Page 190 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Belgium & Luxembourg

188  BEL GIUM AND L UXEMBOURG REGION B Y REGION

Exploring Tournai E Musée de la Tapisserie
Place Reine Astrid. Tel (069) 234285.
A ring of boulevards encircles the centre of Tournai, with the Open Wed–Mon. Closed Nov–Mar:
River Escaut slicing through the middle, pas sing beneath the Sun mornings. & 7
triple arches of the 13th-century bridge, Pont de Trous. The Occupying a grand Neo-Classical
boulevards follow the path of the 14th-century city walls. The mansion, this museum focusses
on the celebrated quality of
street plan of the centre has remained almost unchanged Tournai’s tapestry, notably of the
since the walls were built. From 1187 onwards, Tournai was 15th and 16th centuries. It has
often under French control; in 1513, it fell to the English, a small but fine collection of
whose five-year rule is commemorated in the Henry VIII historic tapestries, some
Tower. This is a pleasant place to wander, with the museums contemporary tapestries and
an active workshop where
clustered to the west of the cathedral.
tapestries are restored.
P Belfry reconstructions depicting daily
Vieux Marché aux Poteries. life in the past – school and
Tel (069) 222045. Open Tue–Sun. & home, the pub, workshops of
∑ visittournai.be printers, clog-makers, weavers
The city’s famous belfry, a and coopers, as well as the
UNESCO World Heritage site, worlds of the priests, doctors,
rises to a height of 72 m (236 ft). soldiers, women and children.
In 1187, the Tournaisiens
wrangled freedom from the E Musée des Beaux-Arts
count of Flanders and placed Enclos St-Martin. Tel (069) 332431.
themselves under the protection Open Wed–Mon. Closed Nov–Mar:
of the king of France. However, Sun mornings. & 7
they retained a good degree of Often referred to as Musée
autonomy – the belfry was a Horta, this art museum was
symbol of this, serving as a designed by the great Art Detail from a tapestry at the Musée
watchtower, clock tower, place of Nouveau architect Victor Horta de la Tapisserie
public announcements, prison (see p84) in his later, more sober,
and stronghold for town charters. Classical style. It opened in 1928. Musée des Arts de la
The belfry was revamped after In galleries fanning out from a Marionnette
a fire in 1391, and the spires date central polygonal sculpture hall, Rue St-Martin 47. Tel (069) 889140.
from between the 16th and its impressive collection covers Open 9am–12:30pm & 2–5pm Tue–
19th centuries. work from the 15th century Fri, 2–6pm Sat, Sun & public holidays.
onwards and includes art by & ∑ maisondelamarionnette.be
E Musée de Folklore many of the greatest Belgian Housed in a 19th-century
Réduit des Sions. Tel (069) 224069. painters and sculptors. Among mansion, this puppetry arts
Open Wed–Mon. Closed Nov–Mar: them are Rogier van der museum within the Centre de la
Sun mornings. & Weyden, Rubens, Constantin Marionette brings together a
Set out in two 17th-century step- Meunier and James Ensor. large collection of almost 2,500
gabled houses called La Maison International artists such as puppets from all over the world,
Tournaisienne, this extensive Watteau, Manet, Monet, many of which are on show to
folklore collection is spread Toulouse-Lautrec and van Gogh the public in the form of a
over a series of 23 rooms and are also represented. permanent exhibition. A multi-
media documentation centre
offers further opportunity to
find out more about puppetry.
Musée d’Archéologie
Rue des Carmes 8. Tel (069) 221672.
Open Wed–Mon. Closed Nov–Mar:
Sun mornings. &
Archaeological remains from
Tournai’s prehistoric, Gallo-
Roman and Frankish past are
exhibited here. Many of the
finds come from recent
excavations of graveyards in the
city centre, and include
sarcophagi, glassware, pottery,
Display of costumes at the Musée de Folklore weapons and jewellery.
For hotels and restaurants see pp268–9 and pp288–9

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