Binche

2025-10-04T09:30:49Z

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{{redirect|Binch|people with the surname|Binch (surname)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Short description|City in Hainaut Province, Wallonia, Belgium}}
{{Infobox Belgium municipality
|name = Binche
|native_name = {{native_name|wa|Bince}}
|type = city
|picture = Binche JPG01.jpg
|picture-legend = Binche, the old city and its surrounding wall
|map = Binche Hainaut Belgium Map.svg
|map-legend = Location of Binche in Hainaut
|arms = Blason binche moderne.svg
|flag = Flag_of_Binche.svg
|province = [[Hainaut Province|Hainaut]]
|arrondissement = [[Arrondissement of La Louvière|La Louvière]]
|nis = 58002
|mayor = Laurent Devin (PS)
|majority = [[Socialist Party (francophone Belgium)|PS]], [[Reformist Movement|MR]]
|postal-codes = 7130, 7131, 7133, 7134
|telephone-area = 064
|web = [http://www.binche.be/ www.binche.be]
|coordinates = {{coord|50|24|N|04|10|E|region:BE|display=inline,title}}
}}

'''Binche''' ({{IPA|fr|bɛ̃ʃ|-|LL-Q150 (fra)-LoquaxFR-binche.wav}}; {{langx|wa|Bince}}; [[Dutch language|Dutch]]: ''Bing'') is a [[City status in Belgium|city]] and [[Municipalities of Belgium|municipality]] of [[Wallonia]], in the [[Hainaut Province|province of Hainaut]], Belgium.<ref>Also spelt '''Binch''' in some English sources.</ref> Since 1977, the municipality consists of Binche, Bray, Buvrinnes, Épinois, Leval-Trahegnies, [[Péronnes-lez-Binche]], Ressaix, and Waudrez districts.

According to the surveys from 2021, Binche had a total population of 33,416,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Binche (La Louvière, Hainaut, Belgium) – Population Statistics, Charts, Map, Location, Weather and Web Information |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/belgium/hainaut/la_louvi%C3%A8re/58002__binche/ |access-date=2022-05-08 |website=www.citypopulation.de}}</ref> approximately 550 inhabitants per km<sup>2</sup>.

The motto of the city is "''[[Plus ultra (motto)|Plus Oultre]]''" (meaning "Further beyond" in Old French), which was the motto of [[Holy Roman Emperor]] [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles V]], who in 1545 gave the medieval Castle of Binche to his sister, [[Mary of Hungary (governor of the Netherlands)|Queen Mary of Hungary]]. Her attention was spent on Binche, which she had rebuilt into [[Binche Palace]] under the direction of the architect-sculptor [[Jacques du Broeucq]], remembered today as the first master of [[Giambologna]]. This château, intended to rival [[Château de Fontainebleau|Fontainebleau]], was eventually destroyed by the soldiers of [[Henry II of France]] in 1554.

In 2003, the [[Carnival of Binche]] was proclaimed one of the [[Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity]] by [[UNESCO]]. In addition, the [[Belfry (architecture)|Belfry]] and City Hall were inscribed on the [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage List]] as part of the [[Belfries of Belgium and France]] site, for its importance in civic functions, architecture, and its testimony to the power and influence of the town.<ref name = "unesco">{{cite web |url = http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/943 |title= Belfries of Belgium and France |website = UNESCO World Heritage Centre |publisher = United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization |access-date = 5 November 2021}}</ref>

== History ==
{{unreferenced section|date=March 2022}}
[[File:Binche JPG02.jpg|thumb|left|The remaining walls of the medieval castle of Binche]]

Binche came into being during the [[Middle Ages]], near the [[Roman road]] that connected [[Bagacum]], the capital of the [[Nervii]], (now [[Bavay]]) to [[Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium]], (now [[Cologne]]). The road influenced trade and communication throughout Binche.

The city was officially founded in the 12th century by Yolande of Gelders, widow of Duke [[Baldwin III, Count of Hainaut|Baldwin III]] from [[County of Hainaut|Hainaut]]. Their son [[Baldwin IV, Count of Hainaut|Baldwin IV]] fortified the city, which served as a frontier fortress against France. In the 14th century, the city wall was extended to its present size.

The city reached the peak of its economic power when [[Belgium]] was under [[Spanish Empire|Spanish rule]]. Binche was the residence of [[Margaret of Austria, Duchess of Savoy|Mary of Hungary]], governess of the Netherlands for her brother, [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|Emperor Charles V]]. She had a magnificent [[Binche Palace|palace]] built, designed by [[Jacques Du Broeucq]], to compete with that of [[Fontainebleau]]. Charles V visited Binche in [[1549]] on invitation from his sister. For this occasion, she organized magnificent celebrations.

This period of prosperity came to an end in [[1554]] as the palace, the city, and the surrounding area were plundered by the troops of [[Henry II of France|King Henry II of France]]. Until the beginning of the 18th century, [[Hainaut Province|Hainaut]] was the site of repeated military conflicts between the kingdoms of France and Spain.

The [[Industrial Revolution]] brought renewed prosperity. Coal mines' slag heaps still shape the landscape. Adding to this were the [[brickyard]]s, [[tanneries]], [[glazier]]s, [[Brewery|breweries]], [[lime kiln]]s, and soap factories. Thousands of people worked at home as lace makers, cobblers, and tailors. Post offices and train stations were introduced in the city during this time.

==Carnival==
{{main|Carnival of Binche|Gilles}}

The three-day [[Carnival of Binche]] is one of the best known in Belgium. It takes place around [[Shrove Tuesday]] (or [[Mardi Gras]]) just before [[Lent]] (the 40 days between [[Ash Wednesday]] and [[Easter]]). Performers known as [[Gilles]] wear elaborate costumes in the [[national colours]] of red, black and yellow. During the parade, they throw [[Orange (fruit)|oranges]] at the crowd. In 2003, it was recognized by [[UNESCO]] as one of the [[Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity]].<ref name=LP223>{{cite book|last=Cole|first=Leanne Logan & Geert|title=Lonely Planet Belgium & Luxembourg.|year=2007|publisher=Lonely Planet|location=Footscray (Victoria)|isbn=1-74104-237-2|pages=223|edition=3.}}</ref>

<gallery>
File:Binche - Les Gilles.jpg|The [[Gilles]], clad in their costumes and wax masks, wielding sticks used to ward off spirits
File:0 Binche - Les Gilles le jour du mardi gras (1).JPG|The Gilles wearing their hat with ostrich feathers on [[Shrove Tuesday]]
</gallery>

== Sport==
Each year the town hosts the single day [[Binche-Chimay-Binche]] professional cycling race, which is rated as a 1.1 event on the [[UCI Europe Tour]].

== Transportation ==
Binche railway station has been the terminus for passenger services on line 108 (Erquelinnes - Mariemont) since 1984. The island platform is out of use.

The large gothic style station building was designed by [[Leuven]] architect [[Pierre Langerock]]. It has coloured stained glass windows and is a protected monument. There are some inscriptions remaining from the Nazi German occupation.

To the front of the station is a square half-encircled by a balustrade. Sculpted in the Neo-classical style from blue stone, it incorporates statues commemorating illustrious figures from Binche’s past, including [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles V]], [[Margaret of York]] and [[Mary of Hungary (governor of the Netherlands)|Mary of Hungary]]. A monument dedicated to independence was added in 1931. The area has been a heritage quarter since 1978.

== Notable people ==
* [[Gilles Binchois]] ({{circa|1400}} – 1460), composer
* [[Berthe Dubail]] (1911–1984), painter.

==See also==
*[[Binche lace]]
*[[Carnival of Binche]], a yearly festival
*[[La Binchoise]], a brewery in Binche
*[[Fortsas hoax]], an incident in Binche in 1840

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

== External links==
* {{Commons category-inline}}
* [http://www.binche.be Official site of the city of Binche] (in French)
* [http://www.binchoise.be Union binchoise des Étudiants de Louvain]
* [http://www.museedumasque.be/ Patrimoine du musée International]
* [http://www.rccbinche.be Rugbyclub de Binche]
* [http://www.brasserielabinchoise.be/ La Binchoise, Belgian Brewery, Binche]

{{Geographic location
|Centre = Binche
|N = [[La Louvière]]
|NE = [[Morlanwelz]]
|E = [[Anderlues]]
|SE = [[Lobbes]]
|S = [[Merbes-le-Château]]
|W = [[Mons, Belgium|Mons]]<br/>[[Estinnes]]
}}
{{Hainaut}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Binche| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Wallonia]]
[[Category:Municipalities of Hainaut (province)]]
[[Category:Fortified settlements]]
[[Category:Nervii]]

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