The Belfry of Mons
MUSEUM
See photos (10)
Discover the historic centre of Mons
Historic
in Mons
1.5
km
Walking/pedestrian
2h
Easy
-
A city on a human scale with a thousand treasures waiting to be discovered. For those who want to see the main features, this walk will take you through the medieval lanes in the historic heart of Mons ... just follow the guide!
-
The Grand-Place provides a magnificent panorama of architecture dating from the 15th century to the present day, with most of the façades classified as listed buildings. In the centre, a ring 12 metres in diameter symbolises the 19 Mons municipalities and is the scene of the battle between Saint George and the Dragon which takes place on Trinity Sunday each year.
Discover the Hôtel de Ville, a gothic gem built on only two floors with an elegant baroque bell tower. Do not miss the statue on...The Grand-Place provides a magnificent panorama of architecture dating from the 15th century to the present day, with most of the façades classified as listed buildings. In the centre, a ring 12 metres in diameter symbolises the 19 Mons municipalities and is the scene of the battle between Saint George and the Dragon which takes place on Trinity Sunday each year.
Discover the Hôtel de Ville, a gothic gem built on only two floors with an elegant baroque bell tower. Do not miss the statue on the façade of the Guardhouse Monkey which brings good luck to those who stroke it with their left hand. At the back is the Mayor’s garden, a veritable haven of peace, in which stands the Ropieur statue, much loved by the citizens of Mons.
On leaving the Mayor’s Garden by the Rue d’Enghien, go through the Passage Victor Hugo and then take the Ruelle César.
This brings you to the Castle Gardens, where you will find the oldest monument in Mons, the Saint Calixte chapel, and the baroque Belfry which you will certainly have seen on your arrival in Mons. It is 87 metres high and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Leave the Gardens past the Youth Hostel, with its decidedly modern architecture, and go down the Rue des Clercs on your right in the direction of the Collegiate Church of Sainte Waudru. The monument is classified as an exceptional heritage site and is a remarkable discovery in its own right, with its Treasury, 29 chapels, 16th century stained glass windows and Renaissance sculptures by Jacques Du Broeucq. Not to be missed, too, are the reliquaries of Sainte Waudru and the amazing Car d’Or used each year in the Procession of the same name. Go via the Rue Samson towards the pedestrianized street, the city’s main commercial artery, and discover a wealth of shops of all types that give rise to the name the “City of Original Gifts”. A stroll through the pedestrianized area and adjacent streets with their many shops is a pleasant way to return to the Grand-Place. Another option is to take the Rue des Fripiers and Rue de la Coupe, through the renovated Marché-aux-Herbes and Rue de la Clé, where a number of architectural gems are to be found.
- Points of interest
1
2
Following this tour of the historic city centre, you have a wide choice of cafés and restaurants where you can stop for something to eat or just a drink.
3
On the façade, on your right, are the steps with the bronze sculpture of Saint Georges by Gérard Garouste (2006), and on your left just beside the gateway is the Guardhouse Monkey, the city’s good-luck charm.
Inside, the rooms and "Great Halls" with their period furniture are well worth a visit.
If you want to visit the Halls of the Hôtel de Ville, please book in advance in writing. Visits must be accompanied by an official guide from the Tourist Office.
Information from the Tourist Office on +32(0)65/35.34.88 or by email to groupes@ville.mons.be.
4
The Guardhouse Monkey
5
6
7
8
The Mayor’s Garden
You are now in the Mayor’s Garden, a small, leafy haven of peace in the heart of the city.
On your right you will see the statue of the Ropieur, a mischievous Mons boy, who sprays water on passers-by.
The Mayor’s Garden is the perfectly place to listen to the chimes from the Belfry and admire the many 100-year-old trees.
The Wallonia Royal Chamber Orchestra and office of the Municipal Administration are also here. In April 2005 the Mont-de-Piété building will be home to the future Doudou Museum. For further information, please go to www.museedudoudou.mons.be .
On leaving by the Rue d'Enghien, the Chapel of the Condemned is on your right. Turn immediately right into the Passage Victor Hugo. You now come to the courtyard of the Hôtel de Graty and on your left you will see the Fernand Dumont Garden.
Go across the courtyard to the road and you will be in the Rue Marguerite Bervoets.
Opposite you is the Ruelle César, a set of steps that will take you to the Castle Gardens and the Belfry.
Note that the Ruelle César is only accessible during the opening hours of the Castle Gardens, i.e. Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am to 6 pm. Access is free.
If the Ruelle César is closed, continue to your left along the Rue Marguerite Bervoets, with the Central Library of the University of Mons on your left. Continue along the Rue des Gades and you will come to the foot of the Belfry. Go along the side of the Mons youth hostel, turn right and take the slope leading up to the Castle to reach the gardens.
9
10
11
12
The Castle Garden
In addition to the Belfry and Saint Calixte chapel, the site of ancestral Castle of the Counts of Hainaut offers a magnificent panorama over the whole region. It is also possible to visit the Saint Calixte chapel, the oldest religious monument in the city! Countess Richilde decided in 1501 to have a chapel built to house the relics of the Pope Saint Calixte, martyred at the beginning of the 3rd century.
The Saint Calixte chapel is open from 12 noon to 6 pm, Tuesdays to Sundays. Entry is free.
13
The Belfry
The only baroque Belfry in Belgium, it is listed as a World Heritage Site by Unesco! It has 49 bells which chime every quarter of an hour. The Belfry will house an interpretation centre devoted to its history and classification as a Unesco World Heritage Site and will also allow visitors to rediscover the view (scheduled to open in 2015).
For further information, please go to www.beffroi.mons.be .
Leave the Gardens by way of the slope leading to the Castle, go past the Youth Hostel with its decidedly modern architecture and turn right into the Rue des Clercs in the direction of the Collegiate Church of Sainte Waudru.
14
15
16
This private and personal church of the canonesses of Sainte Waudru is classified as an exceptional heritage site in Wallonia and is a remarkable discovery in its own right, with its Treasury, 29 chapels, 16th century stained glass windows and Renaissance sculptures by Jacques Du Broeucq. Construction began in 1450 with the choir and was only completed around 1621. Not to be missed, too, are the reliquaries of Sainte Waudru and the amazing Car d’Or used each year in the Procession of the same name.
The Treasury of the Collegiate Church of Sainte Waudru can be visited from 12 noon to 6 pm, Tuesdays to Sundays. Entry is free on the first Sunday of the month.
Leave the Church via the Rue Samson, where you will see the Square Saint Germain on your left, and head for the pedestrianized street, the main commercial artery in the city centre. The city has a wealth of shops of all types that give rise to the name the “City of Original Gifts”. For further information, see www.cadeauoriginal.mons.be. From the Rue Samson, continue straight ahead and cross the pedestrianized area via the Rue des Fripiers. Turn left at the corner of the Rue des Fripiers and Rue de la Coupe. You will then be in the Rue de la Coupe where you will find a number of restaurants and shops selling original items. As you pass the renovated Marché-aux-Herbes and Rue de la Clé, there are various architectural gems to be seen. Go back up the Rue de la Coupe and continue to the Grand-Place.
17
18
- 23 meters of difference in height
-
- Start altitude : 58 m
- End altitude : 58 m
- Maximum altitude : 66 m
- Minimum altitude : 47 m
- Total positive elevation : 23 m
- Total negative elevation : -23 m
- Max positive elevation : 11 m
- Min positive elevation : -9 m
