Mons, Belgium

Mons is a city and municipality in Wallonia, Belgium, and the capital of the province of Hainaut. Known also by names such as Bergen in Dutch and Mont in Walloon and Picard, the city has a rich history.

In the 12th century, Count Baldwin IV of Hainaut turned Mons into a fortified city, which helped its population grow and trade flourish. Later, in 1814, King William I of the Netherlands strengthened its defenses. The Industrial Revolution brought heavy industry to Mons, especially coal mining.

Mons played a significant role during World War I as the site of the Battle of Mons, where British forces retreated from a larger German army. The town was later liberated by the Canadian Corps near the end of the war.

Today, Mons is a lively university town and commercial center. Its main square, paved like old European cities, features the Town Hall and Belfry, along with 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 of people living 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, causing great hardship for the city. 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, seven 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 after many were hurt. 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 over 25,000 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 is made up of 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 in the 14th century. 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 of the city 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 streets in a colorful procession with over a thousand people in costumes.
• Lifting the Car d'Or in a special area near the Collegiate Church of St. Waudru. People believe this must happen for the city to do well.
• 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 was created in 2009. Other schools in Mons include the Institut Reine Astrid and Collège Saint-Stanislas, which was founded 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. This road connects the old battlefields from World War I near Mons to the battlefields at the Somme.

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, about 47 km (29 miles) to the east, and Brussels Airport, around 84 km (52 miles) to the northeast of Mons.

Climate

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

Sports

Mons is home to a professional basketball team named Belfius Mons-Hainaut and hosts a tennis tournament called the Ethias Trophy. The city also 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 is mostly made up of red brick houses. Although there aren’t many old buildings, some new buildings use blue stone for decoration. Most houses in the center have two or three floors. In areas where people shop, the bottom floor is used for stores, while the other floors are homes. Small gardens often sit behind these houses.

The outskirts of the city also feature brick terraced houses, but they usually have more green space in front or behind them. In some farther parts of the city, you can find four-sided villas.

After World War II, not many new buildings were constructed in Mons. Some public housing was built in places like Ghlin and Hyon Jemappes, as well as in the city’s suburbs. Since the late 1990s, especially after a fire in one of these buildings, the city has been taking down these houses. This process is still happening. Many social buildings are spread evenly 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. Of those single-family homes, only 26% are standalone houses, and 55.7% are either detached or terraced houses. This shows that Mons has many terraced houses rather than standalone ones, which reflects its urban nature. The city has fewer apartments compared to larger cities but more than smaller towns.

Grand-Place

The Grand-Place is the heart of the old city. It’s located near a pedestrian shopping street and the Belfry. The square is paved like old cities and has many cafes and restaurants, along with the Town Hall. Cars can drive around the edges of the square but cannot park or drive 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 that opened on March 21, 2006. It’s also where a Christmas market and sometimes an ice rink appear during winter.

The façade of a building named “au Blan Levrie” shows how the city blends old and new styles. Originally built in 1530 in Gothic style for a wealthy local family, it was later redesigned in 1975 to become a bank. The outside was restored, but some parts like the windows couldn’t be fully recreated because not enough original details remained.

City Hall

History

Mons was originally led from a place called the “House of Peace,” located in Rue Nimy. Later, deputy mayors 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 a nearby explosion in 1477.

Current City Hall

The damaged buildings were rebuilt and updated over the centuries. The current City Hall was designed in Gothic style by architect Matthew Layens. Although the original plan wasn’t fully completed, 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 and removal of some stone decorations.

Today, the Town Hall houses many city services and includes pieces of history, like a Gothic-style fireplace from another castle and carved doors saved from demolition.

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, irregularly shaped square called the Mayor’s Garden. In the middle of this square is the Ropieur Fountain, created by sculptor Léon Gobert. The fountain shows a young person from Mons playfully splashing water on passersby.

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. Writer Victor Hugo once described it as “a coffeepot flanked by four smaller teapots.”

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. Designed by architect Hubert and engineer Celi Moullan, 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 by members of the local bourgeoisie. It includes landscaped gardens, old trees, water features, and sculptures. The Technical and Vocational School of Horticulture was once located here but moved to the Grand-Place in 2009.

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, while the casemates house the musée de la Route.

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. A terrace project was completed in 2009, and 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 and stability issues.

Patron saint

The patron saint of Mons is Waltrude.

People born in Mons

Main category: People from Mons, Belgium

Some well-known people were born in Mons, although for a few of them, it is not completely certain. 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 and helped teach science
• Émile Motte, a painter (19th century)
• Davide Moscardelli, an Italian football player
• Nicolas Neufchatel, a painter (16th century)
• Charles Plisnier, a writer from Wallonia who won the Prix Goncourt and supported the Walloon movement activist
• Jan Provoost, a painter (15th-16th century)
• Paul Émile de Puydt, a botanist, economist, and writer (19th century)
• Vincent Rousseau, a long-distance runner
• Marie Vuillemin, a member of the Bonnot Gang
• 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.