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All Belgium Charleroi Bois du Cazier

Bois du Cazier

This former coal mine, now a fascinating museum, was the site of Belgium's worst mining disaster.

Charleroi, Belgium

Added By
Alan Newman
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Within the museum.   Agrillo Mario
Within the museum.   Agrillo Mario
View from the top of a slag heap.   Peter Ban den Bossche
Monument.   Agrillo Mario
One of the on site memorials.   Agillo Mario
Oldham lamp charging unit.   Agrillo Mario
Mines rescue respirator.   Grillo Mario
Bois du Cazier   Trougnouff ( Benoit Brummer)
Bois du Cazier   Luc Viator
Bois du Cazier   Paul Hermans
At the top of one of the shafts.   Grillo Mario
Rescue team during the disaster.   Wim van Rossem/Anefo
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About

Today, we are now more aware of the effects of burning coal on the environment, and the preservation of coal mining history may seem a bit strange. However, coal's place in the development of technology during the Industrial Revolution can't be ignored. Also, those who risked their lives working and developing these mines were crucial to the creation of the modern world. 

This former coal mine near the town of Marcinelle, now a suburb of Charleroi, Belgium, closed in 1967 and reopened in 2002 as a museum. 

The mine is also known as the site of Belgium's worst mining disaster. On August 8, 1956, a fire occurred in the shaft started by a mishap in the winding operation. The fire spread throughout the mine and 262 miners lost their lives, most from carbon monoxide poisoning. Many of the workers were foreign guest workers from many different nationalities, although many were Italian.

The museum consists of memorials dedicated to those that perished in the disaster, and also features a mining/steelmaking museum, a glass museum, and a small wooded park constructed on the three slag heaps.

The Bois du Cazier is one of four mining historical sites located in the Walloon region of Belgium listed as a World Heritage Site. It's also part of the European Route of Industrial Heritage.

Related Tags

Coal Mines Museums Memorials

Know Before You Go

Standard adult admission to the whole site including the two museums is €8.

Free on the first Sunday of the month.

Opening times vary, check the website.

Community Contributors

Added By

Dr Alan P Newman

Published

April 13, 2020

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Bois du Cazier
44 Rue des Sarts
Charleroi, 6001
Belgium
50.381178, 4.444325
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Nearby Places

Carnival of Binche

Binche, Belgium

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Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Charleroi

Charleroi

Belgium

Places 2

Nearby Places

Carnival of Binche

Binche, Belgium

miles away

Abbaye de Villers

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miles away

Collegiate Church of St. Gertrude

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miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Charleroi

Charleroi

Belgium

Places 2

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