![Bois-du-Luc 08](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c1/Bois-du-Luc_08.JPG)
The Bois-du-Luc was a
coal mine
Coal mining is the process of extracting coal from the ground. Coal is valued for its energy content and since the 1880s has been widely used to generate electricity. Steel and cement industries use coal as a fuel for extraction of iron from ...
in
Houdeng-Aimeries
Houdeng-Aimeries ( wa, Oudè) is a village of Wallonia and a district of the municipality of La Louvière, located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium.
The village contains two UNESCO World Heritage sites; its 16.93 m high boat lift was listed ...
, near
La Louvière
La Louvière (; wa, El Lovire) is a city and municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium.
The municipality consists of the following districts: Boussoit, Haine-Saint-Paul, Haine-Saint-Pierre, Houdeng-Aimeries, Hou ...
, in
Belgium
Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...
which today is preserved as an
industrial heritage site. As well as the site of the headquarters of the ''Société des Charbonnages de Bois-du-Luc et d'Havre'', the Bois du Luc was the site of the
Saint Emmanuel Saint Emmanuel (died ''c.'' 304), was arrested and executed at Sirmium, in what is now Serbia, with 42 other martyrs, including Quadratus (Codratus) and Theodocius, in 304 as part of Diocletian's persecution of the Christians. Their feast day
...
Pit (''Fosse Saint-Emmanuel'') which belonged to the company. The ''Fosse Saint-Emmanuel'' was one of the oldest mines in Belgium, with recorded activity dating back to 1685. The company ceased mining in 1973.
The Bois-du-Luc is particularly known for the surrounding
company town
A company town is a place where practically all stores and housing are owned by the one company that is also the main employer. Company towns are often planned with a suite of amenities such as stores, houses of worship, schools, markets and re ...
(''cité ouvrière'') which was created for the mine works during the 19th century and is today one of the most notable surviving remnants of
industrial paternalism
Welfare capitalism is capitalism that includes social welfare policies and/or the practice of businesses providing welfare services to their employees. Welfare capitalism in this second sense, or industrial paternalism, was centered on industrie ...
in Belgium. It includes workers' housing which dates from the 1830s and covers approximately .
The site, run as an
ecomuseum
An ecomuseum is a museum focused on the identity of a place, largely based on local participation and aiming to enhance the welfare and development of local community, local communities. Ecomuseums originated in France, the concept being develope ...
since 1983, features on the
European Route of Industrial Heritage
The European Route of Industrial Heritage (ERIH) is a tourist route of the most important industrial heritage sites in Europe. This is a tourism industry information initiative to present a network of industrial heritage sites across Europe. The a ...
and is one of the four Walloon mining sites listed by
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...
as a
World Heritage Site
A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for h ...
under the
Major Mining Sites of Wallonia
The Major Mining Sites of Wallonia is a UNESCO World Heritage Site comprising four sites in Wallonia in southern Belgium associated with the Belgian coal mining industry of the 19th and 20th centuries. The four sites of the grouping, situated in t ...
listing.
Further reading
* Charles-Albert de Behault, ''Les Charbonnages de Bois-du-Luc, une histoire de familles'', Bulletin de l'Association de la Noblesse du Royaume de Belgique, avril 2022, n° 310, pp. 78-103.
* Joseph Plumet, ''Une société minière sous l’Ancien Régime, la « Société du Grand Conduit et du Charbonnage d’Houdeng » 1685 –1800'', Imprim. J. Duculot, Gembloux, 1941; 145 pages.
* Victor Delattre et Joseph Plumet, ''Les Charbonnages du Bois-du-Luc et d’Havré'', notices historiques, 1935, 181 pages.
* Ouvrage collectif, ''Bois-du-Luc 1685-1985'', Écomusée régional du Centre, 1985, 182 pages.
* Jules Monoyer, ''Mémoire sur l’origine et le développement de l’industrie houillère dans le Bassin du Centre'', Mons, 1874.
* ''Bois-du-Luc, un écrin majestueux où la vie des mineurs se raconte'', Guide - Ecomusée régional du Centre, 2004, 98 p.
* Jacques Liébin et Evelyne Masure-Hannecart, ''Bois-du-Luc : un site charbonnier du XIXe siècle'', éd. Pierre Mardaga, coll. "Musées vivants de Wallonie et de Bruxelles", 1987.
Images
Bois-du-Luc CM JPG.jpg, Gates to the ''Fosse Saint Emmanuel''
Bois-du-Luc workers' housing (DSCF7864).jpg, Workers' housing
Bois-du-Luc CM0JPG.jpg, Director's house
Bois-du-Luc CM7JPG.jpg, Church of Saint Barbara
Saint Barbara ( grc, Ἁγία Βαρβάρα; cop, Ϯⲁⲅⲓⲁ Ⲃⲁⲣⲃⲁⲣⲁ; ; ), known in the Eastern Orthodox Church as the Great Martyr Barbara, was an Early Christianity, early Christian Lebanese and Greek saint and martyr. Acc ...
Bois-du-Luc foundry (DSCF7869).jpg, Foundry
External links
Official websiteat 365.be
{{Authority control
European Route of Industrial Heritage Anchor Points
Mining museums
Industry museums in Belgium
Museums in Hainaut (province)
La Louvière
Coal mines in Belgium