Charleroi

Charleroi is the second largest city in Wallonia, the French-speaking southern region of Belgium. Once an industrial powerhouse, the city has fallen on hard times in recent decades, with high levels of unemployment and poverty. But there is a lot of charm in Charleroi’s faded grandeur, and a lively arts and nightlife scene. The city centre is full of Art Nouveau and Art Deco architecture, and the Musée des Beaux-Arts has a rich collection of paintings by Flemish and Belgian masters. There are also several excellent museums devoted to the city’s industrial heritage, including the Musée de la Photographie and the Musée des Industries Textiles. And for a taste of the good life, head to the chic restaurants and bars of the Mont des Arts district.