Stroll along the Old Charleroi-Brussels Canal

Introduction:

This itinerary passes through various points of interest relating to the previous topics, the geomorphology of the region, the evolution of land use, particularly the history of the old Charleroi-Brussels canal. Here we will discuss the relationships between the human and physical elements of the landscape through 3 transects of 4 km each, with a vertical exaggeration 16 times greater than reality. Two of these three transects cross this itinerary and the other can be observed through the route passing through the Houssière wood. That’s why it is necessary to walk all the paths after reading them to gain an on-site understanding of these relationships. This itinerary will conclude with a brief summary of all the themes addressed by the 3 walks.

The geographical situation of the 3 transects (see fig.31):

The first transect is located in the middle of the map (see fig. 32), starting in the West at the Combreuil estate and going East to lock No. 24 of the old canal while passing by the inclined plane. On this transect, we observe a large majority of plateaus with fields (agricultural land). There is also a significant presence of meadows on the slopes of the valleys. For hydrographic physical elements, we notice that the Sennette forms a V-shaped valley. There is another small one at the level of the stream of the wood of Horrues. The Samme is located next to the old canal, 10m lower than it. The new Charleroi-Brussels canal of the inclined plane does not have a natural valley because it was artificially constructed by Man (more explanations on the point of interest of the inclined plane with its historical context). The old Combreuil mill at the edge of the Sennette has been rehabilitated into housing. There are few houses along this transect except for a few in the valley of the Sennette at the Combreuil estate, which may be explained by the presence of Ypresian clayey sand plateaus, which are particularly fertile for agriculture, and the presence of the immense structure that is the inclined plane. A Ravel runs alongside the Sennette, which was once line 116 of the Ecaussinnes – Lembeek railway. The elevation seems significant but is not that much in the end as the vertical exaggeration is still 16 times.

The second transect (see fig. 33) passes through the Bois des Rocs and is located just next to Fauquez, running along Arthur Brancart Street. This street consists of numerous workers' houses dating back to 1920. In the depths of valleys between the Sennette and the large canal were the large glassworks of Fauquez, but now on the transect, only one industrial building remains that sells construction safety equipment. On the East slope, we find numerous meadows, medium-sized farms, and a few country houses. Further East, we come across a large agricultural area that is a large plateau of Brussels sand and very suitable for fields.

The last transect that is crossed by the itinerary of the Bois de la Houssière (see fig. 34) is located to the North of Ecaussinnes and passes by the Trou Barette until it reaches the hill of the Bois de la Houssière, just behind the iron man. It passes through an old sand pit, that of Vertbois. The Trou Barette is an old quarry, thus an artificial depression, which explains its very steep slopes. Ecaussinnes is a small town that has many quarries surrounded by plateaus with numerous agricultural lands and some poplar plantations. To the north of this cut, the beginning of the Bois de la Houssière is located on a hill of Brussels sand at an altitude of 150 to 190m. This wood has some old sand pits that were very useful during the industrial revolution in the region.

Conclusion:

The landscapes of the Braine-le-Comte region have been greatly impacted by Man and have changed over time. There are still remnants of the past that testify to these changes in the organization of the urban and human environment according to the physical elements that surround them. Among these remnants, we can mention the old canal, the glassworks of Fauquez, the old railway passing through the valley of the Sennette, the numerous old quarries to the south of the board, or the sand pits of the Bois de la Houssière. Man was once constrained by nature, and then came technological progress that allowed him to shape nature to reap the best benefits, such as the creation of the new Charleroi-Brussels canal and its inclined plane. The industrial revolution has strongly marked the landscape, which is no longer at all the same as it once was. This splendid landscape of Middle Belgium, with its valleys and waterways gives rise to unique places like the old quarries marked by the geological history of Belgium. Thanks to the Sennette basin, we find geological diversity among the silt that covers most of this land. In conclusion, the Braine-le-Comte - Feluy region deserves its "quality landscape" label due to its geological and historical richness, featuring magnificent castles, its hilly and atypical landscapes modified by its industries, canals, and infrastructures that are found nowhere else.

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