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{{Short description|City in Hainaut Province, Wallonia, Belgium}}
{{For|the Bordeaux wine producer|Château La Louvière}}
{{Infobox Belgium municipality
|name=La Louvière
|native_name={{native name|wa|El Lovire}}
|picture=Houdeng-Aimeries JPG01.jpg
|picture-legend=Houdeng-Aimeries
|map=La Louvière Hainaut Belgium Map.svg
|map-legend=Location of La Louvière in Hainaut
|flag= Flag of La Louvière.svg
|arms=CommunesBelgique-La-Louviere.svg
|province=[[Hainaut Province|Hainaut]]
|arrondissement=[[Arrondissement of La Louvière|La Louvière]]
|nis=58001
|mayor=Jacques Gobert ([[Socialist Party (Belgium)|PS]])
|majority=[[Socialist Party (Belgium)|PS]], [[Reformist Movement|MR]], UDSC
|postal-codes=7100, 7110
|telephone-area=064
|web=[https://www.lalouviere.be/ www.lalouviere.be]
|coordinates={{coord|50|28|N|04|11|E|region:BE|display=inline,title}}
}}

'''La Louvière''' ({{IPA|fr|la luvjɛʁ|-|LL-Q150 (fra)-Madehub-La Louvière.wav}}; {{langx|wa|El Lovire}}) is a [[Municipalities of Belgium|municipality]] and [[City status in Belgium|city]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Loi accordant le titre de ville à la commune de La Louvière |url=https://www.ejustice.just.fgov.be/eli/loi/1985/08/02/1985001314/moniteur |date=2 August 1985 |lang=fr |website=www.ejustice.just.fgov.be |publisher=[[Belgian Official Gazette]] |access-date=6 September 2025}}</ref> of [[Wallonia]] located in the [[Hainaut Province|province of Hainaut]], [[Belgium]].

The municipality consists of the following districts: [[Boussoit]], {{ill|Haine-Saint-Paul|fr}}, {{ill|Haine-Saint-Pierre|fr}}, [[Houdeng-Aimeries]], [[Houdeng-Gœgnies]], La Louvière, [[Maurage]], [[Saint-Vaast, Belgium|Saint-Vaast]], [[Strépy-Bracquegnies]], and [[Trivières]].

La Louvière is the capital of the ''[[Centre region, Hainaut|Centre]]'' region, a former coal mining area in the ''[[Sillon industriel]]'', between the ''[[Borinage]]'' to the West and the ''[[Pays Noir]]'' to the East.

==History==

===Mythical origins===
The legend of a mother wolf nursing a child at La Louvière is reminiscent of the mythical birth of [[Rome]].  The true origin of the city, however, dates from the 12th century.  At that time, the forested, and presumably wolf-infested, territory of today’s La Louvière was named ''Menaulu'', from the [[Old French]] meaning “wolf’s lair”.  This land was part of the larger community of Saint-Vaast, which itself belonged to the [[Aulne Abbey]].

By 1284, the name of the territory had been translated into [[Latin]], then back into [[French language|French]] to its current name of La Louvière.  The lords of Saint-Vaast encouraged prospecting on their land, which led to the first extraction of coal in the year 1390.  The abbey’s refusal to provide necessary infrastructure, however, delayed large-scale development until the 18th century.

===Birth of La Louvière===
In the 19th century, the construction of roads, canals, and railways finally allowed the local coal production to be exported.  Investments also poured into the local industry to take advantage of the abundant source of energy.  La Louvière quickly surpassed its overlord Saint-Vaast, both in population and economic wealth.  Within fifty years, the territory that was not much more than a place name had become one of the most important cities in Wallonia.  La Louvière was recognized as an independent city in 1869.  Today, La Louvière is still the fifth largest city in Wallonia, after [[Charleroi]], [[Liège]], [[Namur]], and [[Mons, Belgium|Mons]].

==Sights==
[[Image:Houding1.jpg|thumb|right|Boat lift on the old Canal du Centre]]
[[Image:Bois-du-Luc CM3JPG.jpg|thumb|right|Workers' housing at Bois-du-Luc (1838-1853)]]
*There are four hydraulic boat [[lifts on the old Canal du Centre]], which connects the river [[Meuse]] to the [[Scheldt]]. These double elevators date from around 1900 and were designated by [[UNESCO]] as a [[World Heritage Site]] in 1998.
*The housing complex that was built for the [[Bois-du-Luc]] coal workers during the first half of the 19th century has been restored. This is part of the [[Major Mining Sites of Wallonia]], designated by [[UNESCO]] as a [[World Heritage Site]] in 2012. One of those houses can be visited, together with a couple of museums retracing the history of the coal mining industry in the ''Centre'' region.
*La Louvière counts a number of chapels and churches that date from the 13th to the 16th century.
*La Louvière also has one of the best collection of [[Idel Ianchelevici]]’s works on display.

==Climate==
La Louvière has an [[oceanic climate]] typical of Belgium with moderated seasons even for its inland position at 50° latitude, as a result of [[Gulf Stream]] influence.

{{Weather box
|width = auto
|location = La Louvière (1981–2010 normals, sunshine 1984–2013)
|collapsed = 
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|Jan record high C = 
|Feb record high C = 
|Mar record high C = 
|Apr record high C = 
|May record high C = 
|Jun record high C = 
|Jul record high C = 
|Aug record high C = 
|Sep record high C = 
|Oct record high C = 
|Nov record high C = 
|Dec record high C = 
|year record high C = 
|Jan high C = 5.5
|Feb high C = 6.5
|Mar high C = 10.2
|Apr high C = 14.0
|May high C = 18.1
|Jun high C = 20.7
|Jul high C = 23.2
|Aug high C = 22.9
|Sep high C = 19.2
|Oct high C = 14.8
|Nov high C = 9.5
|Dec high C = 6.0
|year high C = 14.2
|Jan mean C = 2.9
|Feb mean C = 3.3
|Mar mean C = 6.3
|Apr mean C = 9.1
|May mean C = 13.1
|Jun mean C = 15.8
|Jul mean C = 18.1
|Aug mean C = 17.7
|Sep mean C = 14.6
|Oct mean C = 10.9
|Nov mean C = 6.5
|Dec mean C = 3.5
|year mean C = 10.1
|Jan low C = 0.3
|Feb low C = 0.1
|Mar low C = 2.5
|Apr low C = 4.3
|May low C = 8.2
|Jun low C = 11.0
|Jul low C = 13.0
|Aug low C = 12.6
|Sep low C = 10.0
|Oct low C = 7.1
|Nov low C = 3.5
|Dec low C = 1.2
|year low C = 6.2
|Jan record low C = 
|Feb record low C = 
|Mar record low C = 
|Apr record low C = 
|May record low C = 
|Jun record low C = 
|Jul record low C = 
|Aug record low C = 
|Sep record low C = 
|Oct record low C = 
|Nov record low C = 
|Dec record low C = 
|year record low C = 
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 76.8
|Feb precipitation mm = 63.5
|Mar precipitation mm = 74.6
|Apr precipitation mm = 53.5
|May precipitation mm = 72.7
|Jun precipitation mm = 78.6
|Jul precipitation mm = 76.3
|Aug precipitation mm = 80.0
|Sep precipitation mm = 65.0
|Oct precipitation mm = 76.7
|Nov precipitation mm = 77.4
|Dec precipitation mm = 80.9
|year precipitation mm = 876.0
|Jan precipitation days = 13.2
|Feb precipitation days = 11.4
|Mar precipitation days = 13.4
|Apr precipitation days = 10.4
|May precipitation days = 11.9
|Jun precipitation days = 11.4
|Jul precipitation days = 10.5
|Aug precipitation days = 10.7
|Sep precipitation days = 10.9
|Oct precipitation days = 11.4
|Nov precipitation days = 13.4
|Dec precipitation days = 13.4
|year precipitation days = 142.1
|Jan sun = 53
|Feb sun = 73
|Mar sun = 118
|Apr sun = 169
|May sun = 200
|Jun sun = 194
|Jul sun = 212
|Aug sun = 202
|Sep sun = 145
|Oct sun = 115
|Nov sun = 64
|Dec sun = 44
|year sun = 1588
|source = [[Royal Meteorological Institute]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.meteo.be/resources/climateCity/pdf/climate_INS55022_LA_LOUVIERE_nl.pdf|title=Klimaatstatistieken van de Belgische gemeenten|publisher=[[Royal Meteorological Institute]]|language=nl|access-date=29 May 2018}}</ref>
}}

==Folklore==
The [[Carnival]] of La Louvière is called ''Laetare'', after the [[Latin]] verb meaning “to enjoy” (the introit at mass on the fourth Sunday of Lent begins ''Laetare Jerusalem'', ''Rejoice Jerusalem'').  It lasts three days, Sunday to Tuesday, and takes place in the middle of [[Lent]].  The [[Gilles]] are out on all three days, stomping to the rhythm of their music and distributing oranges to the passers-by.  Giant puppets and various other groups also take part in the parades and festivities.  Typical of La Louvière’s celebrations is the so-called ''Brûlage des Bosses'' (“burning of the humps”), where a puppet dressed as a Gilles is burnt to symbolize the end of carnival and beginning of a new life.

==Sports==
[[File:Stade communal de Tivoli.jpg|thumb|[[Stade du Tivoli]]]]
La Louvière used to have a top level [[football club]] in [[Belgian First Division]]: [[R.A.A. Louviéroise|RAA Louviéroise]].  They won the [[Belgian Cup]] in 2003. the club no longer exists as it merged into a team based in another city and its La Louvière playground is now the home of third division semi-amateur club [[UR La Louvière Centre]].

==Famous inhabitants==

*[[Maurice Baudoux]], (1902-1988), Canadian priest and Archbishop
*[[Anna Boch]], (1848-1936), impressionist painter and art collector 
[[File:Van Gogh - Portrait of Eugéne Boch.jpg|thumb|150px|Van Gogh - Portrait of Eugène Boch 1888]]
*[[Eugène Boch]], (1855-1941), impressionist painter, art collector, friend of [[Vincent van Gogh]] 
*[[Pol Bury]], sculptor (1922–2005)
*[[Jey Crisfar]], actor (born 1988)
*[[Clement Desalle]], Motocross racer (born 1989)
*[[Franco Dragone]], theatre director (born 1952)
* Yves Jean Fontaine, (born 1954) Major General (ret.), United States Army
*[[Maurice Grevisse]], [[Linguist|grammarian]] (1895–1980)
*[[Eden Hazard]], footballer (born 1991)
*[[Thorgan Hazard]], footballer (born 1993)
*[[Kylian Hazard]], footballer (born 1995)
*[[Jean Louvet (playwright)|Jean Louvet]], playwright (1934–2015)
*[[Enzo Scifo]], footballer (born 1966)
*[[Charline Vanhoenacker]], journalist (born 1977)

==Twin cities==
*{{FRA}}: [[Saint-Maur-des-Fossés]]
*{{ITA}}: [[Foligno]]
*{{ESP}}: [[Córdoba, Spain|Córdoba]]
*{{SVK}}: [[Bojnice]]
*{{POL}}: [[Kalisz]]<ref name="KaliszTwinning">''{{cite web |url=http://www.kalisz.pl/_portal/118951340446e688bcd9fee/Miasta_partnerskie.html |title=Kalisz Official Website - Twin Towns |access-date=2008-11-29 |publisher=[[File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg|14px]] [[File:Flag of Poland.svg|border|10px]] {{fontcolor|Green|(in [[English language|{{fontcolor|Green|English}}]] and [[Polish language|{{fontcolor|Green|Polish}}]]) |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110925020649/http://www.kalisz.pl/_portal/118951340446e688bcd9fee/Miasta_partnerskie.html |archive-date=2011-09-25 }} [[copyright|©]] 2005-2008 Urząd Miejski Kalisz |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110925020649/http://www.kalisz.pl/_portal/118951340446e688bcd9fee/Miasta_partnerskie.html |archive-date=2011-09-25 |url-status=dead }}''</ref>
*{{TUR}}: [[Giresun]]<ref>{{cite web|title=İki Yeni Kardeş Şehir|work=Municipality Council Meeting|publisher=Giresun Municipality|year=2016|url=http://arsiv.giresun.bel.tr/webs_haber_detay.aspx?hid=7235|access-date=1 July 2016|archive-date=8 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190108045809/http://arsiv.giresun.bel.tr/webs_haber_detay.aspx?hid=7235|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://www.lalouviere.be Official website of La Louvière], in [[French language|French]]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070118004059/http://www.regionducentre.net/ Site of the ''Centre'' region], in French
* [http://www.stahlseite.de/duf.htm Photographs of the Duferco steel mill]
* [https://www.laetare.be/ The carnival], in French, [[Dutch language|Dutch]], and [[English language|English]]

{{Geographic location
|Centre = La Louvière
|N  = [[Le Rœulx]]
|NE = [[Seneffe]]
|E  = [[Manage, Belgium|Manage]]<br/>[[Morlanwelz]]
|S  = [[Binche]]
|W  = [[Mons, Belgium|Mons]]
}}
{{Hainaut}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:La Louviere}}
[[Category:La Louvière| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Wallonia]]
[[Category:Municipalities of Hainaut (province)]]
[[Category:World Heritage Sites in Belgium]]