Charleroi - Geography

Geography

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 tips and old industrial buildings.

Charleroi lies around 50 kilometres (31 mi) south of Brussels.

The municipality comprises:

  • I. the central city of Charleroi

and the following former municipalities, merged into Charleroi in 1977:

  • II. Dampremy
  • III. Lodelinsart
  • IV. Gilly
  • V. Montignies-sur-Sambre
  • VI. Couillet
  • VII. Marcinelle
  • VIII. Mont-sur-Marchienne
  • IX. Marchienne-au-Pont
  • X. Monceau-sur-Sambre
  • XI. Goutroux
  • XII. Roux
  • XIII. Jumet
  • XIV. Gosselies
  • XV. Ransart

Neighboring:

  • a. Les Bons Villers
  • b. Fleurus
  • c. Châtelet
  • d. Gerpinnes
  • e. Ham-sur-Heure-Nalinnes
  • f. Montigny-le-Tilleul
  • g. Fontaine-l'Évêque
  • h. Courcelles
  • i. Pont-à-Celles

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