Palais metro station

Beaux-Arts (Fine arts) is the largest station in the Charleroi Metro network, located in Charleroi downtown, in fare zone 1. Because of its situation on a slope, the station terminates on a viaduct at one end (toward Ouest and Piges), and in a tunnel at the other end (toward Waterloo).

Beaux-Arts
General information
Coordinates	50°24′53″N 4°26′35″E
Platforms	1 central, 1 lateral
Tracks	4
Construction
Platform levels	2
Parking	Yes
History
Opened	24 May 1983
Services
Preceding station Charleroi Metro Following station Piges towards Monument M1 Waterloo One-way operation M2 Waterloo towards Sud Ouest One-way operation Piges towards Faubourg de Bruxelles M3 Waterloo towards Sud Ouest One-way operation Waterloo One-way operation M4 Ouest towards Soleilmont

The station has two street entrances leading to a mezzanine level where ticket counters and shops are located. Platforms are accessible from the mezzanine through escalators and stairs.

The station has one lateral platform that used to serve former lines 88 and 89 to Anderlues, and one central platform that currently serves all lines. A third platform, not accessible to passengers, is used to exhibit old Charleroi trams.

One particularity of the station is a reversing loop for light rail vehicles entering the station from the west (from Piges or Ouest). It is used by lines M2 and M3, leaving the central loop on their way to Anderlues and Gosseiles, respectively, to enter and leave the station from the same side, thus needing to execute a U-turn. To do so, vehicles first pass through the station on a track not linked to any platform, then enter a loop shaped tunnel to end up in the station again, but from the other side.

The name of the station comes from the nearby Palais des Beaux-Arts (Fine arts palace), a music/theatre venue.