Charleroi - City of contrasts. Part 1

One of the bigger airports, where a well-known fly Ryanair, named Brussels (Charleroi) (CRL).

Full name is Brussels South Charleroi Airport. That is, seemingly, the Brussels. In fact, it is about 50 kilometers from Brussels, in Charleroi. And not in the city, and about five kilometers from the city to the northeast, in the suburbs. If more specific, it is located five kilometers south of its terminals, which have long been closed, and to the north still have to get on the road around the runway...

However, with transport at the airport everything is all right. If you want to spend the night in a hotel, there are at least two who have a transfer service is included. This is the Etap Hotel and Hotel South.

Near the northern terminal, there are two hotel (see booking.com), which may be, will seem even more convenient. Also go here shuttles to Brussels and in a few large cities. To the center of the Charleroi you can reach by bus "A", which leaves every half hour and costs three euros, if paid to the driver, without queuing.

Nearby on a bus stop, you can buy a ticket "bus + tram".

Ryanair is a low cost, but very poor flight connections. So if you are going to fly somewhere far away and with a change, then most likely need to spend a night or two nights in between flights. Thus we have the opportunity to go on a shuttle to the nearest big city, or wander around Charleroi. Especially because the difference with Brussels only in size and in the absence of capital status.

Of course there are more exotic options like to kill time. For example, from Charleroi station every morning at 7:56 (on weekends a little later) train departs for Paris. Returns from Paris at 21.33. In the French capital you have just ten hours of free time.

Such a method has some peculiarities. On the website you can buy on-line tickets. Moreover, a month or more it will cost a bit more expensive 20 euros per person. You can buy tickets for cash at the station, before leaving, but it will be much more expensive. And there's one more thing. The train, apparently, not sent from the main platform Charleroi-Sud, and from Charleroi-Ouest, although the site is written in the schedule Charleroi-Sud (although it may be ...). Thus, it must be defined in advance in the morning with transportation from hotel to train station, with a margin of time to buy tickets, and (perhaps) with a margin of time on the path to the desired platform.

We decided to spend their free time on visit to the Charleroi. That much easier, cheaper and more reliable planning.

Go to the station by bus "A". The road passes mainly by motorway and takes about 15 minutes. Along the route there is only one stop, especially for those who like to travel from the southern terminals, or got there in ignorance. If this happens to you, you will notice (see map), which is the bus is moving around the ring. Two stops are perhaps no obvious: the one from the city, designed for landing at the airport, while the opposite - in the city, the railway station Charleroi-Sud.

Charleroi met the cold weather with clouds. Exit the bus and go to the nearest bridge across the creek. A river called La Sambre and well navigable. The area in front of the station dug. From the bridge down a couple of swearing in the style of "I'm with you all my life has killed". At the bridge we go around the arc of the two beggars. Is interesting.

We try not to stay and head to a nearby street toward the center. It is even more interesting. Cinema in a classic design. Closed. Friday, 11.30. On the streets quite empty.

Already here begins a classic local architecture, as in the whole center. Two-storey houses Shops and dives below, separately furnished offices on the top.

The houses are narrow and tall. Townhouses in the range. Architectural puzzle of the XX century in the English style. As it turned out later, the association with England was not the last ...

For old buildings peeking local "skyscraper", indicating a slightly more modern facility. Getting to zigzag through the narrow streets, hoping to find the "historical center". We pass by the chapel in honor of a local saint with a mark above the entrance - 1956. The street is named the same - Saint-Fiacre.

At the next corner repairs, but the houses are picturesque. After the repair should show a beautiful old Pl. de la Digue.

We go in the opposite direction. This is, in fact, is the center.

Many shops and boutiques, restaurants and cafes. The same streets here are a few. If you want to spend time shopping, then you should start here and end up in the square in front of the central cathedral, where we will be arrive.

A criterion for, it is worth going to some street or no, there may be simple: if the street filled with shops and signs, then it is yours, and if signs and little stores in the direct line of sight one or two only, then go here do not need. Or even not recommended that more will become more evident.

We go to the Rue de la Montagne. The direct road to the cathedral. We leave to the area from which radiate nine streets. Tourist Information Centre on the left.

Cathedral on the opposite side. Built nearly a year, the city's founding, in 1667. It was originally dedicated to St. Louis, then to St. Christopher (La Basilique Saint-Christophe). Rebuilt many times.

In the cathedral has a glass door. Inside the modern altar and the emptiness. Two afro-belgian. A young man sleeps on a bench, a girl reading a book.

In the square outside the cathedral are several restaurants with tables outside. With some decent sit bourgeois. Local lads gads nearby

Next: Part 2

2011.04.03