'''Mons''' [http://www.hasselt.be] is the capital of the Belgian province of Hainaut, in the region of Wallonia
Get in
Airports
Brussels Airport - [http://www.brusselsairport.be Brussels Airport]
Brussels South Charleroi Airport - [http://www.charleroi-airport.com/doc.php?nd=o29&tid=29&lg=2&docid=1&site=1 Brussels South Charleroi Airport]
By train
There are regular train links with Brussels and other major Belgian cities
By Bus
By car
Take the Mons exit from the E19/E42
Get around
The city is serviced by free shuttle service that runs between 0700 and 2100. The shuttles run along three circuits, all of which terminate at the train station Gare B. All run past Sainte Waudru and the Grand Place.
See
The ''Grand Place'' is the centre of the historic town and the stage for the annual mock-battle of the ''Lumecon''.
The City Hall, originally built near the current location of the belfry, was moved on the ''Grand Place'' in the 13th century. The flamboyant gothic building we see today dates from the 15th century. In front of it stands a statue of a monkey, which is said to bring good fortune to those who pat his head.
The collegiate church of Saint Waltrude is paradoxically a good specimen of Brabantic Gothic architecture.
The neighbouring belfry, classified as a World Heritage Site, dates from the 17th century and is the only Baroque-style belfry in Belgium.
The so-called ''Spanish House'' dates from the 16th century.
Van Gogh House. aison Van Gogh. Rue du Pavillon, Cuesmes 7033 (Mons) . 32 (0) 65 / 35.56.11 or 33.55.80 . ue-Sat 10:30-12:30, 13:30-18:00. 5 . Cuesmoise the house where he lived from August 1879 to October 1880, was saved from ruin in the 1970s and is now accessible to the public.
Do
The Ducasse de Mons of Doudou is the name of a week-long series of festivities or ''Ducasse'', which originates from the 14th century and takes place every year on Trinity Sunday. Highlights include:
*The entrusting of the reliquary of Saint Waltrude to the mayor of the city on the eve of the procession.
*The placement of the reliquary on the ''Car d_fOr'' (golden carriage), before it is carried in the city streets in a colourful procession that counts more than a thousand costumed participants.
*The lifting of the ''Car d_fOr'' on a paved area near the church of Saint Waltrude; tradition holds that this operation must be successful for the city to prosper.
*The ''Lumecon'' fight, where Saint George confronts the dragon. The fight lasts for about half an hour, accompanied by the rhythmic "Doudou" music. The tradition of the processional dragon is listed among the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
Buy
Eat
Drink
Sleep
Ibis Hotel Mons. oulevard Charles Quint 27. 00m from Gare. 65 84 74 40?.
St-James. lace de Flandre 8. 65 72 48 11?. ww.booking.com/Hotel-St-James.
Hotel INFOTEL. ue d'Havre 32. 65 40 18 30?. otelinfotel.be.
Brasserie Georges. lace Leopold 1. 65 39 93 93.
Metropole. ue Leopold II 20. 65 31 46 64.
Ruttar / Rosa?. lace Leopold 3. 65 34 05 64.
Ingredients du Monde. venue Reine Astrid 45. 65 36 07 63?.
Dutrieux Ets?. ue de la Petite Guirlande 19. 65 33 56 55. utrieux.com.
Prodhygen?. hemin de La Valliere 23. 65 59 05 01. rodhygen.be.
Get out
Mons is the Capital of the Province of Hainaut, and is a good base to explore the region.
The historic town of Nimy is a few kilometers to the north up the N6.
The Grand-Large Marina is close to the IMAGIPARK amusement park, and is a good place to start a canal tour of the local waterways.