Nov. 02--Mons made the most of its status as one of the Cultural Capitals of Europe this year: It opened five new museums and has started work on a Van Gogh Trail honoring the painter, who was living in the area when he decided to abandon preaching and pour his soul into paint.
--Located in an early 18th century Ursuline convent chapel, the Artotheque is Mons' cultural heritage museum. It features immersive digital displays of historic works. Because the large, open historic interior was altered by concrete floors in post-World War II reconstruction, architects created a vertical fissure so visitors can glimpse the chapel's original majesty. www.artotheque.mons.be
As the only baroque belfry in Belgium, the reopened Belfry of Mons beckons with a 285-foot tower, 49 bells and 365 steps. UNESCO designated the building a world heritage site in 1999. www.beffroi.mons.be
The Mons Memorial Museum explores the relationships between civilians and warriors, towns and the military, and the phenomena of war from the Middle Ages through two World Wars. www.monsmemorialmuseum.mons.be
The Mons Doudou Museum lets visitors experience the Ducasse, or Doudou, festival through videos and interactive displays. Held annually 57 days after Easter, the festival celebrates St. Waudru, the patron saint of Mons, and St. George, who slayed the dragon in the legendary Battle of Lumecon. UNESCO made Doudou a World Heritage event in 2005. www.museedudoudou.mons.be
The Neolithic flint mines of Spiennes: This is an archaeological site with one of the oldest flint mines in Europe. Some mining shafts are up to 52 feet deep. www.silexs.mons.be
Although the Van Gogh Trail is in the early stages of development, travelers already are walking and biking in the Dutch artist's footsteps. The trail starts 10 miles outside of Mons in the Borinage area. It runs through coal mine ruins and small villages where Van Gogh lived between December 1878 and October 1880. After realizing he wasn't cut from the right cloth to minister to coal miners, Van Gogh traded his Bible for a paintbrush.
Info: www.mons2015.eu/en and www.visitbelgium.com
Terry Gardner is a freelance reporter.
