux-Arts ("Museum of Fine Arts"), is housed in a former cavalry barracks. This historic building was transformed to showcase a diverse collection of artworks, like [[François-Joseph Navez]], Gustave Camus and [[Pierre Paulus]]. It is located near the Tour Bleue created by [[Jean Nouvel]].

===Theatres and dance hall===
* [[Charleroi Danses]]
* Théâtre de l'Ancre

===Performance halls and cultural centers===
* Rockerill, alternative concert hall, exhibition space and performances located in [[Marchienne-au-Pont]]
* Vecteur, multidisciplinary cultural platform
* Eden, performance hall

===Media===
* [[Dupuis|Éditions Dupuis]], comic and magazines publisher located in [[Marcinelle]]
* Telesambre, regional television channel
* La Nouvelle Gazette, a Belgian French-language daily newspaper

===Folklore events===
* The [[Marches of Entre-Sambre-et-Meuse]] : every year, from May to October, the Marches of Entre-Sambre-et-Meuse, both a religious procession and a folk march, take place in [[Jumet]] (Tour de la Madeleine) and in the region south of Charleroi, which bring together many walkers parading in costumes of [[First French Empire|First Empire]] and [[Third French Empire|Third Empire]] uniform. In 2012, fifteen of these marches were recognised as masterpieces of the [[UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists|Oral and Intangible Heritage by UNESCO]].<ref>{{cite web |language = fr |author = Patrick Lemaire | title = Quinze marches de l'Entre-Sambre-et-Meuse admises au patrimoine culturel immatériel de l'Unesco |trans-title=Fifteen marches of Entre-Sambre-et-Meuse admitted to UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage |url= https://www.lavenir.net/cnt/dmf20121205_00240949 |publisher = www.lavenir.net |newspaper = L'Avenir (Belgium) |date = 5 December 2012 |access-date = 2 May 2020}}</ref>
* The [[Mardi Gras]] carnival with the release of the giants puppets and the parade of the Climbias, a folk and charity club in [[Lodelinsart]].
* The [[Easter]] and [[Assumption of Mary|August]] fairs.
* The Sunday market.

===Itineraries, tours===
[[File:Dampremy - Terril Saint-Théodore est - 2021-03-28 - 3.jpg|thumb|The Saint-Théodore [[Spoil tip|slag heap]]. A walkway of the Boucle Noire.]]

* Boucle Noire ("Black Loop"), a 26&nbsp;km walk between the industrial and natural landscape of Charleroi<ref>{{Cite web |title=GR412 - Boucle noire |url=https://www.cm-tourisme.be/en/a/gr412-boucle-noire |access-date=2022-07-27 |website=CM Tourisme |language=en}}</ref>
* Grande dérive ("Big Drift") : this path forms a 54&nbsp;km loop surrounding the greater Charleroi. La Grande Dérive, passes through the green margins of Charleroi, on marked trails, climbing on the slag heaps and crossing public parks, woods, agricultural areas and wasteland.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=28 May 2023|title=Grande Dérive|url=https://cheminsdesterrils.be/#grandederive|website=Chemin des terrils}}<!-- auto-translated by Module:CS1 translator --></ref>
* Eurovelo 3 pilgrims' route : Charleroi is located on the EuroVelo3 route. It is a 5,122&nbsp;km long road that connects [[Trondheim]] in [[Norway]] to [[Santiago de Compostela]] in [[Spain]]. The route thus crosses seven countries, Norway, [[Sweden]], [[Denmark]], [[Germany]], Belgium, [[France]] and Spain.
* In the Charleroi region, the [[RAVeL network]] (in French Réseau Autonome des Voies Lentes and in English autonomous network of slow ways) allows cycling for sports and tourism purposes on protected routes. The routes take the towpaths along the river Sambre and the Charleroi-Brussels canal and on disused railway lines.

==Sports==
[[File:Charleroi Stade du Pays de Charleroi 13.jpg|thumb|[[Stade du Pays de Charleroi]]]]
Charleroi is home to a number of champion teams in various sports. [[Spirou Charleroi]] in [[basketball]] has been an eight-times winner in the [[Basketball League Belgium Division I|Basketball League Belgium]]. [[La Villette Charleroi]] in [[table tennis]] is the most successful club in the [[European Champions League (table tennis)|Champions League]] with five titles and has been the Belgian champion multiple times. [[Action 21 Charleroi]] in [[futsal]] has won one [[UEFA Futsal Cup]] and nine titles in the [[Belgian Division 1]]. In [[Football (soccer)|football]], [[R. Charleroi S.C.|Royal Charleroi SC]] and [[R.O.C. de Charleroi-Marchienne|ROC Charleroi]] have finished second in the [[Belgian Pro League]]. The 30,000-capacity [[Stade du Pays de Charleroi]] was a venue at [[UEFA Euro 2000]].<ref>{{cite web|title=EURO 2000 - The Official Site|url=http://www.euro2000.org/en/venues/0,1068,,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000511012352/http://www.euro2000.org/en/venues/0,1068,,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 11, 2000|access-date=7 August 2016|website=Web.archive.bibalex.org}}</ref>

==Notable people==
[[File:François-Joseph Navez - Autoportrait.jpg|thumb|Painter [[François-Joseph Navez]] (self-portrait)]]

===Born in Charleroi===
*[[Léon Rosenfeld]] (1904–1974), physicist
*[[Jean-Marie André]], scientist
*[[Alexandre Czerniatynski]], football player, winner of the UEFA cup
*Jules Delhaize, 19th-century grocer and businessman, founder of what would become the [[Delhaize Group]]
*Louis Delhaize, founder of the [[Louis Delhaize Group]]
*[[Jules Destrée]], lawyer and politician, born in [[Marcinelle]], 19th century
*[[Karl Erjavec]], Slovenian lawyer and politician, [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Slovenia)|Minister of Foreign Affairs]], born in [[Aiseau]]
*[[Paul Finet]] (1897–1965), Belgian politician, born in [[Montignies-sur-Sambre]]
*[[Albert Frère]], businessman and the richest person in Belgium
*[[Régis Genaux]], football player
*Emile Grumieaux, painter, born in Gosselies
*[[Paul-François Huart-Chapel]], industrialist, 19th century
*[[Jean-Pierre Lecocq]] (1947–1992), molecular biologist and entrepreneur
*[[Georges Lemaître]] (1894–1966), priest and astronomer, 20th century
*[[Fabrice Lig]], music producer, 20th century
*[[Loïc Nottet]], musician
*[[Jean Dupuis]], printer and editor, founder of the Dupuis editions
*[[Pierre Marcolini]], chocolatier
*[[Joseph Maréchal]], Jesuit priest and philosopher, 20th century
*Didier Matrige, painter and draughtsman, 20th century
*[[Joëlle Milquet]], politician, 20th century
*[[Chantal Mouffe]], political theorist, 20th century
*[[François-Joseph Navez]], painter, 18th century
*[[Paul Pastur]], lawyer and politician
*[[Gaston Salmon]] (1878–1917), épée fencer, Olympic champion<ref>{{Cite web|date=23 October 2017|title=La médaille d'or d'un Carolo en vente à Hollywood!|url=http://www.laprovince.be/143182/article/2017-10-23/la-medaille-dor-dun-carolo-en-vente-hollywood|website=Édition digitale de Mons}}</ref>
*[[Marcel Thiry]], poet, 19th century
*[[Jeanne Toussaint]] (1887–1976), jeweller
*[[Raymond Troye]], wartime writer, 20th century
*[[Annette Vande Gorne]], composer
*[[Fernand Verhaegen]], painter and etcher, born in [[Marchienne-au-Pont]], 19th century

===Resided in Charleroi===
*[[Robert Arcq]], writer
*[[Paul Cuvelier]], painter and comics artist
*[[Arthur Grumiaux]], violinist
*[[Ernest Solvay]], Belgian chemist, industrialist and philanthropist
*[[Paul Magnette]], Belgian politician (Socialist Party), current mayor of Charleroi, former political science professor at the Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) and Minister-President of Wallonia from 2014 to 2017
*[[René Magritte]], painter<ref name="independent1"/>
*[[Pierre Paulus]], Expressionist painter of industrial landschapes of Charleroi
*[[Johan Nunez]], drummer for [[Nightrage]]/[[Firewind]]
*[[Arthur Rimbaud]], poet
*[[Paul Verlaine]], poet

==Twin cities==
Charleroi is twinned with the following places:
{{colbegin}} 
*{{Flagicon|FRA}} [[Hirson]], [[France]]<ref name="rtbf twinning">{{cite news |last1= Arcangeli |first1= Luciano |last2= Barbieux |first2= Daniel |date= |title=Charleroi a reçu une délégation japonaise dans le cadre d&#x27;un jumelage - RTBF Actus |url= https://www.rtbf.be/article/charleroi-a-recu-une-delegation-japonaise-dans-le-cadre-d-un-jumelage-9039364|work= rtbf|location= Belgium |access-date= June 1, 2024}}</ref>
*{{Flagicon|FRA}} [[Saint-Junien]], France<ref name="rtbf twinning" />
*{{Flagicon|FRA}} [[Sélestat]], France<ref name="rtbf twinning" />
*{{Flagicon|GER}} [[Schramberg]], [[Germany]]<ref name="rtbf twinning" />
*{{Flagicon|GER}} [[Waldkirch]], Germany<ref name="rtbf twinning" />
*{{Flagicon|ITA}} [[Manoppello]], [[Italy]]<ref name="rtbf twinning" />
*{{Flagicon|ITA}} [[Casarano]], Italy<ref name="rtbf twinning" />
*{{Flagicon|ITA}} [[Follonica]], Italy<ref name="rtbf twinning" />
*{{Flagicon|JPN}} [[Himeji, Hyōgo|Himeji]], [[Japan]] (since 1965)<ref name="rtbf twinning" /><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.be.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/news_190727.html | title = Visit to Charleroi by Himeji Junior High School Students {{vbar}} Embassy of Japan in Belgium | date = August 1, 2019 | website = Embassy of Japan in Belgium | access-date = June 2, 2024 | quote = The cities of Charleroi and Himeji formed a sister city relationship in 1965, ...
}}</ref>
*{{Flagicon|UKR}} [[Donetsk]], [[Ukraine]] (since 1983)<ref name="rtbf twinning" /><ref name="DHnet Donetsk">{{cite news |last= van Kasteel |first= Jean |date= |title= Charleroi est jumelée à Donetsk, dans la région autoproclamée indépendante d&#x27;Ukraine: &quot;On n&#x27;a jamais réussi à tenir contact avec eux, ni en 2012, ni en 2019&quot; - La DH/Les Sports+ |url= https://www.dhnet.be/regions/charleroi/2022/02/24/charleroi-est-jumelee-a-donetsk-dans-la-region-autoproclamee-independante-dukraine-on-na-jamais-reussi-a-tenir-contact-avec-eux-ni-en-2012-ni-en-2019-TWCPPSWXFBHWPJBVHNHRJZS4PM/ |work= DHnet |location= Belgium |access-date=June 1, 2024}}</ref>
*{{Flagicon|USA}} [[Pittsburgh]], [[US]]<ref name="rtbf twinning" />
{{colend}}

==See also==
{{colbegin}}
*[[Aéropole Science Park]]
*[[Dauphines Charleroi]]
*[[ICDI affair]]
*[[List of municipalities in Wallonia]]
*[[Municipalities of Belgium]]
*[[R. Charleroi S.C.]]
*[[R.O.C. de Charleroi-Marchienne|R.O.C. Charleroi]]
*[[Maison Mattot]]
*[[Charleroi Courthouse]]
{{colend}}

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
*{{wikivoyage inline|Charleroi}}
*[http://www.charleroi.be Official web site]
*[http://tramways.freeservers.com Unofficial history of tramways in Charleroi] {{in lang|fr}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120916184355/http://acity.online.fr/snapshots/chrlroi/chrlroi.html Urban adventurers explore and photograph an unused Métro line]
*[http://news.scotsman.com/world/Welcome-to-Charleroi-Tourism-trebles.5151216.jp "Welcome to Charleroi: Tourism trebles in the world's ugliest town"] ''Scotsman'' newspaper, April 7, 2009

{{Geographic location
|Centre = Charleroi
|N  = [[Pont-à-Celles]], [[Les Bons Villers]]
|NE = [[Fleurus]]
|E  = [[Châtelet, Belgium|Châtelet]]
|SE = [[Gerpinnes]]
|S  = [[Ham-sur-Heure-Nalinnes]]
|SW = [[Montigny-le-Tilleul]]
|W  = [[Fontaine-l'Évêque]]
|NW = [[Courcelles, Belgium|Courcelles]]
}}
{{Charleroi}}
{{Hainaut}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Charleroi| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Wallonia]]
[[Category:Sub-municipalities of Charleroi]]
[[Category:Municipalities of Hainaut (province)]]
[[Category:World Heritage Sites in Belgium]]
[[Category:1666 establishments in the Holy Roman Empire]]
[[Category:Vauban fortifications in Belgium]]