The ''Pays Noir'' (French, 'black country') refers to a region of Belgium, centered on
Charleroi
Charleroi ( , , ; wa, Tchålerwè ) is a city and a municipality of Wallonia, located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium. By 1 January 2008, the total population of Charleroi was 201,593. in the province of
Hainaut in
Wallonia
Wallonia (; french: Wallonie ), or ; nl, Wallonië ; wa, Waloneye or officially the Walloon Region (french: link=no, Région wallonne),; nl, link=no, Waals gewest; wa, link=no, Redjon walone is one of the three regions of Belgium—alo ...
so named for the geological presence of coal. In the 19th century the region rapidly industrialised first with coal mines, then with related industries such as steel manufacture and glass production.
Description
The region, centred on Charleroi, also known as the ''Pays de Charleroi'' includes the communes of
Aiseau-Presles
Aiseau-Presles (; wa, Åjhô-Préle) is a municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium.
On 1 January 2018 Aiseau-Presles had a total population of 10,788. The total area is 22.19 km² which gives a population densit ...
,
Charleroi
Charleroi ( , , ; wa, Tchålerwè ) is a city and a municipality of Wallonia, located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium. By 1 January 2008, the total population of Charleroi was 201,593. ,
Châtelet,
Courcelles Courcelles may refer to:
Places Belgium
* Courcelles, Belgium, a municipality located in the province of Hainaut
Canada
* Courcelles-Saint-Évariste, a municipality
France
* Courcelles, Charente-Maritime
* Courcelles, Doubs
* Courcelles, Meur ...
,
Farciennes
Farciennes (; wa, Fårcene) is a municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium.
On January 1, 2018, Farciennes had a total population of 11,247. The total area is 10.39 km2 which gives a population density of 1,083 inh ...
,
Fleurus
Fleurus (; wa, Fleuru) is a city and municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium. It has been the site of four major battles.
The municipality consists of the following districts: Brye, Heppignies, Fleurus, Lambusart, ...
,
Fontaine-l'Évêque
Fontaine-l'Évêque (; wa, Fontinne-l'-Eveke) is a city and municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium.
On January 1, 2006, Fontaine-l'Évêque had a total population of 16,687. The total area is 28.41 km² which ...
,
Gerpinnes
Gerpinnes (; wa, Djerpene) is a Municipalities of Belgium, municipality of Wallonia located in the Hainaut Province, province of Hainaut, Belgium.
On 1 January 2018 the municipality had 12,660 inhabitants. The total area is 47.10 km², giv ...
,
Les Bons Villers
Les Bons Villers (; wa, Les Bons Viyés) is a municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium.
On 1 January 2018 the municipality had 9,457 inhabitants. The total area is 42.55 km², giving a population density
Popul ...
and
Pont-à-Celles
Pont-à-Celles (; wa, Pont-a-Cele) is a municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium.
On January 1, 2018, Pont-à-Celles had a total population of 17,287. The total area is 55.73 km2 which gives a population density ...
.
In the west, the ''Pays Noir'' borders the
''Centre''-region around the town of
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 ...
. Geologically, the region - as well as the other coal bearing areas in Belgium - lies on the northern edge of the
Rhenish Massif.
[Caractéristiques des bassins industriels dans l'Eurégio Meuse-Rhin, section 2.]
See also
*
Sillon industriel
The ''Sillon industriel'' (, "industrial furrow") is the former industrial backbone of Belgium. It runs across the region of Wallonia, passing from Dour, the region of Borinage, in the west, to Verviers in the east, passing along the way through ...
, the industrial valley of Belgium, the western part of which lies in the ''Pays Noir''
*
Borinage
The Borinage () is an area in the Walloon province of Hainaut in Belgium. The name derives from the coal mines of the region, ''bores'' meaning mineshafts. In French the inhabitants of the Borinage are called Borains.
The provincial capital ...
*
Black Country
The Black Country is an area of the West Midlands county, England covering most of the Metropolitan Boroughs of Dudley, Sandwell and Walsall. Dudley and Tipton are generally considered to be the centre. It became industrialised during its ro ...
, a similar early industrial region in the
English Midlands
The Midlands (also referred to as Central England) are a part of England that broadly correspond to the Kingdom of Mercia of the Early Middle Ages, bordered by Wales, Northern England and Southern England. The Midlands were important in the Ind ...
Literature
*
References
{{coord, 50.431, 4.433, type:adm3rd_globe:earth_region:BE, display=title
Geography of Charleroi
Geography of Hainaut (province)
Regions of Wallonia
Coal mining regions in Belgium
Areas of Belgium