Visits, monuments... in Hainaut

Valenciennes

The readily apparent charm of Valenciennes, a town shaped by time and by the talents of its inhabitants, is matched by its very eventful history.
Dive headfirst into the heart of the North of France – a historic, cultural and traditional region that nevertheless looks to the future.

Worth seeing

Basilica of Notre Dame du St Cordon
The church of Notre-Dame du Saint-Cordon is the symbol of Valenciennes and was built between 1852 and 1864, from plans drawn up by the Arras architect Mr. Grigny, who drew his inspiration from the style of the 13th Century.

Fine Arts Museum
The Fine Arts Museum of Valenciennes was constructed from 1893 onwards on the site of the town’s former fortifications.
It has a splendid collection of paintings from the Northern School of the 15th to the 18th Century. Many of these works come from the surrounding reason.

Church of St. Géry, 13th Century
It was built in the second half of the 13th Century in the "Troubadour" style (Romantic Gothic), and can pride itself on being the oldest church in Valenciennes.  It was built by the Franciscans. It was consecrated in 1233.
In St Géry Park, on Square Watteau, stands the statue of Antoine Watteau (born in Rue de Paris) by Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux.

Provost-Marshal’s House
The Provost-Marshal’s House is located on the corner of Rue Notre-Dame and Place du 8 mai 1945.  It is one of the oldest buildings in the town.
Built in the 14th Century, it is a good example of mediaeval civil architecture displaying a Burgundian influence.
http://www.ville-valenciennes.fr/

Mons

Mons, dominated by its tall belfry, is a town rich in art, culture and traditions.
The Gothic harmony of its Grand’Place, its magnificent Town Hall and the alignment of the old houses makes it an ideal spot to sit and sample the local beers.

Worth seeing

François Duesberg Museum of Decorative Arts
Square Franklin Roosevelt, 12
BE-7000 Mons
Tel.:: +32(0)65/36,31,64
Situated on the former premises of the Belgian National Bank (19th Century), this extraordinary Museum of Decorative Arts houses a prestigious collection of clocks on exotic themes (1795-1815) that is unique in the world. You can also view exceptional gilded bronzes, porcelains, ceramics, gold- and silverwork, engravings, jewels and extremely rare objets d’art.

Treasure of the St. Waudru Collegiate Church
Place du Chapitre
BE-7000 Mons
Tel.: +32(0)65/87.57.75
Tel.: +32(0)65/33.55.80 OT
http://www.waudru.be
This former chapter house holds a collection of relics of St. Waudru (a ring and a hook known as the ‘Blessed Clasp’ that allegedly belonged to the saint), manuscripts, gold- and silverwork from the 12th-19th Centuries, statues, sacerdotal ornaments and even the exquisite small alabaster statues by Jacques Du Broeucq, the greatest Renaissance artist north of the Loire.

Van Gogh’s House
Rue du Pavillon, 3
BE-7033 Cuesmes (Mons)
Tel.: +32(0)65/35,56,11 Van Gogh’s House
Tel.: +32(0)65/33.55.80. Mons Tourist Office
The Maison du Marais, which was the home of Vincent Van Gogh between August 1879 and October 1880, fell into such disrepair that it almost collapsed. It was saved from ruin (1972-1975) by a group of volunteers and the Mons Tourist Office.
Now restored, the house offers visitors the chance to learn about Van Gogh.

Grand-Hornu-MAC's
Rue Sainte-Louise, 82
BE-7301 Hornu (Boussu)
Tel.: +32(0)65/65.21.21
info.macs@grand-hornu.be
http://www.grand-hornu.be
http://www.mac-s.be
The Grand-Hornu is a remarkable architectural location. A former mining complex, its history extends back to before the Industrial Revolution.
The Museum of Contemporary Art (MAC’s),.on the site of the former Grand-Hornu colliery in the region of Mons Borinage, is one of the flagship cultural projects of the French community in Belgium. It has become a hotspot for tourist, cultural and scientific development and organises long-term temporary exhibitions including works from major names in contemporary art.

Mons Belfry
Square du Château
BE-7000 Mons
Tel.: +32(0)65/33.55.80
ot3@ville.mons.be  
A proud symbol of Mons’ identity, "el catiau" (as it is affectionately known in Mons) was erected in the 17th Century, after the Clock Tower collapsed (1661).
This 87-metre building is the only Baroque belfry in Belgium.