The Martinet coal mine in Charleroi is only a shadow of itself. At the beginning of the 20th century, le Martinet became a leader in the European coal mine industry.
Discover hidden gems in the Walloon province Hainaut, Belgium.
The Martinet coal mine in Charleroi is only a shadow of itself. At the beginning of the 20th century, le Martinet became a leader in the European coal mine industry.
You first have to wade through a field, sticking brambles and a tyre dump, but then you stand at one of the only concrete headframes in Charleroi: le petit Martinet.
On the outskirts of Mons is the Héribus slag heap, a 138-meter-high spoil heap next to the coal mine of the same name that was active here until 1968.
The concrete remains of the Sauwartan coal mine, which closed in 1938, rest at the edge of the Saint-Ghislain forest in Dour.
Trucks and cars rush over the Estaimpuis bridge towards Kortrijk or Tournai. But under the bridge, you will only find a traffic-free meadow.
The Borinage must once have had the densest railway network in the world, and that was due to the large concentration of coal mines in the region.
European heritage organization Europa Nostra has added the ruins of Charles of Lorraine's Palace in Mariemont to its shortlist of most endangered monuments in 2023.
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While infrastructure is crucial for any country's smooth functioning, Belgium boasts some examples of construction that leave locals and tourists scratching their heads, like useless tunnels, bridges, and dead-end roads.
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