The "City of the Five Spires" (pop. 70,000) is one of Belgium´s oldest towns, founded on the River Scheldt in the 3rd century under Roman emperor Maximian, and its Romanesque/Gothic Notre-Dame Cathedral (sporting the aforementioned five spires) and late-12th-century Beffroi (Belfry, Belgium´s oldest) are designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tournai´s old quarter is especially rich in Art Nouveau artchitecture, and other notable landmarks include the Pont des Trous, a compact bridge dating back to the late 13th century; and the triangular Grand Place, home to the cathedral, the Belfry, the Renaissance city hall, guildhouses including the ornate, 415-year-old Halle aux Draps (Cloth Hall, now home to exhibitions), and the 12th-century Romanesque Church of Saint-Quentin. Learn about local history and folklore at the Maison Tournaisienne, drink in the art at the Musée des Beaux Arts (designed, by the way, by Victor Horta, the early-20th-century Belgian architect and designer who was one of the main founders of the Art Nouveau movement), and get an eyeful of historical puppets at the Maison de la Marionette.
Read more in my post 7 Allures of Wallonia, Belgium´s Overlooked, French-speaking South.
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