The
Sillon industriel (
French for "industrial valley") is the former industrial backbone of
Belgium. It runs across Wallonia, passing from
Dour, the region of
Borinage, in the west, to
Verviers in the east, passing along the way through
Mons,
La Louvière,
Charleroi,
Namur,
Huy, and
Liège. It follows a continuous stretch of valleys of the rivers
Haine,
Sambre,
Meuse and
Vesdre, and has an area of roughly 1000 km².