Between 1659 and 1815 Philippeville was an ultra-fortified enclave of France, completely encircled within the Holy Roman (and later Habsburg) Empire. At the eastern end of the main square, the tourist office organises fascinating 90-minute guided walks through sections of the fort’s subterranean passageways, the souterrains , of which more than 10km remains. Philippeville is easily accessed by train (€5.70, 45 minutes) or bus (€3.20, one hour) from Charleroi-Sud.
The walks start with a useful introductory video and culminate at little Chapelle des Remparts , a unique chapel fashioned from the citadel's former gunpowder store.
