In this article our bloggers have listed interesting places to visit in Mons Belgium. On foot, aboard a scooter or in a horse-drawn carriage, Mons is a fantastic city that lends itself easily to strolling.
Everything there is very special and it’s very difficult to choose the most beautiful places in Mons Belgium. Hiking enthusiasts therefore have at least two hours to stroll along the narrow streets to explore the jewels of this Belgian city. Placed at the top of the hill like a lighthouse, the belfry has watched over the municipality since the 17th century.
It is also recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and remains the only one in the whole country to obey the Baroque style. Mons is located in the western part of Belgium, about sixty kilometers from France and about 70 km from Brussels in Wallonia Regione. Below you will find a list of places to visit in Mons Belgium.
1. The Grand Place
Most of the buildings around the square date from the 15th century and to this day the most impressive remains the town hall (the town hall). It was built between 1458 and 1477 in a Gothic style and it was only later, around 1717-1718, that the bell of the tower was added. The wooden door of the town hall has a magnificent lock in the shape of a castle.
2. St Symphorien Military Cemetery
A visit to a cemetery might not seem like an ideal day for everyone, but St Symphorien Military Cemetery in Mons is different from an ordinary cemetery. The cemetery is located in a beautiful and tranquil setting, nestled between farmland and woods. The graves here are dedicated to the memory of German and British soldiers.
3. Royal Theater of Mons
The Royal Theater is located on the Grand-Place in Mons. This neo-classical building, erected between 1841 and 1843, rests on a ground floor pierced with arcades. This cultural place in Mons has undergone major renovations over the years.
It now offers better acoustic quality and includes access for people with reduced mobility. The artist Alexandre Obolensky painted a trompe-l’oeil sky, from dawn to starry night.
4. The Belfry
The Belfry was erected between 1661 and 1672 and was to replace the old clock tower. It culminates at 87 meters in height and offers a breath taking view of the region. On a clear day, it is even possible to see Brussels.
Unfortunately it was snowing the day i visited and i couldn’t see more than a meter. It is the only Baroque-style belfry in Belgium and is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is one of the places to visit in Mons Belgium.
5. Church of Sainte Waudru
Waudru was married to the Count of Hainaut with whom she had 4 children. When he decided to retire to a monastery, she took her daughters and created a chapel in Mons. After her death, she was canonized and her relics were associated with several miracles.
A community of noble women better known as canonesses was created around her. The canonesses were about thirty, all from noble European families. These women, although part of a religious community, enjoyed many freedoms.
For example, they could leave the community to travel, get married, or even become nuns. They were both powerful and very influential.
6. Van Gogh House
The “House of the Marais” offers visitors a dive into the daily life of Vincent van Gogh during his stay in the Borinage, from December 1878 to October 1880. It was within these walls that Van Gogh, self-taught, took his first steps on the way of art.
Don’t miss the reproductions of his works made during his visit, but also his literary preferences, his epistolary exchange and the atmospheric room furnished with period furniture.
7. The Doudou Festival
The Ducasse de Mons, also known as the Doudou, is a festival held in Mons every year during the Trinity weekend. It is said that its creation dates back to the years 1348-1349, when the city fell victim to a plague epidemic.
The canonesses then decided to take the reliquary of Saint Waudru, who was the patroness of the city) and parade it through the city.
8. BAM
The first thing that will catch your eye with BAM is the building itself. It is a modern glass cube building , rebuilt in 2015 when Mons was the European city of culture, which perfectly transmits modern and contemporary art inside.
its inside are temporary and constantly changing, but there is always at least one high-level, changing exhibit planned for each year. For more travel articles about Belgium check this category.
8 Best Places to visit in Mons Belgium
- The Grand Place
- St Symphorien Military Cemetery
- Royal Theater of Mons
- The Belfry
- Church of Sainte Waudru
- Van Gogh House
- The Doudou Festival
- BAM