Hainaut is one of the lesser-known provinces of Wallonia but, in 2015, it’s going to be one of the best places to be. Mons, the capital of Hainaut is the European Capital of culture and the city will celebrating by opening a handful of brand new museums, as well as hosting exhibitions and concerts throughout the year.
Hainaut may not be as well known by tourists, but it is home to some of our favourite attractions in Belgium. Pairi Daiza Zoo and Botanical Garden is one of the best zoos we’ve visited – anywhere. Nearby, you’ll also discover the impressive Chateau de Beloeil and Belgium’s UNESCO listed ancient boat lifts.
Some of our favourite beverages come from Hainaut as well. The Belgian Trappist beer, Chimay, comes from the region, as does our favourite Belgian sparkling wine, Cuvée Seigneur Ruffus.
In the tiny town of Binche, you can also discover one of the most unusual and fascinating cultural traditions; so special it’s been recognised by UNESCO. Each winter thousands of people gather in Binche’s streets to watch the Gilles parade through town, throwing oranges, during the Carnival celebration. Carnival is such a big deal in Binche, the town is also home to the International Museum of Carnival and Masks, which is worth visiting any time of year.
Hainaut may not have been on your ‘places to visit’ radar before, but it should be now.
[the_ad id=”16655″]
Le Beau Velo de Ravel is a great way to explore Belgium’s hidden gems
Guest contributor, Adrian, introduces us to Belgium’s all-ages summer cycling event, Le beau vélo de RAVeL and shares why it’s a great way to discover Belgium’s hidden gems.
Our 15 top weekend getaways in Belgium
Today we want to inspire you to get our and explore Belgium. Here are our top 15 weekend getaways in Flanders, Wallonia, and Brussels.
As we’re preparing to take off on our European travel adventure, I’ve been reflecting on our ten years in Belgium a lot lately. We’ve had some unbelievable experiences – some good, some not so good, and a few that were downright weird.
Belgium’s 80+ breweries produce almost 1000 varieties of beer, but visiting one isn’t simple. To make it easier, here is our list of Belgian breweries open for individual visitors.
Belgium currently has 13 UNESCO World Heritage sites, 16 tentative sites, and 13 listings of cultural heritage. That’s a lot of heritage for one tiny country!
The Carnival of Binche, in Wallonia’s Hainaut province, in Belgium, is a Mardi Gras festival so steeped in tradition and culture it’s been recognised by UNESCO.
[the_ad id=”16654″]
