Mons, Belgium

Mons

Mons is a city and municipality in Wallonia, Belgium. It is the capital of the province of Hainaut. It is also called Bergen in Dutch and Mont in Walloon and Picard. The city has a long and interesting history.

In the 12th century, Count Baldwin IV of Hainaut made Mons a fortified city. This helped more people live there and trade grow. Later, in 1814, King William I of the Netherlands made the city's defenses stronger. The Industrial Revolution brought many factories and coal mines to Mons.

During World War I, Mons was the place of the Battle of Mons. British soldiers had to move back from a bigger German army. Near the end of the war, the town was freed by the Canadian Corps.

Today, Mons is a busy university town and a place for shopping. Its main square has the Town Hall and Belfry, and many cafes and restaurants. In 2015, Mons shared the title of European Capital of Culture with the Czech city of Plzeň.

History

Early settlements

The first signs that people lived in the area of Mons were found at Spiennes. There, some of the best flint tools in Europe were discovered, dating back to the Neolithic period. When Julius Caesar arrived in the region in the 1st century BC, it was home to the Nervii, a Belgian tribe. In Roman times, a fort was built there, giving the place its Latin name Castrilocus. The name later changed to Montes, after the mountain where the fort stood.

Middle Ages

In the 7th century, Saint Ghislain and two followers built a small chapel near Mons hill. Soon after, Saint Waltrude came to the chapel and was recognized as a saint after her death in 688. Like its nearby town Ath, Mons became a fortified city in the 12th century under Count Baldwin IV of Hainaut. The population grew quickly, trade became very active, and many new buildings were built near the Grand-Place. By the end of the 13th century, the city had about 4,700 people. Mons became the capital of the county of Hainaut in 1295 and grew to about 8,900 people by the end of the 15th century.

From 1500 to 1800

In 1515, Charles V took an important oath in Mons. During this time, the city faced many occupations. In 1572, leaders from the Netherlands took control, hoping to challenge Spanish rule. Later that year, Spanish forces took over Mons. In 1691, after a long siege, the army of Louis XIV took the city by force. Mons changed hands several times over the years, being controlled by France, Austria, and the Netherlands. After a battle in 1792, Mons became part of France.

From 1800 to the present

After the fall of the French Empire in 1814, the city was heavily fortified. But when Belgium became independent in 1830, the decision was made to remove the old walls. This happened in the 1860s, allowing new streets and projects to be built. The Industrial Revolution and coal mining turned Mons into a center for heavy industry, shaping the culture of the Borinage region and becoming part of Wallonia's industrial area.

Riots of Mons

On 17 April 1893, people were killed during a strike near Mons and Jemappes. This happened during a big strike across Belgium, and the next day, new laws were passed to give more rights to voters.

Battle of Mons

Main article: Battle of Mons

On 23–24 August 1914, Mons was where the first battle of World War I took place. British soldiers fought there but had to retreat. The town stayed under German control until it was freed by Canadian soldiers near the end of the war.

Second World War

During World War II, Mons was bombed many times because it was an important industrial place. In September 1944, American soldiers captured many German soldiers near Mons.

After 1945

After the war, many factories closed down. In 1967, a big military headquarters moved to Casteau, a village near Mons, to help the local economy. In April 2006, there was a disturbance in a prison in Mons about living conditions, but no one was seriously hurt. Today, Mons is a busy university town and a commercial center.

Geography

The city of Mons has several smaller areas called sub-municipalities. These include places like Ciply, Cuesmes, Flénu, Ghlin, Harmignies, Harveng, Havré, Hyon, Jemappes, Maisières, Mesvin, the main part of Mons itself, Nimy, Nouvelles, Obourg, Saint-Denis, Saint-Symphorien, Spiennes, and Villers-Saint-Ghislain.

Demographics

Festivities

The Ducasse de Mons, also called the Doudou, is a fun week-long celebration that started a long time ago. It happens every year on Trinity Sunday. Some of the highlights are:

• Giving a special treasure, called a reliquary, belonging to Saint Waltrude to the mayor the night before the big parade.
• Putting the treasure on the Car d'Or, which means "Golden Chariot", and then carrying it through the city in a colorful procession with many people in costumes.
• Lifting the Car d'Or in a special area near the Collegiate Church of St. Waudru. People believe this helps the city.
• The Lumeçon fight, where Saint George fights a dragon. This exciting part lasts about half an hour and has special music. This dragon fight is very important and is listed among the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

There is also an event called Tanks in town that remembers when Belgium was freed during World War II by the American 3rd Armored Division. It is one of the biggest gatherings of World War II tanks in the world.

Education

Mons has many places where people can learn and study. There is a music school called the Conservatoire royal de Mons. The University of Louvain has a campus in Mons, and there is also the University of Mons, which started in 2009. Other schools in Mons include the Institut Reine Astrid and Collège Saint-Stanislas, which began in 1851.

Transportation

Mons is found along the N56 road. You can also get there using European route E42, which continues from French Autoroute A2.

The Mons railway station began operating on December 19, 1841. There is a small airfield called Saint-Ghislain Airport close by for private planes. The closest big airports are Charleroi Airport, and Brussels Airport.

Climate

Mons has a typical Belgian oceanic climate. The temperatures don't change too much between seasons. This is because of the influence of the Gulf Stream.

Sports

Mons has a professional basketball team named Belfius Mons-Hainaut. The city also hosts a tennis tournament called the Ethias Trophy. Mons once had a football club called R.A.E.C. Mons, but it is no longer active. There is a place for horse racing at the Hippodrome de Wallonie in Mons.

Planning and architectural heritage

The center of Mons has many red brick houses. Some new buildings use blue stone for decoration. Most houses have two or three floors. In shopping areas, the bottom floor is for stores and the other floors are homes. Small gardens are often behind these houses.

The outskirts of the city have brick houses with more green space. In some parts, you can find four-sided villas.

After World War II, not many new buildings were built in Mons. Some public housing was built in places like Ghlin and Hyon Jemappes. Since the late 1990s, the city has been taking down these houses. Many social buildings are spread around the downtown area and its suburbs.

About 16.5% of people in Mons live in apartments, while 82.7% live in single-family homes. Mons has many terraced houses and fewer apartments than larger cities.

Grand-Place

The Grand-Place is the heart of the old city. It is near a pedestrian shopping street and the Belfry. The square is paved and has many cafes and restaurants, along with the Town Hall. Cars can drive around the edges but not through the center. Every year, the square hosts a theater event called Lumeçon, where actors perform a battle between Saint George and a dragon. The square also has a fountain and sometimes a Christmas market or ice rink in winter.

City Hall

History

Mons was first led from a place called the “House of Peace,” located in Rue Nimy. Later, leaders worked from the castle of the Counts of Hainaut. In 1323, Count William I allowed the House of Peace to be built where the current City Hall stands. This building was made of stone and bricks at the bottom, with a wooden upper part. It changed over time, especially after an explosion in 1477.

Current City Hall

The damaged buildings were rebuilt over the centuries. The current City Hall was designed in Gothic style by architect Matthew Layens. The building still stands today with additions like a Renaissance-style bell tower added in the 18th century. The 19th century brought more changes, including updates to the façade.

Today, the Town Hall houses many city services and includes pieces of history.

On April 23, 2006, a bronze statue showing the battle of St. George and a dragon was placed in front of City Hall.

Mayor's Garden

Around the City Hall is a small square called the Mayor’s Garden. In the middle is the Ropieur Fountain, created by sculptor Léon Gobert. The fountain shows a young person from Mons splashing water.

Saint Waltrude Collegiate Church

The Saint Waltrude Collegiate Church is one of the most important examples of Brabantine Gothic architecture. Built in the 15th century, it’s made from local materials like sandstone, blue stone, and brick. The church is shaped like a Latin cross and includes an ambulatory and 15 chapels.

Belfry

Known locally as El Catiau, the Belfry was built in the 17th century and is the only Baroque-style building in Belgium that stands 87 meters tall. It contains a carillon with 49 bells and was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999 as part of the Belfries of Belgium and France.

Press House (Spanish House)

The Press House dates back to the 16th century and is one of the few remaining examples of Spanish-style architecture in Mons. Made of brick, it was restored in 1919–1920 and now houses the Maison de la Presse.

Water machine

This industrial building is all that remains of a system that provided clean water to Mons from 1871. It used metal and glass pipes to bring water from springs to the city. The water machine was restored in the early 1990s and now hosts cultural events.

Waux Hall

Waux Hall park was created in the 19th century. It includes landscaped gardens, old trees, water features, and sculptures.

Parfaite Union

The masonic Lodge La Parfaite Union is the oldest in Belgium, founded in 1721. After the French Revolution, it moved several times before building a permanent home in neo-Egyptian style in 1890.

Carré des Arts

The Carré des Arts, originally a military building from the 1820s, now houses the Graduate School of Arts and visual studies and regional television TV Borinage Mons.

Rouge-Puits

One of the few remaining fountains from Mons’ streets, the Rouge-Puits well was built in 1831 and moved several times before returning to its original spot in 1981.

Casemates

The casemates and an old bakery are remnants of military fortifications from the time of the Netherlands (1814–1830). The old bakery’s roof is now a public park and playground.

Valenciennoise Tower

This is the last remaining part of the medieval walls around Mons. Built around 1358 from sandstone, it once had walls up to 4 meters thick. The tower now includes a sound installation for the CitySonics festival.

Concourse of the Courts

New buildings for the Courts of Justice opened in 2007 but quickly developed problems like water leaks.

Patron saint

The patron saint of Mons is Waltrude.

People born in Mons

Main category: People from Mons, Belgium

Some famous people were born in Mons. They include:

• Gilles Binchois, a composer (around 1400 – 1460)
• Guido de Bres, a theologian (1522 to 31 May 1567)
• Jacques Du Brœucq, a painter and architect (16th century)
• François-Joseph Fétis, a music expert and critic (1784–1871)
• Giuseppe Grisoni, a painter and sculptor (17th century)
• François-Philippe de Haussy, the first leader of the National Bank of Belgium (18th century)
• Orlando di Lasso, a composer (1532–1594)
• Eugène Lafont, a S.J., Jesuit who worked in India
• Émile Motte, a painter (19th century)
• Davide Moscardelli, an Italian football player
• Nicolas Neufchatel, a painter (16th century)
• Charles Plisnier, a writer who won the Prix Goncourt
• Jan Provoost, a painter (15th-16th century)
• Paul Émile de Puydt, a botanist, economist, and writer (19th century)
• Vincent Rousseau, a long-distance runner
• Jean Yeuwain, a writer (16th - 17th century)

Twin cities

Mons, Belgium, has several twin cities around the world. These include Changsha in China, Briare, Thoissey, and Vannes in France, Sefton in the United Kingdom, and Little Rock in Arkansas, United States.