Page 196 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Belgium & Luxembourg

194  BEL GIUM AND L UXEMBOURG REGION B Y REGION

o Thuin Environs
14 km (9 miles) SE of Binche. At Ragnies, 3 km (2 miles) to the
Road Map C3. * 15,000. £ @ south, is the Distillerie de Biercée,
n Maison du Tourisme Val de famed for flavoured spirits such
Sambre, Place Albert 1; (071) 595454. as Eau de Villée and Poire
_ Marche Militaire St Roch (May) Williams. At Leers-et-Fosteau, 5
∑ thuin.be km (3 miles) south west of Thuin,
is the Château du Fosteau,
Located close to the French which exhibits antique furniture.
border, Thuin was at the west-
ern end of the Principality of P Beffroi de Thuin
Liège, whose ribbon of territory Place du Chapitre. Tel (071) 595454.
stretched right across the Open Tue–Sun (Easter holidays, Jul,
central band of Belgium during Aug: daily). & 9
the Middle Ages. The upper E Distillerie de Biercée
town was reinforced by Prince- Ferme de la Cour, Rue de la Roquette
Posters outside Musée International du Bishop Notger in the 10th 36. Tel (071) 591106. Open Mar–
Carnaval et du Masque in Binche century, but of this work, only mid-Nov. & 8 - =
the tower, Tour Notger, can be ∑ distilleriedebiercee.com
i Binche seen today. There are also
remnants of 15th-century P Château du Fosteau
16 km (10 miles) SE of Mons. Rue du Marquis 1. Tel (071) 592344.
Road Map C3. * 33,000. £ @ ramparts – Remparts du Midi. Open Apr–mid-Dec: 2–6pm Mon,
n Grande Place Binche; (064) The military significance of Thu–Fri; mid-Dec–Mar: 2–6pm Sat
336727. _ Carnival (Feb or Mar). Thuin is further remembered & Sun. & 8 ∑ chateaufosteau.be
∑ binche.be in traditional spantôle biscuits,
shaped and named after a
Set amid the old industrial French cannon captured in p Abbaye d’Aulne
heartlands between Mons and 1654. The Place du Chapitre Rue Vandervelde 275, Thuin. Road
Charleroi, Binche is celebrated for at the town centre has the Map C3. Tel (071) 595454. @ Open
its extraordinary, colourful and free-standing 17th-century Apr–Oct: Wed–Sun; Jul–Aug: daily. &
elaborate pre-Lenten Carnival, belfry, Beffroi de Thuin. This 9 - = ∑ abbayedaulne.be.
the most famous of Belgium’s has an interactive exhibition
carnivals. This event takes place and also offers enchanting The extensive ruins of the Abbey
mainly in the Grand Place, which views over the River Sambre, d’Aulne create a picturesque
is overlooked by a 16th-century lined with barges. ensemble along the banks of the
Gothic town hall. Those who are
unable to visit Binche during the
carnival can experience it to an The Carnival at Binche
extent at the town’s prestigious Rooted in a long and obscure history, the Carnival at Binche begins as
Musée International du a gradual build-up of festivities over a series of Sundays preceding
Carnaval et du Masque. Lent. This explodes into a frenzy of fancy-dress processions, folk music
Occupying an 18th-century and street dancing over three days, with the climax on Shrove
building that was formerly Tuesday. This is the day of the gilles (clowns) – all native men of Binche
an Augustinian col lege, the dressed in the dun-coloured motley of court jesters, heavily padded
museum takes a glo bal look at and rotund, and decorated with heraldic symbols, ribbons and bells.
festivities, masks and carnivals, They wear clogs on their feet, and bandaged to their heads are
sinister pink masks with moustaches and wire-rimmed green glasses.
with special focus on the In the afternoon they put on colossal ostrich-feather headdresses – a
carnivals of Wallonia and Binche. reference to Inca costumes at the time of the Spanish conquests
The town’s long history is during the reign of Emperor Charles V – and parade about tossing
underscored by the restored oranges at the onlookers. The day ends in dancing and fireworks. For
remains of its extensive walls. more information about the event, visit www.carnavaldebinche.be.
Built between the 12th and
14th centuries, they stretch
continuously across a distance
of 2 km (1.5 miles) and include
25 towers.
E Musée International du
Carnaval et du Masque
Rue St-Moustier 10, Binche. Tel (064)
335741. Open 9:30am–5pm Tue–Fri,
10:30am–5pm Sat–Sun. Closed Ash
Wednesday, 1 Nov, 24 Dec–2 Jan. & Binche’s quirkily costumed gilles at the annual Carnival
∑ museedumasque.be
For hotels and restaurants see pp268–9 and pp288–9

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Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.7)
Date 1st October 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm