Binche Attractions

Situated between Charleroi and Mons not far from the French border, Binche takes great pride in being the only town in Belgium - and indeed in the Netherlands - to retain intact a substantial proportion of its medieval ramparts including 27 towers. Now serving primarily as the market town for the surrounding region, little remains of Binche's once quite considerable textile industry apart from the manufacture of carnival costumes.

Throughout its long history those who have held the fate of Binche in their hands have frequently been women - Joanna of Constantinople, Margaret of York, and especially Mary of Hungary under whom the town enjoyed its heyday.