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Summer staycation in Belgium: Tournai

Panorama Tournai-WBT Alessandra Petrosino
11:59 07/07/2020
It's time to explore Belgium with our series on towns and cities across the country, including tourist favourites and more offbeat destinations

It may be overlooked, but this Walloon city is a historical gem, with a gentle pace and healthy appetite for local brews and festivities. It’s also known for its artistic background, particularly in porcelain, tapestry, antiques.

History
The oldest city in Belgium after Tongeren and Arlon, Tournai is the only city to have been conquered by the English; Henry VIII captured it in 1513 before France reclaimed it in 1519. The Henry VIII Tower is a reminder of the British presence: the large circular monument sits incongruously in a square of fine bourgeois homes. Founded by the Romans as a transport link on the river Scheldt, Tournai flourished in the 11th century when it became the religious centre of Flanders and a key trade route.

Tournai Quai des Salines

Explore
Wander around the walled city with little risk of getting lost: signposts and the looming cathedral towers are all the navigational aid you’ll need. From the centre, cross the river where barges still ply their trade, and meander through ancient streets of Roman houses and handsome squares and townhouses. There are reminders that Tournai, like much of Hainaut, is still climbing out of a post-industrial slump; gentrification is not widespread and the city is a fascinating hotchpotch of medieval cobbles, run-down timbered houses, building sites and kebab shops.

See
The towering landmark of this eminent past is the Unesco-recognised Notre-Dame cathedral, with its five bell towers bisecting a Romanesque nave and gothic choir. The triangular Grand Place nearby has been fully restored since the 1940 bombardment and its majestic Cloth Hall remains from the once-prosperous medieval wool trade. Overlooking the square and adding to Sunday morning’s carillon peal is the 70-metre belfry, dating back to 1217. The museum quarter around the elegant and landscaped town hall includes the Musée des Beaux-Arts, designed by Victor Horta in an Art Nouveau style and in line for a contemporary extension. The tapestry and textile art museum TAMAT records and honours the region’s heritage and expertise in the once booming industry. Outside Tournai, explore the little-known Wallonie Picarde region, full of castles (Seneffe, Beloeil), breweries and heritage sites. It’s also an excellent walking area, with ancient woods bordering France.

In the area
Located outside the town, Aqua Tournai is a nature reserve in the disused Orient quarry, with indoor and outdoor swimming pools, fishing ponds, boating and walking trails. Additional outdoor slides and play for kids during the summer months add to the family fun. For some aerial activity, including tree top and trampoline fun, head to Ecopark Adventures Tournai. To discover a few of the some one hundred craft brewers in the region, consider driving along the 75km Beer Route in Wallonia Picardy.

Steam brewery, Pipaix

Eat, drink & sleep
Overlooking the river are the former fish market and a row of bars that liven up at night. A favourite is La Vie est Belge, offering regional tapas and tipples. Sampling local beers is recommended, so look out for the following breweries: Brunehaut, Dupont, Dubuisson, Bon Secours, Saint-Feuillien, Saint-Martin and Le Tournay. North African eateries and brasseries abound; one gourmet option on the quayside for couscous and tagine is Un thé sous le figuier. For places to stay, the three-starred Cathedral Hotel has a prime location in Place Saint-Pierre; the boutique Alcantara Hotel, tucked behind the Grand Place, is quieter. For edible souvenirs, head to Quesnoy Patisserie by the station for Clovis cake (named after the Merovingian king), a confection of frangipane and apricot jam, or try apricot-flavoured iced biscuits called palets de dame, or the hard black sweets known as ballons de Tournai.

wallonia.be

Photos: Panorama Tournai (c) WBT Alessandra Petrosino; Quai des Salines (c) OT Tournai; Steam brewery at Pipaix (c) WBT Bernard Boccara

Where next?

ArlonBouillonCharleroiGhentLeuvenLiègeMalmedy/Hautes FagnesMonsSpaTournai

Written by Sarah Crew