Binche (French pronunciation: [bɛ̃ʃ] (listen); Walloon: Bince; Dutch: Bing) is a city and municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium.On 1 January 2006 Binche had a total population of 32,409. The total area is 60.66 km² which gives a population density of 534 inhabitants per km². 
Since 1977, the municipality consists of the following districts: Binche, Bray, Buvrinnes, Épinois, Leval-Trahegnies, Péronnes-lez-Binche, Ressaix, and Waudrez.
The motto of the city is "Plus Oultre" (meaning "Further beyond" in Old French), which was the motto of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, who in 1545 gave the medieval Castle of Binche to his sister, Queen Mary of Hungary. She lavished attention on Binche, which she had rebuilt into Binche Palace under the direction of an architect-sculptor Jacques du Broeucq, remembered today as the first master of Giambologna. The château, intended to rival Fontainebleau, was destroyed by the soldiers of Henry II of France in 1554.
In 2003, the Carnival of Binche was proclaimed one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. In addition, the Belfry and City Hall were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the Belfries of Belgium and France site, for its importance in civic functions, and architecture, and it testimony to the power and influence of the town.


The city is home to the Binche Easter Festival, which was proclaimed one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2005. The festival features a parade with extravagant costumes and floats, as well as music from a marching band.

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