Home > Destinations > Mons > Main tourist attractions

Mons - Main tourist attractions

The Collegiate Church of Sainte-Waudru

15 th to 17 th century – Gothic style of Brabant. It contains some splendid 16 th c. alabaster statues by Jacques Du Broeucq.

The treasury of the Collegiate Church is one of the most beautiful collections of gold and silverware in Belgium (12 th – 19 th c.)

Decorative Arts Museum François Duesberg

Mons has many interesting museums (short descriptions further on) but the most spectacular and of highest value is certainly the François Duesberg museum.

Opposite Sainte-Waudru's Collegiate Church, near the railway station in an old building that was once the National Bank of Belgium (19 th .c.)

This is an authentic decorative arts museum with not only a prestigious collection of clocks with exotic themes (1795-1815) which is unique in the world, but also exceptional gilded bronzes, porcelain, crockery, gold and silverware, bookbinding and unusual rare objects.

A detailed description would be fastidious – let's just pick out a few names – vieux-Nimy, Meissen, Kien Long, the 1 st Empire, Valenciennes… This museum is a must.

Other museums of certain interest:

• Museum of Folklore and Customs of Mons: In a former 17 th c. infirmary of a religious congregation.

• Museum of Military History: 14/18 and 40/45. The “Battle of Mons” August 1914. The liberation of Mons in November 1918 and September 1944.

• Fine Arts Museum: mainly 19 th and 20 th c. paintings of Mons, Hainaut and Belgium. Also an amazing and colourful collection of international contemporary art (1960 – 1990) named “Fruits of Passion”

• Canon Puissant Museum(s): In “Le vieux logis” a 16 th c. old abbey refuge: furniture, weapons, ironware, drawings… In St-Margaret Chapel (13 th .c.): religious tapestries ( 4 th – 19 th .c), paintings, manuscripts…

• St-Calixte's Chapel. Museum of the Count's Castle: Ideal viewpoint from where to discover the panorama of Mons and its region. This 11 th .c. chapel has been restored and houses archaeological discoveries and medieval iconography…

Mons