"Mons, a medieval town with strong... " a Mons Travel Page by ptitetoile

Mons is my birth town and the place where my family lives. It is a small middel-age town, where it is nice to live. You can thrust me... I spend there 22 years of my life :-)).

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History

At the time of the Romans, Mons was already a inhabited region : the hill called Castri Locus Montensis was an ideal strategic place for the Romans who build a garrison. Later, they called this hill Montes (it means mountain in latin).

But the real foundation of the town dates back from a little bit later : in 612, Waudru (who decided to dedicate herself to God after a marriage with Madelgaire - called later St Vincent - and the education of her 4 children) built a monastery for women on this hill. After her death, she was considered as the protector of the town and her relic has been conserved and venerated in a shrine above the altar of the Church that took her name : St Waudru.

Population

Mons has a very big student population from all corners of Belgium thanks to the differents universities and schools. During the year, the nightlife is mostly "rhythmed" by the student "evenings" and/or the numerous bars situated in the center of the town.

The inhabitants of Mons are very friendly : they like to have a quiet, simple and nice life : they like to eat, drink, have fun with friends and most of them have that special self-humor that is so characteristic of the Belgian people :-)

The town is dynamic but also quiet and you can enjoy the great stressless atmosphere of the town...in the small streets, in the parcs, at the terrace of a cafe of the grand place...