Wallonia
Walk aesthetically and gastronomically into history at this 18th-century château located 8km north of Mons. Lit by chandeliers and flickering candles, the Age of the Enlightenment lives on in film set–style perfection, complete with costumed hosts and beautifully set tables (porcelain, fine crystal). Food-wise, the idea is to use field herbs and flowers to create the flavours of those ages.
Reserve two weeks in advance. On Sundays there are occasional theatrical interludes.
28.83 MILES
This 1899 former department store is an art nouveau showpiece with a black facade aswirl with wrought iron and arched windows. The building contains the…
28.85 MILES
Brussels’ magnificent Grand Place is one of the world’s most unforgettable urban ensembles. Oddly hidden, the enclosed cobblestone square is only revealed…
28.83 MILES
Strap on a pair of headphones, then step on the automated floor panels in front of the precious instruments (including world instruments and Adolphe Sax’s…
27.77 MILES
The typically austere exterior doesn’t give much away, but Victor Horta’s former home (designed and built 1898–1901) is an art nouveau jewel. The…
27.49 MILES
One of Brussels’ overlooked architectural wonders, this splendid Napoleon III–style palace
4.2 MILES
Set on the grounds of a former Cistercian Abbey, this 65-hectare park is home to more than 5000 animals (including pandas, koalas, gorillas and lemurs)…
24.05 MILES
Dominating Tournai’s skyline are the five spires of its remarkable cathedral, which survived WWII bombs only for a freak 1999 tornado to compromise its…
13.16 MILES
Founded in 1242, this is Belgium’s only medieval convent-farm-hospital complex to have survived reasonably intact. Laboriously restored, it demonstrates…
4.2 MILES
Set on the grounds of a former Cistercian Abbey, this 65-hectare park is home to more than 5000 animals (including pandas, koalas, gorillas and lemurs)…
5.37 MILES
Head through the Hôtel de Ville on the Grand Place to reach this museum, dedicated to Mons' riotous Doudou festival. All aspects of this curious event, as…
5.37 MILES
This modernist glass cube of a gallery is the product of a rebuild for the city's tenure as a European Capital of Culture in 2015. It hosts temporary…
5.42 MILES
Ever thought it was a pity that all those items sat in museum storerooms, never seeing the light of day? Well, this innovative space in a former convent…
5.44 MILES
Mons' splendid 15th-century city hall is the most visually arresting building on the photogenic, café-lined Grand Place. It has become customary among…
5.46 MILES
If you’re a fan of exotic gilded clocks, dazzling porcelain and silver coffeepots from 1775 to 1825, check out the rich collection at this sumptuous three…
5.48 MILES
The 87m-tall Unesco-listed baroque belfry is a 17th-century marvel topped by black-and-gold mini-domes. The lift takes you up to only 36m, though the…
5.5 MILES
Within this lofty, airy, 15th-century Gothic church you'll find the golden reliquary of Ste-Waudru (hanging above the altar) and the fanciful 1782 Car d…