Binche
Binche, the old city and its surrounding wall
Location of Binche in Hainaut
Binche Location in Belgium
Sovereign state	Belgium
Region	Wallonia
Community	French Community
Province	Hainaut
Arrondissement	Thuin
Coordinates	50°24′0″N 04°10′0″E / 50.4°N 4.166667°E / 50.4; 4.166667Coordinates: 50°24′0″N 04°10′0″E / 50.4°N 4.166667°E / 50.4; 4.166667
Area	60.66 km²
Population – Males – Females – Density	32,749 (1 January 2010) 47.64% 52.36% 540 inhab./km²
Unemployment rate	22.14% (1 January 2006)
Mean annual income	€11,065/pers. (2003)
Mayor	Laurent Devin (PS)
Governing party/ies	PS, MR, independent
Postal codes	7130, 7131, 7133, 7134
Area codes	064
Website	www.binche.be

Binche is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut. On January 1, 2006 Binche had a total population of 32,409. The total area is 60.66 km² which gives a population density of 534 inhabitants per km². Since 1977, the municipality of Binche has gathered the town of Binche itself with seven old municipalities : Bray, Buvrinnes, Epinois, Leval-Trahegnies, Péronnes-lez-Binche, Ressaix et Waudrez.

In 2003, the Carnival of Binche was proclaimed one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.

The motto of the city is "Plus Oultre" (meaning "Further" in Old French), which was the motto of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, who in 1545 gave the medieval castle of Binche to his sister, Queen Mary of Hungary, Governess of the Netherlands. She lavished attention on Binche, which she had rebuilt under the direction of an architect-sculptor Jacques du Broeucq, remembered today as the first master of Giambologna. The château, intended to rival Fontainebleau, was destroyed by the soldiers of Henry II of France in 1554.

Plus Oultre, the city motto, here as part of the carnival fireworks set-up, with Collegiale St Ursmer in background

Queen Mary of Hungary receiving her brother, Emperor Charles V, at her castle in Binche.

See also

• Carnival of Binche

Notes

External links (in French)

• Official site of the city of Binche
• Union binchoise des Étudiants de Louvain
• Patrimoine du musée International
• Rugbyclub de Binche
• La Binchoise, Belgian Brewery, Binche

Municipalities in the Province of Hainaut, Wallonia, Belgium Ath Ath · Belœil · Bernissart · Brugelette · Chièvres · Ellezelles · Flobecq · Frasnes-lez-Anvaing Charleroi Aiseau-Presles · Chapelle-lez-Herlaimont · Charleroi · Châtelet · Courcelles · Farciennes · Fleurus · Fontaine-l'Évêque · Gerpinnes · Les Bons Villers · Manage · Montigny-le-Tilleul · Pont-à-Celles · Seneffe Mons Boussu · Colfontaine · Dour · Frameries · Hensies · Honnelles · Jurbise · Lens · Mons · Quaregnon · Quévy · Quiévrain · Saint-Ghislain Mouscron Comines-Warneton · Mouscron Soignies Braine-le-Comte · Écaussinnes · Enghien · La Louvière · Le Rœulx · Lessines · Silly · Soignies Thuin Anderlues · Beaumont · Binche · Chimay · Erquelinnes · Estinnes · Froidchapelle · Ham-sur-Heure-Nalinnes · Lobbes · Merbes-le-Château · Momignies · Morlanwelz · Sivry-Rance · Thuin Tournai Antoing · Brunehaut · Celles · Estaimpuis · Leuze-en-Hainaut · Mont-de-l'Enclus · Pecq · Péruwelz · Rumes · Tournai