'''Charleroi''' is the third largest city in Belgium situated in Wallonia, the French speaking part of Belgium.
Get in
Brussels South Charleroi Airport [http://www.charleroi-airport.com/doc.php?nd=o29&tid=29&lg=2&docid=1&site=1]
Charleroi Train Station South (SNCB) [http://www.b-rail.be/main/E/]- Square des Martyrs du 18 Aout, 6000 CHARLEROI Info Phone +32 (0)71 60 22 94 or +32 (0)71 60 23 88
Understand
Charleroi has a strong image of a poor, polluted and violent city for the majority of the Belgians. This city is often considered as not attractive at all.
It has become well-known to budget flyers as a destination for low-cost flights. The Brussels South-Charleroi airport, a few kilometres to the north of the city, serves Brussels (located 55 km north). Ryanair and Wizzair both fly out of Charleroi to many European and North African destinations.
Get around
Charleroi has a half-built metro system, running partly around the centre with two branch lines into the suburbs.
TEC Charleroi (City Bus service) Place des Tramways 9 6000 CHARLEROI Info phone +32 (0)71 23 41 11 or +32 (0)71 23 41 15
See
Charleroi Expo [http://www.charleroiexpo.be/En/#]
The Fine Arts Museum - Hotel du Ville, Place du Manege, 6000 Charleroi 32(0)71 86 11 32346
Jules Destree Museum - Hotel du Ville, Place du Manege, 6000 Charleroi 32(0)71 86 11 32346
Cinemas
Cinema Le Parc Rue de Montigny 58 2338
Cinema Paradiso 4 Place E Buisset
Museums
'''Museum of Photography Charleroi'''- 11 Avenue Paul Pastur, 6032 Charleroi Tel 32-71-43-58-10, fax: 32-71-36-46-45 e-mail: mpc-info@museephoto.be hours: Tuesday-Sunday 10:00-6:00
'''Centre culturel scientifique de l'ULB''' [http://www.ulb.ac.be/docs/musees/sciences.html]
'''Musee des chasseurs a pied''' [http://www.chasseurs-a-pied.com/]
'''Site du bois du Cazier a Marcinelle''' [http://www.leboisducazier.be/]
'''Musee archeologique'''
'''Musee du verre''' [http://www.charleroi-museum.org/mba/intro/intro_flash.htm]
'''Musee des Beaux-Arts''' [http://www.charleroi-museum.org/mba/intro/intro_flash.htm]
Do
Football
Royal Charleroi Sporting Club [http://www.sporting-charleroi.be/hp/fr/hp.asp]
Basketball
Spirou Charleroi [http://www.spiroubasket.com/Spirou/site.nsf/.Accueil?ReadForm]
Buy
Ville II [http://www.ville2.be/static/home.php]
Eat
Croc Midi - Rue du Calvaire (Centre Commercial du Calvaire), 22a 6041 Gosselies Tel. : 071 35 04 58
L'Oliveraie - Rue de la Croix Rouge, 7, 6000 Charleroi Tel. : 071 33 13 33
Mille Colonnes - Rue de Marchienne, 6-8, 6000 Charleroi, Tel. : 071 32 05 34
Hippopotame - Rue du Comptoir, 4-6-8, 6000 Charleroi, Tel. : 071 32 19 02
La Gondola - Place Emile Buisset, 6, 6000 Charleroi, Tel. : 071 31 30 17
Le Saint-Exupery - Chaussee de Fleurus 181 a Gosselies Tel.: 071 35 59 62
Drink
Star Rock Cafe - Boulevard Joseph Tirou 122, 6000 CHARLEROI, Tel. : 071.30.28.77
Sleep
Given the short distances to other Belgian cities, most people staying overnight are likely to be passengers at "Brussels South" airport. Unfortunately there are no hotels at the airport terminal itself, and reaching those nearby is difficult without a car.
Unless you have your own transport, the most convenient hotel is the IBIS Charleroi Gare in the city centre[http://www.ibishotel.com/], just across the river Sambre facing the Gare du Sud and the bus station. Double rooms here start at 59 euros if booked in advance.
The IBIS "Aeroport" is 7km away from the terminal at a motorway junction, and costs the same as the city centre IBIS.
There are two cheaper hotels near the airport. The Formule 1, at junction 22 of the A54 motorway from Brussels[http://www.hotelformule1.com/formule1/fichehotel/gb/for/2617/fiche_hotel.shtml], costs 38 euros for a triple room with shared shower and toilet. Take bus 42 or 63 from the city centre. The only way to the airport from here is by taxi, hitchhiking, or going back to the centre to take an airport bus.
The new Etap, 2km from the Heppignies exit of the E42 Paris-Liege motorway[http://www.etaphotel.com/etaphotel/fichehotel/gb/etp/5517/fiche_hotel.shtml], has ensuite triples starting at 45 euros. Take bus 68 from the centre. This hotel is about 2.5km walk from the airport.
It might be possible to stay overnight in the airport terminal. The Gare du Sud station building is closed for renovation, so don't plan on staying there.
The nearest youth hostels are in Brussels and Namur.
Some hotel addresses:
Best Western Charleroi - 1A Boulevard Mayence, 6000 Charleroi
IBIS - Charleroi Gare - 12 Quai de Flandre, 6000 Charleroi +32 (0)71 206060
IBIS - Charleroi Aeroport - 590 chaussee de Charleroi, 6220 Fleurus +32 (0)71 810130
Socatel - Boulevard Tirou 96, 6000 Charleroi +32 (0)71 319811 Fax: + 32 (0)71 301596 [http://www.hotelsocatel.be/]
Formule 1 - 10 rue de Rosaire, 6041 Gosselies Tel +32 (0)71 372222
Etap Charleroi Aeroport - 33 Avenue Jean Mermoz, 6220 Fleurus, +32 (0)71 373632
Les Balladins - Route de la Basse Sambre +32 (0)71 420168
Le Piersoulx - Rue du Grand Piersoulx, 8, Tel +32 (0)71 356687
Stay safe
Charleroi is the poorest city in Belgium, stay away from the "lower" parts of the city.
Don't go to neighborhoods with a lot of graffiti, those are mostly gang controlled.
The gangs aren't likely to kill you but they can try to steal your money.
Stay within the tourist center and you will be safe.
Get out