Binche

Binche is a small town in the Belgian province of Hainaut about 34 miles south of Brussels.

The Carnival de Binche [1] Belgium's most famous carnival, attracts thousands of visitors annually. For three days in February the town of Binche is transported back to the 16th century for one of the most fantastic festivals of the year. Highlighted by music parades and fireworks, the climax of this event is when the Gilles appear on the Grand Place and throw oranges to the spectators. This infamous festivity has been classified as part of the world's cultural heritage by UNESCO along with its renowned Gilles.

Get in

By bus

The Walloon regional bus line operator TEC connects Binche with several nearby towns. Buses 132 and 136 connect Binche with La Louviere in approximately 40 minutes. Bus 22 goes to Binche from Mons in 40 minutes too.

By train

There is a train line connecting Binche with Brussels. The journey from the main station (Central/Centrale) of Brussels takes 1h20m. The 1 Binche Train Station is located to the east of the town centre.

By car

Binche is quite near to the R3 beltway of Charleroi. You need to get off at the exit called Fontaine-l'Évêque. When coming from the west, it is best to get off the E42 highway at exit 21 called Binche and subsequently follow the N55 road.

By plane

The nearest airport is in Charleroi (CRL ^IATA) which is majorly served by low cost airlines with various European destinations. The main Belgian airports of Brussels (BRU ^IATA) is a bit further away but is a lot bigger and serve a lot more flights than Charleroi, including many non-European destinations.

See

• 1 Town hall (hôtel de ville), Rue des Boucheries. A Renaissance-style building. The belfry is one of the 56 belfries in Belgium recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. (updated Aug 2019)
• 2 Masks and Carnival Museum (Musée du Masque), Rue Saint-Moustier 10, ☏ +32 64 33 57 41, fax: +32 64 33 57 41, info@museedumasque.be. A 18th-century school building houses the museums. Masks from all over the world are exhibited. An important part of the museum is dedicated to the Carnival of Binche. (updated Aug 2019)
• 3 Saint-Ursmer Collegiate Church (collégiale Saint-Ursmer), Rue Haute 5. (updated Aug 2019)
• 4 City walls (you can start your visit in the park behind the Saint-Ursmer collegiate church). The 12th-century city walls are amongst the best preserved in Belgium. There is a walking path around the city to discover them. (updated Aug 2019)

Do

Events

• Carnival de Binche: March. An annual carnival during the three days before Lent. (date needs updating)

Go next

• Mons — the regional capital of Hainaut was European capital of culture in 2015.