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County of Hainaut
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Explore Hainaut in Belgium for medieval cities, UNESCO industrial heritage, famous folklore, canals, local breweries and green Walloon landscapes.

Hainaut is Belgium’s westernmost province in Wallonia, stretching from the French border and the Scheldt valley to the former coalfields around Mons, La Louvière and Charleroi. Its landscapes combine open agricultural country, wooded hills, waterways and densely settled industrial districts. French is the principal language, while Mouscron and nearby border communities retain strong connections with Dutch-speaking Flanders and northern France.
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The province’s historic centres offer markedly different experiences. Tournai, one of Belgium’s oldest cities, is known for its Romanesque cathedral and medieval civic heritage, while Mons gathers a belfry, museums and a prominent annual folklore tradition around its old town. Ath is associated with the Ducasse, a celebrated giants’ festival, and Binche with its internationally recognised carnival. Smaller places such as Thuin, Chimay and Beloeil add riverside scenery, abbey traditions and aristocratic architecture to the regional picture.
Hainaut’s industrial story is particularly visible. Former coal-mining and manufacturing landscapes have been adapted as museums, cultural venues and heritage sites, including the Bois du Cazier at Marcinelle and the Grand-Hornu complex near Mons. The Canal du Centre preserves an extraordinary group of historic hydraulic boat lifts, while the newer lifts at Strépy-Thieu illustrate the scale of modern inland navigation. These places make the province valuable for visitors interested in how energy, engineering and labour shaped modern Belgium.
Beyond its cities, Hainaut offers substantial opportunities for walking and cycling along canals, through the Pays des Collines and around the wooded southern districts. The province also contains family-oriented destinations such as Pairi Daiza at Brugelette, the grounds of Beloeil Castle and the nature-rich surroundings of the Eau d’Heure lakes. Regional food reflects both Walloon and border influences, with locally produced beers, cheeses, charcuterie and sweet specialities appearing in markets, cafés, breweries and village restaurants. Hainaut is best approached as a collection of contrasting towns and landscapes rather than as a single urban destination.

When is the best time to visit County of Hainaut?

Best: June–August · 21–23°C
Average daytime high and rainfall by month
MonthHigh (°C)Rainfall (mm)
January660
February650
March1050
April1450
May1760
June (best)2170
July (best)2370
August (best)2370
September1960
October1560
November1060
December770

Getting to and around County of Hainaut

How to get there

Brussels Airport, outside Hainaut, is the principal international gateway, with onward rail connections towards major Hainaut cities. Charleroi Airport is also outside the province, although it serves the Charleroi area and has a useful road connection to southern Hainaut. Belgian trains connect Brussels with Mons, Tournai, Ath, La Louvière, Charleroi and Mouscron; international visitors may also reach Tournai from France. Motorways provide access from Brussels, Flanders, Luxembourg and northern France, while local journeys to rural heritage sites are easier by car.

Transportation

Rail is practical between the larger cities, with Mons, Charleroi, Tournai, La Louvière, Ath and Mouscron acting as important transport points. Local buses serve towns and villages, but rural services can be less frequent and may not align conveniently with visits to dispersed attractions. Cycling is well suited to canal routes and selected greenways, while walking works particularly well in historic centres and signed countryside trails. A car gives greater flexibility for Beloeil, Chimay, the Pays des Collines and smaller industrial heritage sites; check navigation carefully around canals and restricted urban centres.

Top city travel guides in County of Hainaut

The cities of County of Hainaut, and the easiest places to base yourself.

Destinations in County of Hainaut

Resorts, valleys and scenic spots worth a trip of their own.

Best attractions in County of Hainaut

Hainaut’s attractions range from ancient archaeology and medieval city centres to museums occupying former mines, factories and canal works. At Spiennes, visitors can explore the story of Neolithic flint extraction, while Tournai offers historic streets and one of Belgium’s most important cathedrals. Mons combines museums, public art and heritage buildings, and the former Grand-Hornu industrial complex presents the social and architectural ambitions of nineteenth-century coal production. The Bois du Cazier at Marcinelle adds a powerful memorial dimension to the province’s mining history. Engineering is another major theme: the Canal du Centre’s historic boat lifts and the large lift at Strépy-Thieu demonstrate different generations of waterway technology. Families are drawn to Pairi Daiza near Brugelette, while Beloeil’s estate and gardens provide a more formal historic landscape. Outdoor visitors can follow canal towpaths, cycle through reclaimed industrial country, walk in the Pays des Collines or explore the wooded surroundings of the Eau d’Heure lakes. Smaller destinations such as Thuin and Chimay broaden the itinerary with riverside scenery, heritage buildings and local institutions.

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Best landmarks in County of Hainaut

Hainaut’s most recognisable landmarks express the province’s mixture of medieval power, religious history and industrial engineering. The belfry of Mons rises above the historic city and symbolises its long civic importance, while Tournai Cathedral is distinguished by its Romanesque nave, transept towers and later Gothic choir. In Binche, fortified remnants and the medieval character of the town provide a setting for one of Belgium’s best-known carnival traditions. The Grand-Hornu complex near Mons is a landmark of planned nineteenth-century industrial architecture, and the Bois du Cazier at Marcinelle stands as both a mining monument and a memorial to the 1956 disaster. Along the Canal du Centre, the historic hydraulic boat lifts are remarkable surviving works of early twentieth-century engineering; nearby Strépy-Thieu represents their modern successor on a much larger scale. Beloeil Castle and its formal grounds add an aristocratic dimension, while the wooded hills and river valleys around Thuin and the southern part of the province provide natural landmarks shaped by water, agriculture and long-settled communities.

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Explore County of Hainaut on the map

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Best restaurants in County of Hainaut

Hainaut’s food scene reflects Walloon cooking, border exchange and the produce of a largely agricultural hinterland. Town restaurants and traditional cafés serve hearty dishes based on beef, pork, poultry, potatoes and seasonal vegetables, while breweries and village inns provide settings for regional beers and farmhouse cheeses. The province is particularly associated with beers from places such as Chimay and, in a wider Hainaut brewing tradition, saisons and other characterful ales; visitors should distinguish local production from brands sold throughout Belgium. Charcuterie, pâtisserie and market produce are useful choices in smaller towns, and Tournai, Mons, Charleroi and Ath offer the broadest range of contemporary restaurants, cafés and international cuisines. Around the countryside, menus may be less formal and opening days more limited, so checking arrangements is sensible. Food markets and specialist shops are good places to find cheeses, bread, chocolate and other Belgian products without assuming that every speciality originated in Hainaut.

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Best bars in County of Hainaut

Evening life in Hainaut is concentrated in its larger towns rather than spread evenly across the province. Mons has the most established student-influenced café culture, with bars, beer venues and occasional live music around the historic centre, while Charleroi offers a broader urban selection including cultural venues, cocktail bars and late-night establishments. Tournai and Ath combine traditional cafés with restaurants, small music venues and seasonal events. In La Louvière and smaller towns, the evening rhythm is more likely to centre on local cafés, brasseries, breweries and community performances than on large clubs. Festival periods can bring temporary outdoor activity and crowded public spaces, particularly during the major folklore celebrations, but programming and opening arrangements vary. Rural Hainaut is best suited to a leisurely meal or a drink at a village establishment, with transport planned in advance rather than assumed after late-night closing.

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Best nightclubs in County of Hainaut

Evening life in Hainaut is concentrated in its larger towns rather than spread evenly across the province. Mons has the most established student-influenced café culture, with bars, beer venues and occasional live music around the historic centre, while Charleroi offers a broader urban selection including cultural venues, cocktail bars and late-night establishments. Tournai and Ath combine traditional cafés with restaurants, small music venues and seasonal events. In La Louvière and smaller towns, the evening rhythm is more likely to centre on local cafés, brasseries, breweries and community performances than on large clubs. Festival periods can bring temporary outdoor activity and crowded public spaces, particularly during the major folklore celebrations, but programming and opening arrangements vary. Rural Hainaut is best suited to a leisurely meal or a drink at a village establishment, with transport planned in advance rather than assumed after late-night closing.

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Best shops in County of Hainaut

Shopping in Hainaut is primarily local and town-based rather than centred on luxury retail. Tournai, Mons, Charleroi, Ath and La Louvière have the largest concentrations of high-street shops, department stores, cafés and independent retailers, while smaller market towns offer a slower selection of bakeries, delicatessens, antiques and everyday goods. Weekly markets are useful for seasonal produce, cheese, bread and flowers, although days and locations vary by municipality. Specialist food shops provide Belgian chocolate, biscuits, beers, cheeses and charcuterie, with Chimay products particularly associated with the southern part of the province. Craft outlets and galleries appear in historic towns and rural districts, where ceramics, artwork, books and locally made gifts are more characteristic than branded souvenirs. Festival towns may sell folklore-related items and confectionery during major celebrations. Visitors buying beer or food should remember that products carrying a Hainaut place-name may be made elsewhere in Belgium, so labels are worth checking when provenance matters.

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County of Hainaut essentials

Currency and Payment
Hainaut uses the euro, written as EUR, like the rest of Belgium. Cards and contactless payments are widely accepted in hotels, museums, restaurants, supermarkets and urban shops, although smaller cafés, market stalls and rural businesses may have minimum amounts or prefer cash. Keep a modest supply of euros for public toilets, occasional local purchases and places with limited card facilities. Bank branches and cash machines are easier to find in larger towns than in small villages.
Safety
Hainaut is generally straightforward for visitors, but normal urban precautions are sensible around busy stations, nightlife areas and major events. Take care when cycling or walking beside roads, canals and industrial sites, and use only authorised paths around former mines and heritage complexes. Rural lanes may be poorly lit after dark, while winter weather can make towpaths and wooded trails slippery. Drivers should allow for Belgian traffic, cycle lanes, local roadworks and changing conditions around large towns.
Emergency Situations
Call 112 in Belgium for urgent medical, fire or rescue assistance; the number works throughout Hainaut and the rest of the country. Police emergency assistance is available on 101. Give the operator the exact town, street or trail location, particularly when calling from a canal, forest or rural attraction. For outdoor activities, note nearby landmarks before setting out and follow local advice about water, cycling and walking routes. Pharmacies display the location of out-of-hours services.
Do's and Don'ts
Use a quiet voice and dress respectfully in churches, cathedrals and memorial sites, and follow photography restrictions where displayed. Queue patiently at stations, museums and festival events, and do not enter former industrial structures beyond marked visitor areas. In restaurants and cafés, service customs are broadly Belgian rather than uniquely Hainaut; a modest tip for good service is appreciated but not compulsory. When walking or cycling in the countryside, keep to signed routes, close gates and avoid disturbing crops, livestock or residents.
Local Tips
Treat Hainaut as several linked travel areas: Tournai for medieval and religious heritage, Mons and the Borinage for history and museums, Charleroi and La Louvière for industrial culture, and the southern districts for woodland, waterways and rural estates. Festival dates can change the character of towns considerably, so reserve accommodation early when visiting during major folklore events. Museum complexes often make more sense with a guided visit, especially at the Canal du Centre and former mining sites.
Eve, your Evendo local guide

From Eve

Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics
EnglishLocalSay it
HelloSalut[sah-loo]
GoodbyeAu revoir[oh ruh-vwahr]
YesOui[wee]
NoNon[noh]
Please/You're welcomeS'il vous plaît[seel voo pleh]
Thank youMerci[mehr-see]
Excuse me/SorryExcusez-moi[ex-kew-zay mwah]
How are you?Comment ça va?[koh-mohn sah vah]
Fine. And you?Bien. Et vous?[byehn. eh voo?]
Do you speak English?Parlez-vous anglais?[par-lay voo ahn-glay?]
I don't understandJe ne comprends pas[zhuh nuh kohm-prahn pah]
Eating & Drinking
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to see the menu, pleaseJe voudrais voir le menu, s'il vous plaît[zhuh voo-dray vwar luh meh-nu, seel voo pleh]
I don't eat meatJe ne mange pas de viande[zhuh nuh mahnzh pah duh vyahnd]
Cheers!Santé![sahn-tay]
I would like to pay, pleaseJe voudrais payer, s'il vous plaît[zhuh voo-dray pay-ay, seel voo pleh]
Emergencies
EnglishLocalSay it
Help!À l'aide![ah led]
Go away!Allez-vous-en![ah-lay voo zahn]
Call the Police!Appelez la police![ah-peh-lay lah poh-lees]
Call a doctor!Appelez un docteur![ah-peh-lay uhn dok-teur]
I'm lostJe suis perdu[zhuh swee pair-due]
I'm illJe suis malade[zhuh swee mah-lahd]
Shopping
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to buy...Je voudrais acheter...[zhuh voo-dray ah-she-tay...]
I'm just lookingJe regarde juste[zhuh ruh-gard zhoost]
How much is it?C'est combien?[say kohm-byen?]
That's too expensiveC'est trop cher[say troh shair]
Can you lower the price?Pouvez-vous baisser le prix?[poo-vay voo beh-say luh pree?]
Time & Numbers
EnglishLocalSay it
What time is it?Quelle heure est-il?[kel uhr eh-teel?]
It's one o'clockIl est une heure[eel eh ewn uhr]
Half past (10)Dix heures et demie[deez uhr eh duh-mee]
MorningMatin[mah-tan]
AfternoonAprès-midi[ah-pray mee-dee]
EveningSoir[swahr]
YesterdayHier[ee-air]
TodayAujourd'hui[oh-zhoor-dwee]
TomorrowDemain[duh-manh]
1Un[uhn]
2Deux[duh]
3Trois[trwah]
4Quatre[katr]
5Cinq[sank]
6Six[sees]
7Sept[set]
8Huit[weet]
9Neuf[nurf]
10Dix[deez]
Transport & Directions
EnglishLocalSay it
Where's a/the...?Où est un/le...?[oo eh uhn/luh...?]
What's the address?Quelle est l'adresse?[kel eh la-dress?]
Can you show me (on the map)?Pouvez-vous me montrer (sur la carte)?[poo-vay voo muh mon-tray (sur lah kart)?]
When's the next (bus)?Quand est le prochain (bus)?[kahn eh luh pro-shen (boos)?]
A ticket (to ....)Un billet (pour....)[uhn bee-yay (poor....)]

History of County of Hainaut

Prehistoric Flint Mining at Spiennes

The Neolithic flint mines at Spiennes, near Mons, were worked from around the fifth millennium BCE and rank among Europe’s most important prehistoric mining sites. Communities dug deep shafts and galleries to extract high-quality flint, which was fashioned into tools and exchanged over considerable distances. The archaeological landscape preserves evidence of early engineering, specialised labour and long-distance networks. The site’s visitor centre and protected remains provide an unusual introduction to Hainaut’s history, long before the region acquired its medieval counties, towns and industrial identity.

Roman Turnacum and the Scheldt Frontier

Roman influence reached Hainaut through settlements and roads linking the region to wider imperial networks. Tournai, known in Roman times as Turnacum, developed on the Scheldt and later became an important religious and political centre. Roman routes helped connect the agricultural settlements of the area with northern Gaul, while the river supported movement and trade. Although much of the visible medieval city post-dates Roman rule, the continuity of settlement at Tournai illustrates the enduring importance of the Scheldt corridor.

The Medieval County of Hainaut

During the Middle Ages, Hainaut emerged as a county whose rulers governed a strategically situated territory between the Scheldt basin and the lands to the east. Mons became its principal political centre, while Tournai, Ath and other fortified towns developed regional commercial and administrative roles. Noble families, religious institutions and urban guilds shaped the countryside and built churches, defensive works and market infrastructures. Through dynastic marriages, the county became connected to larger political formations in the Low Countries, Burgundy and France.

Towns, Guilds and Religious Foundations

From the later Middle Ages into the early modern period, Hainaut’s towns prospered through textile production, agriculture, river trade and regional markets. Tournai’s cathedral and civic buildings express the wealth and religious importance of one of the area’s foremost cities, while abbeys and collegiate churches influenced surrounding communities. Processions, guild traditions and urban festivals developed during these centuries; some later evolved into the giants’ celebrations and carnivals for which towns such as Ath and Binche remain known.

Coal, Iron and the Industrial Revolution

From the eighteenth century, and especially during the nineteenth, coal mining and metalworking transformed southern Hainaut. The Borinage around Mons, the industrial basin near La Louvière and the Charleroi area attracted workers, investment and new transport infrastructure. Canals and railways connected collieries, furnaces and factories with Belgian and international markets. The wealth generated by industry produced imposing civic and industrial architecture, but the work was dangerous and communities experienced difficult living conditions. Sites such as the Bois du Cazier and Grand-Hornu preserve this complex legacy.

Canals and Hydraulic Engineering

Hainaut’s industrial growth depended on reliable movement of heavy materials. The Canal du Centre, opened in stages in the early twentieth century, used four historic hydraulic boat lifts to overcome a major change in elevation between the inland waterways. Their engineering significance, together with the later Strépy-Thieu lift, reflects Belgium’s long investment in canal infrastructure. The lifts also reveal how industrial landscapes were adapted as transport technology changed, leaving engineering monuments that remain central to the province’s heritage.

War, Reconstruction and Industrial Transition

Hainaut was affected by both world wars through occupation, military movement, damage and the pressures placed on its industrial economy. After 1945, coal and heavy industry initially remained major employers, with migration adding to the social and cultural life of industrial towns. From the later twentieth century, mine closures and industrial restructuring brought unemployment and urban challenges, but also encouraged heritage conservation, environmental renewal and cultural redevelopment. Former industrial sites now serve as museums, memorials and educational venues, linking present-day visitors with the province’s working past.

County of Hainaut in Photos

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Evendo: Your Ultimate Travel Guide to County of Hainaut, Belgium

Discover the best attractions, landmarks, shops, restaurants, hotels, and more in County of Hainaut with our 100% free app-based travel guide.

  • Detailed information on attractions, landmarks, shops, bars, nightclubs, restaurants, hotels, tours, experiences, and activities
  • Rich content including images, descriptions, local tips, maps, and contact details
  • Easy booking for hotels, tours, tickets, and experiences
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Maximize your travel experience in County of Hainaut, Belgium with Evendo, your comprehensive and free travel guide app. Explore landmarks, book hotels, and more—all in one place.

  • Historical insights and travel essentials for County of Hainaut
  • Curated local tips for an authentic experience
  • Easy navigation and 'Near Me' feature to explore nearby attractions
  • 100% free with no in-app purchases

Welcome to Evendo, your ultimate travel companion for exploring the captivating County of Hainaut, Belgium. Whether you're a first-time visitor or a seasoned traveler, Evendo makes discovering this beautiful region effortless and enjoyable. From the majestic **Belfry of Mons** and the historic **Grand-Hornu** to the stunning **Pairi Daiza Zoo and Botanical Garden**, our app covers all the must-see attractions. Savor the culinary delights at **L'Impératif** or **Le Pain Quotidien**, and unwind at the end of the day in one of the county's top-rated hotels.

Evendo offers detailed information on a plethora of attractions, landmarks, shops, bars, nightclubs, restaurants, hotels, tours, experiences, and activities. Each listing is enriched with images, descriptions, local tips, maps, and contact details, making it easier than ever to plan and organize your trip. Our intuitive app allows you to easily book hotels, tours, tickets, and experiences directly from your phone, eliminating the need to navigate multiple websites.

With features like historical insights, travel essentials, and curated local tips, Evendo ensures you experience County of Hainaut like a local. The app's 'Near Me' feature helps you discover nearby attractions, no matter where you are. Best of all, Evendo is completely free to use, with no in-app purchases or hidden costs.

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