The Bois-du-Luc was a

coal mine Coal mining is the process of extracting coal from the ground. Coal is valued for its energy content and since the 1880s has been widely used to generate electricity. Steel and cement industries use coal as a fuel for extraction of iron from ...

in Houdeng-Aimeries, near La Louvière, in

Belgium Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...

which today is preserved as an industrial heritage site. As well as the site of the headquarters of the ''Société des Charbonnages de Bois-du-Luc et d'Havre'', the Bois du Luc was the site of the Saint Emmanuel Pit (''Fosse Saint-Emmanuel'') which belonged to the company. The ''Fosse Saint-Emmanuel'' was one of the oldest mines in Belgium, with recorded activity dating back to 1685. The company ceased mining in 1973. The Bois-du-Luc is particularly known for the surrounding company town (''cité ouvrière'') which was created for the mine works during the 19th century and is today one of the most notable surviving remnants of industrial paternalism in Belgium. It includes workers' housing which dates from the 1830s and covers approximately . The site, run as an

ecomuseum An ecomuseum is a museum focused on the identity of a place, largely based on local participation and aiming to enhance the welfare and development of local community, local communities. Ecomuseums originated in France, the concept being develope ...

since 1983, features on the

European Route of Industrial Heritage The European Route of Industrial Heritage (ERIH) is a tourist route of the most important industrial heritage sites in Europe. This is a tourism industry information initiative to present a network of industrial heritage sites across Europe. The ...

and is one of the four Walloon mining sites listed by

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...

as a

World Heritage Site A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for h ...

under the Major Mining Sites of Wallonia listing.

* Charles-Albert de Behault, ''Les Charbonnages de Bois-du-Luc, une histoire de familles'', Bulletin de l'Association de la Noblesse du Royaume de Belgique, avril 2022, n° 310, pp. 78-103. * Joseph Plumet, ''Une société minière sous l’Ancien Régime, la « Société du Grand Conduit et du Charbonnage d’Houdeng » 1685 –1800'', Imprim. J. Duculot, Gembloux, 1941; 145 pages. * Victor Delattre et Joseph Plumet, ''Les Charbonnages du Bois-du-Luc et d’Havré'', notices historiques, 1935, 181 pages. * Ouvrage collectif, ''Bois-du-Luc 1685-1985'', Écomusée régional du Centre, 1985, 182 pages. * Jules Monoyer, ''Mémoire sur l’origine et le développement de l’industrie houillère dans le Bassin du Centre'', Mons, 1874. * ''Bois-du-Luc, un écrin majestueux où la vie des mineurs se raconte'', Guide - Ecomusée régional du Centre, 2004, 98 p. * Jacques Liébin et Evelyne Masure-Hannecart, ''Bois-du-Luc : un site charbonnier du XIXe siècle'', éd. Pierre Mardaga, coll. "Musées vivants de Wallonie et de Bruxelles", 1987.

Images

Bois-du-Luc CM JPG.jpg, Gates to the ''Fosse Saint Emmanuel'' Bois-du-Luc workers' housing (DSCF7864).jpg, Workers' housing Bois-du-Luc CM0JPG.jpg, Director's house Bois-du-Luc CM7JPG.jpg, Church of

Saint Barbara Saint Barbara ( grc, Ἁγία Βαρβάρα; cop, Ϯⲁⲅⲓⲁ Ⲃⲁⲣⲃⲁⲣⲁ; ; ), known in the Eastern Orthodox Church as the Great Martyr Barbara, was an early Christian Lebanese and Greek saint and martyr. Accounts place her in t ...

Bois-du-Luc foundry (DSCF7869).jpg, Foundry

External links

Official website

at 365.be {{Authority control European Route of Industrial Heritage Anchor Points Mining museums Industry museums in Belgium Museums in Hainaut (province) La Louvière Coal mines in Belgium

Further reading

Images

External links