Hotels in Mons

I loved the fact you could walk anywhere in the city -- to the train station easily and everywhere else. I went to see the fabulous Paul Verlaine exhibit at the BAM Beaux Arts Mons (Museum) which took all of my first day as I came from London that morning. Verlaine spent nearly 2 years in prison in Mons: not on the original charge of shooting Arthur Rimbaud in the hand, but for the homosexual implications of that act after the charges were dropped. It was thrilling to see the actually letters between the various characters in Verlaine's life and read them conveniently in French, Flemish or English on the screen). A lot of research involved. Verlaine's connections with the Belgium literary scene was well done. My second and final day I toured the town (my hotel was smack in the centre), visiting the imposing Gothic Collegiale Sainte Waudru cathedral with its famous sculptures by Jacques du Broeucq and then next door to the Unesco recognised Beffroi (the only Baroque bell tower in Belgium). You can climb up high enough to enjoy great views and see some of the 49 bells. A quick look into the Artotheque (a storage museum for the areas art and restoration) to see Europe's only original Van Gogh sketch from the time he lived in Cuesmes in the Borinage area. Then a quick bus ride to the house itself (the annex where Van Gogh actually lived is long gone) in the Borinage or coal mining district. There is a visitor centre where I bought one of the last English language catalogues from last year's big Van Gogh in Belgium exhibit. I did not have time to visit the impressive Town Hall, or the museum (saw it from the outside) tracing the history of conflict and war in Mons or to visit the areas associated with WW I and II -- or to finish the Artotheque! So I must go back.

The xmas and new year set up in the square with the ice rink and all the little stalls, outstanding, all of us loved it. Staying at the hotel Vas de valk was just perfect, and once all the building is done, with the railway station two minutes walk away...perfect.

Town has a much old world charm. Can be run down in places and main shopping street appears to be struggling to compete with large out of centre shopping complex and the internet. The Cathedral is worth a visit. Le Grand Pres shopping centre is massive with a huge range of high quality vendors.

Very clean and organized oldtown and city center, small just fit for walking Nice restaurants and bars Great buildings of city history, very well preserved But relatively expensive tax, grocery store prices

The Mons Experience museum was very good in addition to a very informative display on the two world wars they have installed a complete experience which gives you a 360 real vision and sound of stages battle incidents. they are very real and I would say you should not leave Mons without seeing them. the cost at 9 Euros is very reasonable. The Main square is full of good cafes and restaurants we ate in the Copenhagen Inn and they managed to cope with my gluten free diet very easily. The city is compact and lies within the dismantled city walls which are now the ring road. There are lots of museums when it is wet and it is within very easy access from the main motorways.

Hotel in excellent place in the middle of Mons but car park busy so have to leave your car keys at reception we were not comfortable ,hotel charged us twice for one night stay air con not working and complained twice but was not resolved