Carnaval de Binche

A bizarre combination of men dressed in green throwing oranges at passers by... surely one not to be missed!!

https://en.carnavaldebinche.be/

On Shrove Tuesday each year, go near the Binche town hall at your peril, for you are likely to get drawn into perhaps the world's most bizarre carnival tradition! This is the culmination of three days of pre-carnival events from Shrove Sunday, Shrove Monday and then the big events on Shrove Tuesday. Local men dress up in the greatest of secrecy in the morning and then reveal their colourful costumes to onlookers when they arrive with an array of strange, fantasy costumes and green-eyed masks and dance. Younger men and boys carry baskets of oranges with them which are then used to hurl into the watching crowds. Although this can be painful (and be aware that retaliation is not permitted by tradition!) it is all part of the process of blessing the forthcoming years' summer season, a celebration thought to date back many centuries.

Due to the popularity of the event, the town tourist office sets up in the central theatre for the duration, to help answer any questions you may have and arrange tickets and accommodation.

Map and hotels near Carnaval de Binche

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Getting to Carnaval de Binche by train

Binche train station is just over an hour from Bruxelles Midi and can be reached by direct connection. Once at the station, which lies just to the east of the town centre, it is just a couple of hundred metres to the Carnival site, so very easily accessible.

Nearest Train Stations to Carnaval de Binche

Binche	0.5 km
Leval	3.9 km
La Louvière Sud	6.4 km

Visitor information table

City	Binche
Country	Belgium
Address	Town Hall, Rue Saint Paul, Binche, Belgium
Telephone	+32 (0) 64 31 15 80
Dates	February
Website	http://www.carnavaldebinche.be

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