Circuit of the historical centre of MONS : heritage and museums

Tourism Information desk

The Belfry, built between 1661 and 1672, is the symbol of Mons and has been recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The only baroque belfry in Belgium, it has a 49-bell carillon, which rings every fifteen minutes. Among the characteristics that make it so unique are its area of 14 m², the fact that its four outside faces are virtually identical and that is has Ionic, Doric and Corinthian elements, its four massive clock faces, natural slate roof, central onion dome, small dormers with golden toppers, and its large golden weather vane. What a treasure! The Belfry is not currently open to the public, but it will house an interpretive centre devoted to its own history and its inclusion in UNESCO’s prestigious World Heritage List. It will also be possible to climb to the top for a fabulous panoramic view of the city.

Saint-Calixte Chapel in Mons houses the museum of the Count's Castle. You will find an exhibition on the Belfry, ruins and other frescos here. Saint-Calixte Chapel is the oldest religious building in Mons. You can visit its exhibitions and its interior decor. Saint-Calixte Chapel, named after a pope, dates from the XIth century and was decorated with Romanesque wall paintings discovered in the XIXth century and restored in the XXth century. The Gothic vault dates from the XIVth century and the crypt that previously was a cellar of the castle was built from rough-hewn materials. The Museum of the Count's Castle includes archaeological finds, medieval iconography, ruins of the castle and other very interesting objects. The Belfry of Mons, listed as UNESCO World Heritage, and its park are adjacent to the unit.

A rare example of the Spanish tradition in Mons, the Spanish House dates back to the XVIth and XVIIth centuries, but was extensively restored in the early XXth century. The ground floor has two XVIth century bay windows, but the first floor and the top floor open onto several small openings of the next century and of different sizes. A brick construction was added in the XVIIth century. Restored in the XIXth century, the Spanish House was later restored to its original state.

Saint-Germain Square with its majestic chestnut tree and the Fountain of the Volunteers of 1830. Initially erected on the Square Régnier-au-Long-Col, this fountain dedicated to the memory of the Mons fighters of 1830 was inaugurated on 1 June 1930 by Mayor Victor Maistriau, on the centenary of the Belgian revolution.

The construction of the present collegiate church began in 1450 with the chancel, which was finished around 1506. The transept was completed in 1527, and work on the nave lasted until 1621. Laid out in the form of a Latin cross with 29 chapels around the main nave, transept and chancel, this building is recognised as a leading part of Wallonia’s heritage. It was the private and personal church of the Saint Waltrude canonesses, who had dreamt of crowning the west face of their collegiate church with a 623 ft high tower. This tower, of which the first stones were laid around 1549, was never finished, and work on it was finally abandoned between 1686 and 1687. Do not miss : The Treasury: one of the most beautiful collections of religious jewellery in Belgium. The reliquary of St. Waltrude: one of them (la châsse) contains the body of St. Waltrude and the other (le chef) contains her head. The works of Jacques Du Broeucq(1505-1584): a master artist of Emperor Charles V, he produced a Renaissance style rood-screen, of which only statues and alabaster bas-reliefs remain, mainly visible in the chancel and transept. The oldest stained-glass windows: especially the five windows of the apse, done by a master glassblower from Mons and given to the church by the Emperor Maximilian of Austria in 1510-1511. The sculptures: especially the statues in white stone of St Michael thrusting down Satan (15th century) and of St. Waltrude (16th century).

A museum dedicated to the Ducasse Rituelle, to St George and the Dragon, right in the centre of the historic heart of Mons. Find out more about Mons’ Ducasse Rituelle throughout the year! Through exhibits from the collections belonging to the City of Mons’ museums combined with technological innovations, the museum tells you everything you need to know about the Ducasse de Mons, recognised by UNESCO in 2005. An experience somewhere between reality and the imaginary! This unique heritage is examined from different angles, from history and anthropology to science, art, secularism and religion. The museum looks at the original site of the Ducasse de Mons as well as the legend of St George, in order to appreciate and showcase all the different aspects of this universal, multi-secular story. Visitors are invited to understand and interpret this example of intangible cultural heritage. Different parts of the exhibition are designed around the main theme: St George and the Dragon, between the imaginary and reality. Educational activities, learning experiences, publications and also off-site exhibitions are developed. You can experience the legendary Ducasse de Mons whenever you like, so what are you waiting for? Come along to the Musée du Doudou!

The Place du Parc was installed in 1921 to accommodate several memorials of WWI.

The Natural History Museum today is an educational museum where young publics will find an interesting illustration of the notions of natural sciences and nature. It is a formidable educational and scientific tool in the discovery of nature and biodiversity.

Do you really know the Mons heritage? With these interactive multimedia installations you can experiment with a new way of discovering the collections and the secret life of the Mons museums at the Artothèque.

An unusual and incredibly educational museum, a sumptuous temple to Neoclassical art and the art of living in the First Empire, with countless evocative reminders of the Napoleonic era. Its prestigious collection of exotic clocks (1795-1815) is one of the largest in the world and includes some really exceptional pieces including the stunning “Paul et Virginie” clock by the bronzemaker Thomire, commissioned by Bonaparte himself in 1802. The theme of the “noble savage”, nurtured by Defoe (Robinson Crusoe), Bernardin de St-Pierre (Paul et Virginie) and Chateaubriand (Atala) is explored in a magnificent collection, which is well worth a visit. The museum also includes a remarkable collection of porcelain pieces by the best manufacturers from Paris and Brussels, as well as exquisite gold work, exceptional gilded bronze pieces, antique jewellery (including some stunning cameos) and an array of incredibly rare and fascinating objects. An exceptional museum of unrivalled sophistication. Housed in a listed late 19th century building, formerly the Banque Nationale de Belgique, the François Duesberg Museum is undeniably one of Belgium’s finest. An incredible marriage of the art of timekeeping and the art of entertaining! A testimony to Baron and Baroness François Duesberg, the museum is based on a private collection lovingly gathered throughout the long lives of meticulous and passionate collectors; a remarkable feat. Thanks to the generosity of Mr and Mrs Elie François Duesberg, the City of Mons has been given the opportunity to house an internationally renowned collection dedicated to Neoclassic Art from 1775-1825 in the town centre. Guided tours available on request – please contact the Curator, Baron François Duesberg. Open on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 14.00 tot 19.00. Guided tours can be booked in advance through the general curator of the site, Baron François Duesberg.

Records show that there was an oratory of Saint Nicholas as early as 1182, and that it became a parish church in 1227. A new church was built in 1674 on Bertaimont Street before being demolished in 1799. The nearby church of the Récollets was devoted to parish worship in 1803: it consists of a neo-classical facade with pillars placed on the former Gothic frontage of the 15th century. Previously known as Saint Nicholas in Bertaimont, the church’s official name is now Our Lady of Messines.

The Abattoirs first and foremost are a location that deserves a visit for their expanse and architectural quality. A location with a history too. The Abattoirs were built in 1854-1855 by the architect Sury, in Lombard style. The river Trouille originally flowed past the building. Ditches and fish ponds were dug there. The area was called "Quartier de la Pecherie" and, later, "Quartier du Grand Trou Oudart", after a family of fishermen. Listed in 1985, the site underwent a first extensive restoration phase, mainly on the exterior of the building. Completely refurbished and adapted to its new functions, this architecture is without doubt a fine example of conversion of a typical XIXth century building of which Mons already has many: the Carré des Arts, the Machine à Eau, the Théâtre du Manège, ... The re-opening identifies this space as a future cultural hotspot in Mons, near the Ecole Supérieure des Arts Plastiques et Visuels (ESAPV) [High School of Plastic and Visual Arts], where creative craftsmanship, audio arts and fine arts often rub shoulders at big exhibitions organised in the main hall.

During the days of Dutch rule modern barracks were built in Mons (Guillaume Barracks, built in 1824-1827). Barracks for the 'chasseurs a pied' regiment,they were named 'Major Sabbe' after the First World War, and remained active until the Second World War. They subsequently housed the Jean d'Avesnes school. In 1995 it was dedicated to high artistic education. The community TV station, Télé Mons Borinage, also took up quarters here (in 2000). Every year, during the first fortnight of July, the Festival du Carré takes place there, a cultural event dedicated to creations in the scenic arts.

A place of unique history A space dedicated to reflection, investigation and interaction, a museum… These are some of the different ways you could describe the Mons Memorial Museum. Above all, it’s a venue where people from all generations are able to come and meet and interact right in the heart of a Memorial Region marked by the two world wars that turned the 20th century upside down. The Mons Memorial Museum invites visitors of all ages to question the multiple, complex realities of the phenomena of war. Through the fates of the men and women who witnessed events, visitors are immersed in the day-to-day lives of soldiers and civilians in times of peace, of war and of occupation. The exhibits on display, selected from the 5,000 included in the military history collections belonging to the City of Mons, ask some fundamental questions about the relationship between the civilian and military population. These questions come to life in an experience that will guide visitors from the middle Ages, through the “Ancien Régime”, right up to the two World Wars. An authentic "land" of memory The new museum space needed to continue the work of the former museum by bringing its collections to life again, but above all needed to mark a moment of change, by creating a radically different form of presentation which would fulfil contemporary expectations. The history museum has therefore been transformed into a place where questions are asked and where new technologies (e.g. 3D projectors, "serious games", interactive tables) are utilised to give form and depth to the historical content. The use of testimonies such as interviews and letters is also at the heart of the concept, which emphasises the notion of passing on the baton, of conveying history.

Over the course of time, the parish church founded in 1224 has been refurbished and rebuilt several times. Thus, the church built in the 15th century was burnt in the 17th century, and then rebuilt in 1664. The tower of the present church is a remnant from the 15th century. This church of Saint Nicholas in Havré has a baroque facade but a classical interior. It is especially rich in woodwork - also in baroque style - while its treasury is rich in old liturgical ornamentation.

The Manège Mons Maubeuge is a cross-border stage that presents more than hundred shows every year, across the season programme and the festivals.

A concert venue with exceptional acoustics, a Chapel of Silence, a Passage of Rumours dedicated to exhibitions and a Room of Sound Amazement.

Created from the vision of two Belgian lawyers, Paul Otlet and Henri La Fontaine, the project was aimed at bringing together all the knowledge of the world. From this was born the Mundaneum, a resounding “mechanism for making peace,” a depository for all the knowledge of the world, a growing universal library. From 1920 onwards, it was located in a wing of the Cinquantenaire in Brussels. The World Palace - The Mundaneum houses an impressive array of documents spread among about fifty rooms as well as a “Universal Bibliographical Catalogue,” of 18 million bibliographic records. After several moves, the Mundaneum’s archives were brought to Mons in 1993. The collections are preserved in an Art Deco building called “L’indépendance.” which was built by the architect Vleugels in the 1920s. The Mundaneum can also put on temporary exhibitions, lectures/debates, colloquiums and training workshops.

The BAM (Beaux-Arts Mons) is a museum to be experienced which presents several exhibitions on approximately 2,000 m² each year. They give the opportunity to discover an artist, an artistic movement or a theme linked to the collections of the museum, with more than 15,000 art works. The BAM is designed as a unique experience, a space of discovery of artistic creation in all its expressions, but also a living location where events take place throughout the year. This resolutely modern architectural project combines functional and museum rigour with aesthetics as the museum architecture emphasises the light circulation areas that focus on transparency.

The "underground passage" starting in the courtyard leads to a tranquil and restful public garden, built between 1930 and 1936, which leads into the rue d'Enghien via the exit of the City Hall since 1372. The carillon concerts of the Belfry are perfectly audible here. There also is the sculpture of the "Ropieur" [cheeky Mons street urchin] (Gobert, 1937) which splashes the water of its fountain on the passers-by, symbolising the rebellious attitude of the Mons boy.

The Grand-Place is the real centre of the historical town. It is located near the (pedestrian) high street and the belfry. It is paved like old towns and presents numerous bars and restaurants, as well as the City Hall. Every year it is the backdrop to the "Lumeçon" combat, the legendary fight of Saint George and the dragon.

Cycling in Mons. Informations and rental point Point vélo de la gare de Mons. Boulevard Charles Quint 35 - 7000 Mons Tél : 065 84 95 81 hainaut@maisondescyclistes.be