Binche

Binche is a city and municipality of Wallonia in the Hainaut province of Belgium, with a 2021 population of about 33,416 across 61.22 square kilometers. It was formally founded in the twelfth century by Yolande of Gelders and reached its economic peak under Spanish rule, when Mary of Hungary, governess of the Netherlands, built a palace there meant to rival Fontainebleau, a palace destroyed by the soldiers of Henry II of France in 1554. Binche Belfry and City Hall are part of the Belfries of Belgium and France UNESCO World Heritage listing, and its Carnival, featuring costumed performers called Gilles who throw oranges into the crowd, was proclaimed one of UNESCO Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2003.