Mons is the capital of the Hainaut Province of Wallonia in southern Belgium and was awarded the European Capital of Culture in 2015 as it resembles an open-air museum with its wall murals, stunning architecture and heritage buildings.
Getting there:
To make the most of your weekend I suggest an early start. We took an early morning Eurostar train from London St. Pancras arriving into Brussels Midi in under two hours. From there we just needed to change platforms for the inter-city train to Mons taking approximately 50 minutes.
As services between Brussels and Mons run at approximately 30 minute intervals we didn’t need to wait long for the next service. If you prefer to travel by air then Charleroi Airport is only 30 minutes from Mons with Brussels Airport one hour away.
Stay:
We chose to stay at Martin’s Dream Hotel located in a quiet street in the old town and around a 15-20 minute walk from the station. The hotel is located in a former church retaining many of its original features such as the beautiful arched windows. Rooms are contemporary styled and very comfortable. Enjoy dinner in the hotel’s Le Bistro Martin where you can also start your day with a delicious breakfast. Martin’s Dream Hotel
See and Do:
The charming city of Mons traces its history back to Roman times. Follow my guide for the best things to see and do alongside some suggested dining options.
The main square is one of the most beautiful squares in Belgium dominated by the impressive Gothic town hall constructed between 1458-1477 boasting a Baroque bell tower added in 1718.
The town hall is currently closed for renovations but when open visitors can take guided tours to view the Council Chamber, Portrait Room, Gothic Hall and Sacqulaux Room. The bronze bannister in front of the building represents St. George and the Dragon whilst stroking the small bronze monkey with your left hand is said to bring good fortune.
Surrounding the square other architectural gems date from the 17th century, now mostly home to bars and restaurants which create a lively atmosphere with their terraces spilling out over the cobblestones. Located behind the town hall is a small garden designed between 1930-1936 and its delightfully quiet to sit beneath the shady copper beech and lime trees.
Belfry
A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999 the tower dates back to the 17th century. and is the only Baroque belfry in Belgium. Visitors can climb the tower steps to view the clock mechanism and carillon of bells. Rising to a height of 87m, the landmark can be viewed from all parts of the city.
The Belfry is surrounded by an attractive park, the Parc du Château which offers good views over the city and is a tranquil spot to sit and rest awhile.
St. Waltrudes Collegiate Cathedral
This vast Catholic church is a protected Belgian monument tracing its origins back to 1450 and dedicated to St. Waltrude of Mons. The church is built in Gothic style with splendid alabaster statues and elaborate stained glass windows
The treasury houses a beautiful collection of silver and gold religious icons: statues, paintings and ancient manuscripts dating from the 12th-19th centuries. Don’t miss viewing the magnificent Golden Carriage ‘Car d’or’ which is brought out of the church each year for the concluding procession of the annual Doudu Festival.
Mons Memorial Museum
This museum on the edge of the old town is dedicated to military history collections of the First and Second World Wars belonging to the city. Mons played a significant part in the wars due to its position at a strategic crossroad of Europe making it the scene of numerous historic conflicts. One of the galleries focuses on the famous Battle of Mons which took place in 1914 when the city was occupied by German forces remaining under their control until liberated by the Canadian Corps towards the end of the war. Mons Memorial Museum
The Mundaneum
The Mundaneum is a landmark institution that classified the world’s knowledge with a system called the Universal Decimal Classification. It was originally created in Brussels but later moved to its current home in Mons.
This unique project of universal knowledge for world peace traces its roots to the early 20th century. Founded by Belgian lawyers Paul Otlet and Henri La Fontaine its aim was to gather, organise and spread knowledge from around the world. Often referred to as a ‘Paper Google’ of its time the Mundaneum is home to an extensive collection of documents, books and photographs. Mundaneum
CAP Fine Arts Museum
The museum is made up of three distinct parts, the Fine Arts Museum, the Collections House and the Buttery Pear Tree Garden. The garden takes its name from a variety of pear developed nearby in 1759.
The Fine Arts Museum holds temporary exhibitions and to celebrate its opening in April of this year, a special Rodin exhibition took place which included the bronze statue from the Artothèque. This was the first bronze statue Rodin created during a period early in his career when he lived in Belgium. CAP Fine Arts Museum
Artothèque
The Artothèque was founded in 1984 as a repository of contemporary art showcasing the world of local and international artists. As the majority of the art work is hidden away it has been indexed and labelled to enable visitors to explore the collection by using large touch screens. Artothèque
The Church of St. Elisabeth
The present building was erected between 1715-1732 replacing a former Gothic church destroyed by fire. The interior contains art work from the 16th-18th centuries and five new-Gothic altarpieces.
City Walking Tour
For first time visitors I recommend joining one of the city’s guided walking tours which start from the Visitor Centre in the main square. I always find these tours interesting and as well as helping to find our way around a new city we learn so much about the local history and invariably explore narrow alleyways and view monuments that we would most likely have overlooked just wandering around by ourselves. City Walking Tour
National Day Celebrations
Belgian National Day commemorates an event that occurred on 21st July, 1831. On that day, Leopold of Saxe-Cobourg swore allegiance to the new Belgian Constitution and became their first King.
His vow marked the start of the independent state of Belgium under a constitutional monarchy and parliament. Since then, 21st July has been a day of national pride for Belgians, celebrating this public holiday with flag flying, concerts, parties, fireworks and other festive events.
We were fortunate to time our weekend visit to Mons with the National Day celebrations, enjoying the festivities and evening concert.
Wine and Dine:
Brasserie Oscar
Located just off the main square this stylish brasserie serves delicious, freshly prepared Belgian and French cuisine. The three course fixed price menu (unavailable at weekends) offers high quality dishes and exceptional value. Brasserie Oscar
Vis-a-Vis
An authentic Spanish tapas restaurant with an outdoor terrace. I recommend starting with a charcuterie sharing platter before moving on to a selection of meat, fish and vegetables dishes. Attentive service in relaxed surroundings. Vis a Vis
La Table du Boucher
A Michelin restaurant specialising in meat dishes. Tastefully furnished with dark wood panelling and banquette seating. Attentive service with steaks cooked to perfection. The Bib Gourmand three course menu offers excellent value for a Michelin restaurant. La Table du Boucher
Le Carillon
Located in one corner of the main square with a large outdoor terrace. With rustic styling the interior feels relaxed and cosy. For authentic Belgian fare you can’t go wrong with a local beer and a huge pot of Moules Mariniere served with French fries and mayonnaise. Le Carillon
So there you have it, ten lovely reasons to visit Mons, a boutique hotel located in a former church and a selection of inviting restaurants.
