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{{redirect|Binch|people with the surname|Binch (surname)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{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
|region          = {{BE-WAL}}
|community       = {{BE-FR}}
|province        = {{BE-WHT}}
|arrondissement  = [[Arrondissement of La Louvière|La Louvière]]
|nis             = 58002
|pyramid-date=
|0-19=
|20–64=
|65=
|foreigners=
|foreigners-date =
|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, [[Lierneux|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 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 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, Margaret of York and 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==
*[[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]]