Charleroi Update: “the ugliest City” in 2026

Charleroi was one of the most important industrial regions in Europe in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Coal mining, steel production, glass manufacturing, and the chemical industry made the city an economic engine; entire districts were built around mines and factories, and Charleroi boomed.

The decline began gradually from the 1960s and especially the 1970s, when heavy industry entered a deep crisis: mines were closed, steelworks relocated or abandoned. Particularly in the 1970s and 1980s, Charleroi lost tens of thousands of jobs – with massive social and urban consequences.

In the 1980s, the decay became increasingly visible: industrial wastelands, vacant buildings, and oversized, partly unfinished infrastructure (such as the metro) shaped the cityscape. Only since the 2000s, and especially the 2010s, has the city been trying to reinvent itself – with cultural projects, urban renewal, and a conscious reinterpretation of its industrial heritage.

“The ugliest city in the world”

In 2008, the Dutch newspaper “De Volkskrant” published a reader survey: Charleroi was voted the ugliest city in the world. This had a huge media impact and still shapes its image today. Among urbex enthusiasts, people interested in industrial heritage, and adventure seekers, Charleroi has long been considered a highly exciting travel destination – but the publication of the article further boosted alternative tourism. There are numerous travel videos on YouTube.

What is it like today, in 2026?

Charleroi today is no longer what it once was. In the city center, many streets and squares have been newly paved and redesigned, including the banks of the Sambre. A huge shopping center has opened right in the center. There is a focus on high-quality street art. Work is being carried out on metro lines that were never opened. Decommissioned industrial facilities are being demolished.

All of this is undoubtedly remarkable. But it changes little about the economic situation, the high unemployment, the financial situation of residents, the enormous retail vacancy outside the shopping center, and the condition of the city away from the main squares.

I have been to Charleroi several times, but recently, on a sunny Saturday, I took a closer look at the city center:

We drove into the city center to park in the underground garage of the Rive Gauche shopping center. Well before reaching it, the road disappears underground. The parking garage felt surprisingly clean, as did the access points above. Inside, Rive Gauche is almost at odds with the city around it – modern, polished, and bustling. Shops are plentiful, and notably, none appear vacant. Stepping out onto Place Verte, just as full of people, but the atmosphere shifts. The square is spacious and pleasant at first glance, yet a certain roughness is immediately noticeable. A few beggars and visibly struggling individuals linger around – not overwhelming, but enough to change the mood. Police presence adds a sense of control, though not necessarily comfort.

A short walk leads down to the Sambre. The river itself remains its familiar murky color, but the embankments have been thoughtfully renovated. Crossing the Pont Roi Baudouin towards the station, the urban fabric feels increasingly fragile. The station building is maintained, its forecourt redesigned, yet the sense of unease grows – again counterbalanced by visible policing. Back across the river, the city reveals its most striking contrasts. Around Place Émile Buisset and the surrounding streets, elegant historic facades stand alongside high-rise buildings, forming a dense and genuinely urban landscape. Yet at ground level, decline dominates: vacant storefronts, boarded-up spaces, even entire corners concealed behind advertising tarps.

Boulevard Joseph Tirou feels almost neutral – busy, functional, unremarkable. Just around the corner, Rue de Dampremy tells a different story. Despite its charm, only a handful of shops and cafés remain. The proximity to Rive Gauche makes the contrast even more apparent.

Climbing Rue de la Montagne into the upper town, the situation deteriorates further. Most shops are empty, mostly in poor condition. A few scattered discount stores remain, often adding to the sense of neglect. Ironically, the architecture above eye level is frequently beautiful – making the decay at street level all the more striking. From here on, the city begins to feel almost deserted. At the top lies Place Charles II: vast, impressive, freshly renovated – and nearly empty. The town hall and Saint-Christophe church lend it grandeur, and nine streets converge in a star-shaped layout, yet the space feels lifeless. Nearby, Place du Manège continues this pattern. Framed by the belfry and the Palais des Beaux-Arts, it too has been carefully restored, but remains largely devoid of activity. Only in one corner did a few people gather, with loud shouting audible – though not directed at us.

From there, we strolled back through various streets, walking past what appeared to be a crime scene in the making. At Place Verte, we descend into another underground parking entrance. Despite controlled access, it becomes noticeably dirtier with each level – ending in something resembling a grotto. Above ground, by contrast, the city center appeared strikingly clean.

Of course, this was only a snapshot. The atmosphere likely shifts dramatically after dark, and on a grey Sunday morning the experience might feel even more desolate.

One final impression, on the drive towards Marcinelle: police checking conspicuously dressed prostitutes, set against the chaotic backdrop of intertwined ring road and metro ramps – a scene that seemed to capture the city’s contradictions in a single moment.

I have never found Charleroi’s city center ugly, just run-down. And what about outside the city center?

outside the Center

The center is surrounded by the inner ring road, partly elevated, with its wild on- and off-ramps, with the metro and railway in between: this is truly ugly, but also extremely urban and fascinating. Especially the southwest of the ring has always reminded me somewhat of Metropolis.

Outside the ring road: working-class neighborhoods with simple brown brick facades, pothole streets, shabby shopping areas with odd shops, rubbish-strewn corners, dilapidation, industrial wasteland, brown-colored industrial buildings (everything generally monochrome), oversized infrastructure. There are also some nice areas, but they’re not really worth a visit.

And of course slag heaps. The countless heaps, mostly wooded but usually bare at the top, form extremely interesting viewpoints, especially those close to the center. Some are well developed, while others require a more adventurous climb.

and Urbex?

Standing on the slag heaps, it becomes clear: the impressive industrial scenery has largely disappeared. Charleroi still has numerous great spots along the Sambre towards the west, but it is no longer a continuous band. And construction work is underway on the famous ghost metro line ahead of its opening – after decades.

Conclusion: Charleroi is a city in transition, a lot is happening. But the struggle is far from over.