| Page Views: 6,238 Last Visit to Mons: January, 1998 | A Microcosm Of Larger European Cities by lmkluque - last update: Feb 15, 2006 |
MONS 'Province de Hainaut' | Overview of Mons Province of Hainaut |
Welcome to my Mons page!
Located southwest of Brussels, Mons has been wonderfully preserved, by a law, that allows only buildings compatible with those designed centuries ago, to be added.
Many of the houses standing, are several hundred years old. I saw fantastic buildings built in the 1600's, 1500's and even a few from the 1400's.
The ring road around Mons was once a great wall built to protect the citizens from waves of medieval marauders.
In Mons there is also "Cronque Street," made crooked as a deterrent to the enemy during invasion, giving the citizens time to hide or defend themselves.
I realize now, how the various attacks on the city, has effected it and it's people.
Throughout history, Mons survived and is now a charming place complete with an impressive University system as well as an intact Grand Place. Cronque Street opens onto the Grand Place.
I Hope You Enjoy your visit,
Linda |
|  | POINT OF REFERENCE! The Belfry is located on the highest point of Mons and can be seen for miles around. At the top are gold ornaments, they are shiny, impressive and beautiful. The bell still rings and it has a nice sound.
There is more than one way of reaching this Belfry and each route has it's own charms. This area of Mons is worth the time it takes to reconnoiter and there are plenty of spots to stop for refreshments along the way. |
GOOD LUCK! In front of the Hotel de Ville, you'll see an iron monkey. The true purpose of the monkey isn't known. Some speculate that it might have been a place to tie children, since it has a ring at the base, or it could have been the sign of a tavern, since there is an opening--covered over now--in the street for stairs decending below the building, which was once the entrance of a tavern.
What ever the original purpose, everyone now says that if you rub the monkey's head with your left had it will bring good luck. Of course I did. | | |
> Add to your Custom Travel Guide [What's This?]
| Pros: | "A small and ancient town." | | Cons: | "Off the beaten path." | | In A Nutshell: | "Don't miss this beautiful place!" |
lmkluque's Mons Travel Tips
 Comments for lmkluque about Mons | | | | |
shutterlust Sat Jan 6, 2007 08:50 UTC
thanks for the mons recommendation! seems like the perfect off-the-beaten track city, away from all the major cities on my itinerary! Thanks! :-) | rubbersoul75 Mon Nov 6, 2006 15:33 UTC
Gotta love the Mons Monkey.. 4 visits here, 3 of them rainy for us! Thanks for stopping by the Umbria page. Sampling different quisine is one of the best parts of travel. I remember a great bucket of mussels on the mons square- ciao | Kuznetsov_Sergey Mon Nov 6, 2006 10:44 UTC
Thanks Linda for very interesting page about this beautiful Flemish city. I've never been there but it reminds me Brugge... May be next time... | Ekaterinburg Mon Oct 30, 2006 22:52 UTC
Never been to Mons but it looks vtypically Belgian. I also love the overcast weather, it somehow seems to suit the architecture and feel of the place. Loved the personal feel of this page . : ) Katherine. |
|
|
email me
add as friend
