The best city hikes and walks in Parc Naturel Des Plaines De L’Escaut

The church was built in the last quarter of the 12th century. At the beginning of the 13th century, the Romanesque choir was replaced by a Gothic choir with ribbed vaults. The bell tower was added in the 15th century. It served as a bell tower on the right bank of the river before that part of the city was added to Tournai. When a rectory was built next to the church, a fantastic discovery was made in 1653: the intact tomb of the Merovingian king Childeric I was discovered [2]. Due to its location close to the train station, the church suffered heavily during World War II. The interior, in particular, was irreparably damaged during German air raids. Restoration work lasted until 1954.

The original 13th-century wooden cloth hall was destroyed in a storm in 1606. Between 1610 and 1611, the building was rebuilt in various architectural styles: Gothic pointed arches on the ground floor, a Renaissance first floor, and Baroque gables. The courtyard with galleries from 1616 is Italianate. In 1881, the cloth merchants' building collapsed. It was rebuilt and became a city museum. After the fire bombs in 1940, the building had to be repaired. The facade was renewed during city restoration works in 1998. The building is a meeting centre and event hall.

Jules Marcel Lamoral Bara (Doornik, 3 August 1835 - Sint-Joost-ten-Node, 26 June 1900) was a Belgian liberal representative, senator, and minister.

The church of Saint-John the Baptist, in the heart of the old Chaufours district (lime kilns), consists of a Gothic tower with a stone spire from the 14th century (1365). The nave dates from the end of the 18th century (1780). The interior, in a style reminiscent of that period, consists of three apses decorated with altars and paintings. The choir is adorned with 18th-century woodwork and a 14th-century brass lectern. Source: tournai.be

During a trip through Morocco, Guillaume Charlier (1854-1925) witnessed a moving scene in Tangier. Among groups of beggars, he saw four blind Arabs who, leaning on each other, obediently followed a young boy in rags. The sculptor quickly made sketches of this poignant spectacle, which he could later use as a source of inspiration. The result from 1908 stands here, in front of the former post office, on Rue des Chapeliers. Source: be.monumen.be

The construction of the very first hall dates back to the 13th century. Built of wood, it was blown away by a storm. Four years later, it was rebuilt (1610-1611) in a mixture of styles: Renaissance on the 1st floor, Baroque gables, a frontispiece with Ionic columns,... The facade of this magnificent building was restored during the construction of the new Grand-Place, inaugurated in 1998. Mainly to be viewed from the outside. During certain events, the interior can be visited (e.g. Halle Gourmande, Christmas market,...). source: visitwallonia.be

Maria Christina van Lalaing, also known as Philippe-Christine de Lalaing (Condé-sur-l'Escaut, 1545 - Antwerp, 9 June 1582), was a noblewoman who played an exceptional role in the Siege of Tournai (1581).

The belfry of Tournai is the oldest in Belgium (12th century). The building, which is part of UNESCO World Heritage, is 72 meters high and dominates the Grand-Place. During the ascent of the tower with its 257 steps, one discovers various didactic exhibitions, the prison, the carillonneur's room, and finally the bells which ring every Sunday during the summer (around 3:30 PM). The belfry of Tournai, built in 1192, symbolizes municipal freedoms. Its bell (the “Bancloque”) was used to warn the population of trials, executions, invasions, fires, etc. The belfry served as a watchtower, prison, bell tower, and town hall. You have access to the first terrace, which offers a breathtaking view of Tournai and its surroundings. source: visitwapi.be