Mons

A “city on a hill,” picturesque Mons (not to be confused with the isle of Mon in Denmark) is situated at the top of a small ridge in the province of Hainaut (of which it is the capital). Its name is derived from the Latin word “montes” which means “mount.”  Mons is one of the two cities chosen to become the European Capital of Culture for 2015 – a programme whereby a European city is given one year to showcase its cultural strengths and enhance its visibility in the international scene. Like Leuven, it is also considered a university town although it is smaller and does not have as many imposing monuments as its bigger counterparts in Belgium.

However, its rich heritage as an ancient city is undeniable – the earliest settlement recorded in Mons was in the Neolithic period. In the 1st century, the Belgic tribe of Nervii inhabited the region. When Julius Caesar invaded Gaul it was turned into a military encampment (castrum) from whence it was given the name Castrilocus. This was later changed to Montes for the hill on which it was built. It was formally founded in the 7th century and made a fortified city in the 12th century. This paved the way for its growth – buildings were constructed, trade and commerce flourished and population increased. It became the capital of the province of Hainaut in the 13th century, succeeding Valenciennes.

Mons also had a long, turbulent period in history when it was besieged by Spanish and French armies from the 15th to the 18th centuries, each one occupying the city for decades and annexing it to their own countries. When Belgium gained its independence in the 19th century, fortified cities were dismantled and Mons was a part of it. This proved beneficial for the city as it paved the way for its restoration and vast improvements in infrastructure. With the advent of Industrial Revolution, Mons became a major economic hub and became an important part of the Industrial Valley in Wallonia.

Today, Mons is a city and municipality with a population of about 95,000. It has three major universities – the Faculte Polytechnique de Mons (CRM), Facultes Universitaires Catholiques de Mons (FPMs) and the Universite de Mons-Hainaut (UMH). As well, it is an important commercial center and a tourist destination in the province of Hainaut. It can be reached via train from Brussels or Liege. Other neighbouring towns are Tournai and Lille.

Visitors to Mons can expect to see a well-planned city with clean, paved streets and an architecturally-homogeneous landscape with terraced houses and historic buildings. Every year during the Trinity Sunday it holds an 8-day religious festival called the Ducasse de Mons (or Doudou) which is one of its main attractions for locals and tourists alike.  This colorful celebration is done to honor the city’s patron saint Waltrude and Saint George, one of the venerated military saints in the Catholic Church. It is marked with several processions in the street, the highlight of which is when the Car d’Or containing the shrine of St. Waltrude is paraded around the city and lifted by thousands of participants up the cobblestoned street of Rampe Sainte-Wadru. Then there is the reenactment of the Lumecon, or the fight between Saint George and the dragon. The fight is done in the city square of Mons and is accompanied by a rhythmic music called “Doudou.” This tradition is recognized by UNESCO as one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

Other interesting attractions in the city include the following:

The Collegiate Church of Sainte-Wadru: Built between the 15th to the 16th centuries, it is considered as one of the most fine examples of the Gothic architecture in the Brabant region. It houses a vast collection of religious artifacts from the 7th to the 19th century, as well as the works of Flemish sculptor and architect Jacques du Broeucq.

Le Beffroi: The 87-meter tall Belfry is the only belltower in Belgium built in the Baroque style. It is inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Paradisio Park: An ancient abbey’s grounds transformed into an ornithological park and a greenhouse. The aviary in Paradisio Park is said to be the largest in Europe with over 3000 species of birds. There is also a petting zoo.

Beloeil Castle: A magnificent castle also known as the “Versailles of Belgium,” it was home to the Princes of Ligne for over six centuries. The castle contains a vast collection of 15th to 19th century works of art and a library with over 20,000 books. Every year in spring the castle is the site of a floral show where over 2,000 amaryllis and 600 orchids are exhibited inside the majestic castle.