The best city hikes and walks in Hainaut

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.

After the boutique "Le Loft" closed its doors in 2017, the former post office building stood empty for a while, until a restaurant based on a street food concept moved in in 2022... but it only lasted a few months. In May 2024, "Happy Days", a venue for birthday parties for children and young people, opened here. At the end of 2023, the City of Tournai had announced plans to temporarily house the Archaeological Museum (which had to be closed for safety reasons) here, pending the establishment of a specific 'History and Remembrance Centre'," (as can be read on notele.be), but it seems those plans did not go ahead (yet). Source: tournai.be, lavenir.be, dhnet.be

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

This tower from the first city wall from the 11th century was thoroughly restored and reinaugurated on October 24, 2023. A commemorative plaque bears witness to this.

The patron saint of the church, Saint Bricius (Tours, c. 370 - 444) was a Frankish bishop of the city of Civitas Turonum (Tours) in Gaul. According to legend, as a child he was designated by Martin of Tours (later venerated as Saint Martin), the then bishop of the city, as his successor... and so he became after Martin's death in 397. His subsequent life has a course that we only know from myths, sagas, and hagiographies: After 33 years of episcopate, he became the victim of a smear campaign: he was accused of having fathered a child with a resident maid. To prove his innocence, Bricius had to rely on a few miracles. It is said that the child, only one month old, testified with a perfect sentence in front of a full courtroom: 'You are not my father.' He then endured the ordeal by fire. He took a handful of glowing coals, wrapped them in his cassock, and walked with them to Martin's tomb to pour them out there. His hands were not burned, and his cassock remained unharmed: another example of divine intervention. The miracles were still not enough for the people of Tours, whereupon Bricius was driven out of the city and went to Rome. In the meantime, his opponents tried to place a certain Justinian on the episcopal throne, but this candidate died shortly thereafter. Eventually, Armenius became the new bishop of Tours. After seven years of penance, Bricius returned to Tours. By then, he had convinced the pope of his innocence, thereby receiving permission from the highest ecclesiastical authority to resume his episcopal office. He did so until his death in 444. Source: Wikipedia

Several small shops under the glass roof...

Here you can encounter deer on the paths...

Choo choo...