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Châtelet, Belgium

Châtelet
Municipality
Châtelet-Valònia.JPG
Coat of arms of Châtelet
Coat of arms
Châtelet is located in Belgium
Châtelet
Châtelet
Location in Belgium
Coordinates: 50°24′N 04°31′E / 50.400°N 4.517°E / 50.400; 4.517Coordinates: 50°24′N 04°31′E / 50.400°N 4.517°E / 50.400; 4.517
Country Belgium
Community French Community
Region Wallonia
Province Hainaut
Arrondissement Charleroi
Government
 • Mayor Daniel Vanderlick
 • Governing party/ies PS
Area
 • Total 27.03 km2 (10.44 sq mi)
Population (1 January 2016)
 • Total 36,463
 • Density 1,300/km2 (3,500/sq mi)
Postal codes 6200
Area codes 071
Website www.chatelet.be

Châtelet (Walloon: Tcheslet) is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut, on the river Sambre. As of January 1, 2006, Châtelet had a total population of 35,621. The total area of the municipality is 27.03 km² which gives a population density of 1,318 inhabitants per km². It is composed of three separate entities: Châtelet, Bouffioulx and Châtelineau. Châtelet was a long established independent city prior to its fusion with the other entities.

The first settlers of the site of Châtelet, dating from paleolithic times, were attracted by the ford on the river, the nearby wooded areas and flint-rich highlands. This region was continuously populated, first by Celtic, then Gallo-Roman peoples, until the Germanic invasions of the 4th and 5th century. In the 9th century, the land was likely part of emperor Louis the Pious’s estate. The first occurrence of the name Châtelet appears in a text dating from the time when its territory was given to the chapter of the Liège cathedral in the 12th century. Châtelet obtained its charter of rights in 1220, symbolized by the perron. The protection later afforded by the Prince-Bishopric of Liège made the city into an important administrative, cultural, and economic centre, which could boast four annual trade fairs and a weekly cattle market. It became one of the 23 bonne villes (main cities) of the prince-bishopric in 1655. While Châtelet’s economy was dominated by artisanal guilds and trade, that of its neighbours, including Châtelineau and Bouffioulx, remained mostly agricultural.

The 18th century first witnessed the gradual shift of the regional economic power from Châtelet to the newly founded neighbouring city of Charleroi. This was also a time of political instability as the various powers of the day (Spain, France, Austria) fought for supremacy in this region. By the end of the century, the main economic drivers of the whole Sambre valley had become coal and heavy industry. The prosperity that came with the industrial revolution accounts for much of the population growth of the 1800s: Châtelet grew by a factor 5 in less than a century; Châtelineau grew by a factor 20 between 1811 and 1950 to more than 18,000 inhabitants. Many of the current city streets can be dated from that period. Cultural activities and artistic talent flourished as well.


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