These articles mainly addressed the general appearance of the city, marked by its industrial past. They described the Carole landscape and its abandoned factories, its industrial lands and its aging infrastructure. Others pointed to the architecture “uneven“of Charleroi, where different styles mix which do not form a beautiful harmony. Like many other industrial cities, Charleroi has also been marked by pollution, which is also seen on certain buildings. It has even been designated “the most depressing street in Belgium“, namely rue de Mons, which once housed beautiful opulent houses with gardens but is occupied by abandoned workshops and department stores. Moreover, in the eyes of many people, Charleroi remains the city of Marc Dutroux, which does not adds nothing positive to the image of the town. It is also where Magritte’s mother committed suicide when he was a child.
According to a study, this European city is the one where the inhabitants appear the youngest
A city that has evolved enormously
But since the publication of the article in the Volkskrant, a lot of things have changed in the 3rd municipality of Belgium. Shortly after, a local artist, Nicolas Buissart, decided to ride the wave of this sudden attraction for “the ugliest city in the world” by organizing “urban safaris” in the streets in order to introduce curious people to ” the ugliest places” in Charleroi. Articles published internationally prompted people to come and see if the city deserved its sad title.
Initiatives to restore the image of the Black Country have begun to emerge, and the landscape has changed significantly in recent years. Efforts have been made to revitalize the city, with urban planning projects (building renovations, improvement of public spaces, etc.) and cultural initiatives that aim to improve its image. In terms of culture, the BPS22 art center (transformed in 2014), for example, has become an important cultural venue which hosts contemporary exhibitions. The town has become energized, with the organization of cultural events, among others. The banks of the Sambre are also being redeveloped, as evidenced by the major Rive Gauche project, including the opening in 2017 of a large shopping center. Many streets have also been made pedestrianized to make city walks more pleasant. “10 years ago it was a ghost town. Today, we are halfway there, and in 10 years, it will really be dynamic again“, summarized in 2018 Nicolas Buissart with the BBC.
Although Charleroi has often been criticized, for many people, its rich industrial history and authentic atmosphere will always give the city a unique charm, whatever happens.
This heavenly destination is yet the worst to travel to in 2025
