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Charleroi

A good Belgian joke!

In the Heart of Europe

Cultural and economic area, where live about 500 000 people, the city of Charleroi is an important heart of highway, rail and river communication. At the door of the Ardenne, the city benefits from a privileged setting, at 50 km (31 miles) on South of Brussels - Europe Capital - and at about 100 km (62 miles) from the metropolis of Lille.

A welcoming city

The enthusiasm, generosity, friendliness and joy in life of the Carolos (inhabitants of Charleroi) are well-known. To them, welcome and hospitality really mean something.

With its pedestrian streets, squares, parks, main roads, shopping centres and tourist installations, Charleroi is a hearty city, pleasant to walk through or to go shopping. Each week, thousands people come to the Sunday market, and sometimes from far. Its warm and picturesque atmosphere shouldn't be missed on any account.

An economic metropolis

Big world companies and numerous small businesses chose Charleroi's favourable situation, know-how, and dynamism to develop their activities. Special steels, aeronautic buildings, telecommunications, computer, agro-alimentary industry, mechanical buildings, printing, chemistry, services to firms and to people, and many other again, are well represented sectors in Charleroi.

IGRETEC, the public local structure, is specialized in the metropolis economic promoting and in the investors welcoming. It also has a supporting function towards small businesses, including as far as exportation is concerned.

A city which culture is at every street corner

Regarding culture too, Charleroi is a must. Each year, the city is the setting of prestigious exhibitions, and of many shows. The reputation of the Beaux Arts Palace, Photography Museum, Charleroi Dance, and so on, went far away beyond Belgium borders. Charleroi's museums enable to discover magnificent painting, sculpture, glass, photography, industrial archaeology and sciences recollections.

Charleroi is also the Belgian comics' birthplace, thanks to Marcinelle School, illustrated by the Dupuis Editions. You may meet Spirou, Fantasio, the Marsupilami, Lucky Luke, Boule and Bill, the Daltons... along your walks in the city centre, or taking the subway.

As you've understood, Charleroi wants to be a metropolitan city, open to the whole world, balanced, friendly, supporting, young, joining its elders, chlorophyll, caring for its image, pleasant to live in, mobile, clean from pollution, healthy, learning, working, innovating, cultural, sporty, safe, partner...

Useful Links:

• To easy your stay, we advise you to ask the required information (hotels booking, cars renting, festivals programmed, etc.) on RYANAIR website.
• http://www.charleroi.be (Official city's Website)

Published on 21/01/2009