Le Grand-Hornu

Le Grand-Hornu is a former coalmine and is considered to be the jewel in the crown of Belgium’s industrial heritage. Nowadays, the building is dedicated to design and the applied arts and houses a museum of contemporary art.

The buildings of the former mine are impressive due to their size and their coherence. A monumental Neoclassical complex built in the 19th century, the Grand-Hornu houses one of the oldest workers’ communities in the world. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it introduces visitors to its founding father, Henri De Gorge, a captain of industry and a real visionary. Back in 1810, in the small town of Hornu, this man came up with the idea of a perfect city where workers could enjoy a living standard that was unheard of at that time. He supervised the building of a village with 450 spacious homes with hot water and a garden. After this, a school, a library, a dance hall, shops and a dispensary were built.

The entry ticket for Le Grand-Hornu enables you to visit the MACS, the CID (Centre for Innovation and Design) and the historic site, a witness to the region’s mining past. For more information, visit their website.