Car Free Style - From Tournai to Mouscron

In the centre of Tournai, 800 yards from the cathedral, a mansion of the 1920’s proposes a number of themed rooms. gitesdewallonie.be/en/maison-tahereh

www.patisseriequenoy.be/specialites

walloniebelgiquetourisme.be/fr-be/3/ou-aller/villes-dart/tournai/incontournables

villatournesol.wordpress.com/blog/

www.bed-breakfast-tournai.be/

This 18th century house in the centre of Tournai guarantees a relaxed atmosphere and a personalised welcome. Annual closure between Christmas and New Year. walloniabelgiumtourism.co.uk/en-gb/content/hotel-dalcantara

The Biérodrome, located along the Escaut, is fully dedicated to craft beer: the perfect place to satisfy your curiosity about the brewing world... and your tastebuds, of course.

Love adventure and reconnecting with nature? Ecopark Adventures Tournai, with its 2 separate parks, guarantees thrilling memories...

The current Museum of Fine Arts was born from the genius of Art Nouveau architecture, Victor Horta.

"The current Museum of Fine Arts was born from the genius of Art Nouveau architecture, Victor Horta.

The historic town of Tournai is home to TAMAT, the Centre for Tapestry, Wall Arts and Textile Arts of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation. walloniabelgiumtourism.co.uk/en-gb/content/tamat-contemporary-centre-textile-arts

Tournai is best seen from its 15th century belfry, listed by UNESCO. Built on the site of the 1218 original after it burnt down, it is the oldest in Wallonia's seven belfries and the only one with outdoor viewing platforms.

Listed by UNESCO for its 5 bell towers, its nave and transept of Romanesque style, Notre-Dame Cathedral is a gem of medieval architecture. Its rather large nave counts 4 horizontal levels along 8 spans. The columns are topped with capitals often decorated with botanical details and are all different: a hundred different pieces in total, quite unique in Belgium! walloniabelgiumtourism.co.uk/en-gb/content/notre-dame-de-tournai-cathedral-listed-unesco

Looking for an eco-friendly place to stay at the very heart of Tournai? Try the city's Youth Hostel. walloniabelgiumtourism.co.uk/en-gb/3/accommodation/eco-labelled-accommodation/auberge-de-jeunesse-de-tournai-/10780

Listed by UNESCO for its 5 bell towers, its nave and transept of Romanesque style, Notre-Dame Cathedral is a gem of medieval architecture. Its rather large nave counts 4 horizontal levels along 8 spans. The columns are topped with capitals often decorated with botanical details and are all different: a hundred different pieces in total, quite unique in Belgium!

Founded in 1828 under Dutch rule, this museum was the first in the country to become accessible to the general public. Its curiosity cabinet, its spectacular items on display, such as the Aldabra giant tortoise, the Asian lion and the Komodo dragon, and its live animals impress both young and old… This rich collection comes from all over the world. Dioramas reproduce the natural environment of certain animals. The vivarium houses some hundred species of reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates, some of which are threatened with extinction.In 1839 the museum moved to the old brewery of the Saint-Martin abbey and acquired the first elephant to be on display in Belgium. This building in neoclassical style, designed by the Tournai architect Bruno Renard to house zoological collections, has been meticulously preserved and is worth a visit for its architecture alone. In 2012 the Museum of natural history and Vivarium was classified as a category B museum.

The Centre de la Tapisserie, des Arts Muraux et des Arts du Tissu (Centre for Tapestry, Mural Arts and Textile Arts) is one of the five contemporary centres established by the Wallonia-Brussels Federation in the field of textile art. The fact that it is established in Tournai is not insignificant, as the “capital” of Wallonie picarde was one of the country’s main centres of tapestry production in the 15th and 16th centuries. The TAMAT is housed in a beautiful mansion in neo-classicist style, the Museum of Tapestry of the City of Tournai.The collections of the TAMAT are an accurate reflection of the diversity of textile art. More than 250 items from 6 centuries of textile production are exhibited, from old 15th-century tapestries – remarkable heritage of the City of Tournai - over items from the post-war movement “Forces Murales” to contemporary works.The TAMAT also houses research workshops. Every year scholarship holders come here to work in total artistic freedom. A documentation and study centre welcomes researchers, students, teachers and the general public within the context of historical or biographical studies. Moreover, a conservation and restoration workshop, open to the public, enables visitors to gain an insight into the painstakingly slow and meticulous work done by the restorers, who will gladly answer any and all questions.

Situated at 50 metres from the Grand-Place square in an authentic 17th-century building, this museum evokes daily life in Tournai during the first half of the 19th century. Rich and varied collections are exhibited in 23 rooms (1100 m²) in the form of reconstructions (pharmacy, chapel, forge, inn, kitchen, classroom), scenes with dummies and showcases full of implements and artefacts. Be sure not to miss the “jeu de fer” (a game typically played in Tournai) in the old inn and the large relief map of the city under the reign of Louis XIV (1701). Old paintings or posters on the walls of the different rooms recreate the atmosphere of bygone times. The themes of the museum include old crafts, printing, porcelain, nobility, religion, the military, domestic tools, carnival, puppets, giants, medicine, pharmacy, education, fashion, associations, music, art and scale models of the old city.

The "Nid Cosy" is a "city cottage" airconditioned in the historic center of Tournai, at the third floor of a old no lift building, with a magnificent sight of Tournai. This appreciated apartment for 2 people is entirely renovated, comfortable , with all the facilities for an enjoyable stay in Tournai. The cottage is équiped with: . bathroom with shower, bedroom with double bed (sheets provided), kitchen, dining area, sitting area: cableTV, DVD player and WIFI.

A few paces from the Grand-Place, the MHM appeals to a focus on the long history of Tournai, its fortifications, the numerous sieges of the city, by Edward III, Henry VIII, CHarles-Quint, Louis XIV, the duke of Malborough, Louis XV, and the famous battle of Fontenoy. It's important collection of weapons, uniforms and equipment also illustrates the revolutionary and imperial period, the Belgian regiments quartered in Tournai and the events of WW1 and WW2.

Before visiting the Notre-Dame cathedral of Tournai, the Tourist Office invites you to watch the film “De la pierre au ciel”. In this 20-minute film Frédéric Gersal, history and heritage commentator of the show Télématin on the French TV channel France 2, describes in broad outlines the full history of the UNESCO cathedral, from its inception to its current form. He presents a building that is unique in Europe in terms of design, size and architecture. As the cathedral is currently undergoing major renovation works, the filmmakers were able to climb the scaffolds to capture parts of the building that are normally hidden from view. The aerial views of this gem or medieval architecture and the 3D-technology used for the editing of the film perfectly complement your visit to the accessible part of the cathedral. Plunge into the "Passage of Time": this multimedia show, screened at the Tourist Office, retraces 2,000 years of the history of Tournai in 20 minutes. During this moving voyage, you will discover the illustrious figures who have marked the City of Five Bell Towers (Cité des Cinq Clochers) for eternity, from Gallo-Roman times to current day. You can then head off to discover the town’s historic quarters… Both films are available in French, Dutch and English

Located in the historical centre of the Town of Tournai, Hôtel Peeters houses an atypical museum which is devoted to puppetry arts in all their forms. The Puppet Centre will take you on a voyage of discovery, during which the Centre's hidden treasures will be revealed to you – treasures from the four corners of the earth. This trip around the world will thus take you in the footsteps of the most popular figures in European puppet theatre, known by the young and the not-so-young alike, but also in the footsteps of the typical characters and techniques found in the puppetry traditions of various African and Asian countries. Apart from the heritage items stored in the museum, the Puppet Centre offering for visitors also consists not only of various temporary exhibitions, educational events (upon request), creative workshops, but also many shows, training sessions and courses for children and adults. NEW! An unaccompanied tour for families entitled "Jack s'est fait la malle" – the puppet called Jack has disappeared! The only evidence of where he has been are the selfies that he has hidden, here and there, in the museum's rooms. We need you to help him to get back to his designated place amongst the other puppets! During your investigation, you will have to solve riddles, experiment with various puppet handling techniques, observe the puppets in detail, imitate their expressions, touch the material they are made of, and so forth. Available every day the museum is open. We prefer that you book in advance (by calling us on +32 (0)69 889 140 or by emailing us at maisondelamarionnette@skynet.be).

Tirant son nom de sa toiture tardive en tuiles rouges, le Fort Rouge n’est autre qu’une tour d’angle de la première enceinte communale de Tournai (XIIe- XIIIe siècles) et, à ce titre, un des témoins de la transition militaire opérée, à cette époque, entre plan quadrangulaire et circulaire. Cette modification structurelle est également visible à la tour du Cygne (rue du Cygne). Probablement détruit en 1213, le Fort Rouge est reconstruit en des dimensions plus imposantes permettant de mieux défendre cette portion anguleuse du rempart. Le fort est depuis constitué de quatre niveaux sous une toiture presque conique. Le dernier de ces niveaux dispose de consoles triangulaires qui soutenaient à l’origine des mantelets, volets en bois occultant les créneaux. Suite à la construction de la seconde enceinte communale (XIIIe-XIVe siècles), le fort perd sa fonction militaire. Son fossé (dit Kinsoen) est comblé et la tour est englobée dans la propriété du comte Dumortier. L’habitation de ce dernier étant ornée de médaillons figurant les Césars, l’îlot prend alors le nom d’îlot des Douze Césars. Le Fort Rouge a fait l’objet d’une rénovation et d’une mise en valeur laissant apparentes les traces du plan originel de la tour. Classé comme monument le 27 septembre 1972

Oserez-vous descendre la tyrolienne de 306m, la plus longue de Belgique ? Sur le site de la Carrière de l’Orient, vous pourrez ensuite profiter de la piscine ou encore faire des balades en pédalos sur le lac... L’Ecopark Adventures est l’endroit idéal pour passer une journée en famille ou entre amis. Faites le plein de sensations fortes et partez à la découverte de la nature !

A haven of peace at a stone’s throw from the city centre. This recreational site of biological interest offers a whole range of activities for the entire family: indoor and outdoor swimming pool featuring 4 slides, cafeteria with outdoor area, pedal boats, barbecue areas, play area (sand box, rope apparatuses, slides,…), tree climbing, fishing ponds and a walking trail around a vast lake. The perfect place to spend an agreeable day with family or friends. The nearby camp site "le Camping de l’Orient" consists of 50 pitches.

Do you have the courage to come down the 306m zip-line, the longest in Belgium at the site of the Carrière de l'Orient? Afterwards you can take a plunge in the swimming pool or make a tour of the lake by pedal boat... Ecopark Adventures is the ideal place to spend a relaxing day with family or friends. Look for adventure and discover nature!

Great campsite (20 ha), 4 km from the city centre with a manmade lake, cafeteria, games, barbecue, pedal boats and swimming pool with waterslide.

Aqua Tournai offers a whole range of possibilities for a relaxing day : indoor and outdoor pool with 4 slides, a cafeteria with outdoor terrace, pedal boats, a barbecue island, a play area for children and "tree climbing"! This is the ideal place to spend time with your family, by the lake and in a nature reserve accessible via walking trails.

The Mont Saint-Aubert is also called Mont de la Trinité because of the pilgrimages of the same name that first occurred in the 14th century. Seen from the motorway this isolated hill is like a lighthouse rising from the sea. A narrow winding road lined with magnificent houses takes you to the top. But don't be mistaken: even though Mont Saint-Aubert is mainly known as a recreation site, agriculture is still very much present here. Playgrounds, restaurants and bars enliven the top of the hill, but the walking trails take you to the heart of nature and offer magnificent views of the surrounding area.

A pleasant, peaceful camping site: walloniabelgiumtourism.co.uk/en-gb/content/chateau-du-biez-camping-site

The Alizé Mouscron hotel and aparthotel, ideally located near the town centre, is part of the We Care network. walloniabelgiumtourism.co.uk/en-gb/3/accommodation/eco-labelled-accommodation/best-western-plus-hotel-alize-/13604

Le Centre Marcel Marlier, dessine-moi Martine est un lieu consacré au talent et à l'univers de l'illustrateur mouscronnois. Installé dans les dépendances du Château des Comtes, le Centre d'interprétation rend hommage à un homme perfectionniste et passionné de nature en dévoilant son sens de l'observation unique et sa capacité à exprimer les sentiments. Le complexe met, bien sûr, l'accent sur la collection Martine qui a rendu le dessinateur célèbre dans le monde entier en devenant un véritable phénomène éditorial. Le Centre Marcel Marlier, dessine-moi Martine se veut participatif. Au fil du parcours, les visiteurs joueront, manipuleront des objets ou utiliseront les nouvelles technologies. Une grande place est accordée au numérique, à l'audiovisuel et au multimédia.Le parcours du Centre Marcel Marlier, dessine-moi Martine a, avant tout, été conçu pour plaire aux enfants mais il va sans dire que les adultes nostalgiques apprécieront ce retour en enfance! Le Centre se partage sur deux étages. La visite commence au rez-de-chaussée par une présentation de la vie et de l'œuvre du dessinateur. Différentes vidéos révèlent la méthode de dessin et la technique de l'artiste. Les visiteurs à la recherche d’authenticité découvriront différents croquis et esquisses de Marcel Marlier. À l'étage, les albums de Martine sont revisités à travers des thèmes chers à l'illustrateur: la nature, les animaux, les activités domestiques ou les loisirs. Le parcours se termine par un petit salon de lecture et une bibliothèque.

Vaste écrin de verdure situé au cœur d'Estaimbourg, le parc de Bourgogne représente une offre unique (et gratuite !) dans la région pour divertir petits et grands. Avec son étang, son arboretum, ses enclos animaliers, son aire de jeux, ses terrains de pétanque, son labyrinthe, son mini-golf, sa cafétéria, son kiosque à musique, le domaine de 14 ha accueille chaque été de nombreuses manifestations. Dans un cadre verdoyant et stylé, les arcades vitrées de l'Orangerie du Château de Bourgogne plongent sur un parc de 14ha. Cet espace d'exception permet d'accueillir un grand nombre de personnes pour des manifestations telles que conférences, congrès, séminaires. Tout est prévu ici pour favoriser les séances de travail en vue d'un résultat optimal.