Paul Mertens and his family can't get over it. During a cycling tour near Charleroi, Paul, his wife and their two children came face to face with the largest photography museum in Europe! An encounter that unsurprisingly and inevitably called for a halt. So they wandered through the approximately 6,000 square meters, 80,000 photos and 3 million negatives of the museum, tracing the history of photography up to more contemporary works. Besides its permanent collection, this renovated Neo-Gothic, former Carmelite convent regularly hosts temporary exhibitions and numerous exclusive international shows. Hallucinatory, isn't it?

To Christopher B. was obvious. Always been convinced that there indeed life elsewhere, he was a privileged witness to Charleroi. It was during his visit to the airport he learned that more than 4 million passengers had passed through there in 2009. The second National Airport already serves over 60 destinations across Europe and Africa! An airport that growing constantly welcomes new companies since the inauguration of its new terminal, which already employs no less than 700 people. The next extension of the runway for a real train station directly in connection with Brussels expected to further increase its positive economic impact on the entire region.

A phenomenon like no other! St?ane V., independent consultant, is still gaping. Just after visiting Ecoterres, a civil engineering company located at the A?pole science park in Charleroi, he gave us his reactions. "It's an awesome company that already employs 40 people. At the forefront of technology for reclaiming polluted sites and managing dredged material, it has achieved projects on a European level!" Indeed, a world leader in this field, Ecoterres know-how is recognised. As proof, it has beaten the world market to get the soil remediation contract for the future site of the London 2012 Olympics. The project will take two years. But once Ecoterres has finished, you can be sure everything will be clean.

rancis B. a well thought losing the north. That was yesterday, during his visit to the local society Tripy in Charleroi, he discovered not one but dozens of trunks containing navigation systems at the cutting edge of technology. In itself, nothing very surprising. Tripy SA is indeed a global leader in the development and distribution of navigation systems dedicated to motor sports. Systems based on three complementary aspects: the onboard GPS, the software RoadTracer Pro and the community for sharing rides on the site Tripy. The latest evolution of this system also will equip the 300 press vehicles, organization and support of Dakar 2010, 2011 and 2012 as well as other rallies around the world. Particularly powerful, it even made its grand entrance into the family of navigation systems for 2 and 4 wheel recreational. And after his electronic road book, Tripy preparing to release its second generation of a true revolutionary GPS landmark: Tripy II. Tripy is therefore on course and is not ready to lose.

What a discovery as that made by Rodrigo S. in local Viridaxis in Charleroi! Technician at center Herakles, Rodrigo worked for the first time in the chamber Viridaxis. The first of which he will long remember. Indeed, what was his surprise upon learning that the company develops, produces and sells tens of millions of insects each year, it distributes worldwide. These insects, real alternatives to toxic insecticides, can actively fight against aphids in crops closed. Using innovative solutions in biotechnology, the research team Viridaxis working every day to broaden the range of products in order 'solutions also open to the cultures. Insects which could well be gaining ground!

Brother Paul, Jacky Ickx, Emerson Fittipaldi and Niki Lauda still are some names of legendary riders who competed at the Circuit de Chimay. With its 83 year history, the Circuit de Chimay has greatly contributed to the identity and international reputation of our region. Today it still hosts some 45,000 visitors per year at major sporting events such as historic racing cars and motorcycles or various modern competitions.

More than 1 million visitors are scrambling to see in 2008! Nothing very surprising. The Lakes of Eau d'Heure is the biggest of all boating Belgium and offer their visitors no less than thirty different activities to do with family or friends. Rest and extreme sports meet here with pleasure. With over 70 km of shoreline, 600 acres of lakes and as many forests and grasslands, this unique natural and protected also plays a role in maintaining the technical level of the Sambre and is part of the largest producers of Electricity in the Region. It has just been awarded the European Blue Flag label, the only Wallonia! Comprised of 5 major lakes, this site is definitely a place of our essential tourist area!

Mr. Cedric was delivering pizzas in Charleroi. His region, he knows as his pocket. In addition to its regular customers, there is always some new addresses that do not know. As Biopark Charleroi, for example. There he was confronted with the unimaginable. Just entered, he discovered hundreds of researchers at the ULB and its spin-offs, handling specimens. In the heart of the Aeropole, these researchers help define tomorrows medicine. They particularly seek to better understand diseases such as AIDS, cancer, allergies, Lyme disease or diseases of the nervous system or immune system disorders. Each year, these researchers are working to discover and develop new drugs, new vaccines or tools of biotechnology. "It's crazy!" Cedric told us.

It was necessary to gain a bit of altitude to verify the testimony of Jonathan L. of Birmingham. Aboard the plane that took him to Charleroi, he saw through the window the surprising presence of not one, not two, but no less than 160 companies grouped near Charleroi Airport. A veritable "silicon valley", A?pole is one of Wallonia's major economic centres, employing nearly 4,000 full-time workers. It includes companies specialising in life sciences, information technology and communication. Steadily growing, A?pole also has training centres and universities related to the specific needs of established businesses. Good signs for sure.

Baudouin B., office supplies salesman, will long remember this day. An ordinary flat tyre forced him to stop on the roadside near Thuin. A few glasses of beer later, Baudouin recovered and looked up with astonishment at the Hanging Gardens of Thuin, a unique sight of which Baudouin was unaware. A registered landmark since 1976, the Hanging Gardens of Thuin consist of more than 200 terraces overlooking the valley of Biesmelle. A vision from another time with a vertical drop of 60 metres, the site boasts an ideal exposure for growing fruits, vegetables and medicinal and aromatic plants of the Mediterranean. Since 2001, several terraces have been planted with vines that in 2004 gave birth to the first vintage of Clos des Zouaves.

razy about aviation since childhood, Frank P. was captivated by discovering the activities of CENAERO, the Centre of Excellence in Aeronautical Research. Founded in 2002 in Charleroi, the company focuses on aeronautics, space, transportation and energy. Consisting of around fifty engineers and PhDs specialising in software and virtual manufacturing, the centre is contributing to the success of companies such as Airbus, Snecma, Techspace Aero, Renault and many others. In 2009, it was even awarded the European Regiostars award for the most innovative European regional project. For CENAERO, the take-off has been very successful!

Paul S. works at Ecoplast Technology and thought he'd seen everything. It must be admitted that over 23 years the company has become one of the economic jewels of the Charleroi region. Inventor of the Ecoplast system and world leader in the design and manufacture of special equipment for automobiles, the company continues to grow. In 2008 it had its best year ever! But the other day, while getting ready to head home, Paul's boss told him that the company had won a contract with China to produce all the mannequins for every Decathlon shop window worldwide. A divine deal to be sure!