Charleroi - the Belgian Donbass
First of all I need to say that I never was in Donbass so the name for this report was chosen only as the symbol of once industrialized and very important region with now lost it's previous importance and now is struggling and trying to live in new conditions.
On our trip to the south of France we had the opportunity to spend 12 hours in Belgium. We spent this time visiting Charleroi - once the center of Belgian coal mining region.
So today my view to the town which is usually avoided by tourists.
On the arrival to the Charleroi (what's a name for the industrial town - Charles Roi !) - the downtown from the bus window:
As usually - one of the gates of the town - Charleroi train station:
Industrial or post-industrial complex right to the left from the train station:
We are heading to the center:
The area very mixed here - markets, shops and one more impressive building:
This is Charleroi public library (early XXth century):
I need to say that in Charleroi are clearly felt attempts to give a new life for this once miners town. More or less new buildings in the area of train station:
Demographic changes are felt particularly acute in such post-industrial towns (sometimes I had impression that majority of Charleroi residents today are immigrants):
After some walk around we finally found the place which could be called the administrative center of Charleroi:
Near this square you can find Town hall of Charleroi:
And the Cathedral of Charleroi - as you can see both oh them are not very old buildings (built about 100 years ago):
Inside the cathedral:
Going behind the town hall you can find functionalistic palace of modern art:
And his modern neighbor:
And being here - right in the center of the town - you can see that you are in the heart of industrial town:
Another functionalistic complex is firebrigade of Charleroi complex (I am not sure if it is used today too):
Open air agitation:
Then we went to the other side of center. Residential buildings for Charleroi workers:
This part probably resembles best the period when Charleroi formed the backbone of Belgian industry:
Oh those XIXth century schools in the western Europe:
Office buildings from the 1970s or 1980s:
Former miltary barracks:
Football loving country :)
In each Western European one rule need to be obeyed: one of the most impressive buildings in the town should be Palace of Justice. In Charleroi Palace of Justice is situated in new building:
Mixture from the center:
And that was my brief view to the Charleroi.
On our trip to the south of France we had the opportunity to spend 12 hours in Belgium. We spent this time visiting Charleroi - once the center of Belgian coal mining region.
So today my view to the town which is usually avoided by tourists.
On the arrival to the Charleroi (what's a name for the industrial town - Charles Roi !) - the downtown from the bus window:
As usually - one of the gates of the town - Charleroi train station:
Industrial or post-industrial complex right to the left from the train station:
We are heading to the center:
The area very mixed here - markets, shops and one more impressive building:
This is Charleroi public library (early XXth century):
I need to say that in Charleroi are clearly felt attempts to give a new life for this once miners town. More or less new buildings in the area of train station:
Demographic changes are felt particularly acute in such post-industrial towns (sometimes I had impression that majority of Charleroi residents today are immigrants):
After some walk around we finally found the place which could be called the administrative center of Charleroi:
Near this square you can find Town hall of Charleroi:
And the Cathedral of Charleroi - as you can see both oh them are not very old buildings (built about 100 years ago):
Inside the cathedral:
Going behind the town hall you can find functionalistic palace of modern art:
And his modern neighbor:
And being here - right in the center of the town - you can see that you are in the heart of industrial town:
Another functionalistic complex is firebrigade of Charleroi complex (I am not sure if it is used today too):
Open air agitation:
Then we went to the other side of center. Residential buildings for Charleroi workers:
This part probably resembles best the period when Charleroi formed the backbone of Belgian industry:
Oh those XIXth century schools in the western Europe:
Office buildings from the 1970s or 1980s:
Former miltary barracks:
Football loving country :)
In each Western European one rule need to be obeyed: one of the most impressive buildings in the town should be Palace of Justice. In Charleroi Palace of Justice is situated in new building:
Mixture from the center:
And that was my brief view to the Charleroi.