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    Tournai
    JackyM59 / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

    Belgium

    Tournai

    City

    Tournai on the Scheldt, about 85 kilometers southwest of Brussels near the French border, is one of Belgium's oldest cities.

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    9. Tournai
    Tournai on the Scheldt, about 85 kilometers southwest of Brussels near the French border, is one of Belgium's oldest cities. Its cathedral with five towers and the belfry, considered the country's oldest, are both UNESCO World Heritage sites.Today you'll discover a peaceful bishop's city with a triangular Grand-Place, an art museum designed by Victor Horta, and the medieval Pont des Trous over the Scheldt.
    Tournai has approximately 69,000 inhabitants and belongs to the cross-border Eurometropol Lille-Kortrijk-Tournai. The city center is compact: Grand-Place, Belfry and Cathedral are just a few steps apart. The density of medieval architecture is remarkable, even if parts of the old town were faithfully rebuilt after the damage of 1940. Highlights include the Grand-Place, the district around the Cathedral, and a walk along the Scheldt to the Pont des Trous.

    Sights in Tournai

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Museum of Fine Arts
    Museum

    1Museum of Fine Arts

    Victor Horta designed the museum for collector Henri Van Cutsem, opening in 1928. The collection features Édouard Manet's "Argenteuil" and "Chez le père Lathuille," alongside works by Rogier van der Weyden, a Tournai native.
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    Belfry of Tournai
    Historic Landmark

    2Belfry of Tournai

    The construction of the 72-meter-high belfry began around 1188; it is considered Belgium's oldest belfry and has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1999. You climb a good 250 steps up to the galleries.
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    Notre-Dame Cathedral
    Church

    3Notre-Dame Cathedral

    Romanesque basilica (consecrated 1255), Gothic choir, five approx. 83m towers, UNESCO World Heritage since 2000. Its treasury holds the Marienschrein (Nikolaus von Verdun, c. 1205). For ongoing restoration and floor renovation since May 2026, check visiting options beforehand.
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    Restaurants in Tournai

    1

    The Little Madeleine

    Classic French cuisine in an upscale setting on Rue de la Madeleine, recommended in the Michelin Guide.
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    2

    La Paulée Marie-Pierre

    Classic French cuisine at moderate prices on the Chaussée de Bruxelles, Michelin Guide recommended.
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    Eating and Drinking in Tournai

    Lost Monday's Rabbit

    Rabbit dish, traditionally enjoyed by families on the first Monday after Epiphany.

    Tournay

    Beer from Brasserie de Cazeau, unfiltered and unpasteurized, as Blonde, Noire and Triple.

    Saint-Martin

    Abbey beers of Brasserie de Brunehaut, named after the former Saint-Martin Abbey, where the town hall now stands.

    Cathedral City on the Schelde

    A Major Construction Site for DecadesA tornado severely damaged the cathedral on August 14, 1999, revealing structural weaknesses. Since then, it has been restored in phases. Additionally, from May 4, 2026, the entire interior flooring will be renewed, primarily with Tournai stone; the work is expected to take about two years. An exhibition at the construction fence explains the architecture and restoration.The Lundi perduOn Lundi perdu, the first Monday after Epiphany, families in Tournai gather for a traditional rabbit meal, accompanied by songs and texts in the Picard dialect. In 2021, the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles recognized this supper as a masterpiece of intangible cultural heritage, along with the Grand Procession of Tournai.

    Getting There and Around in Tournai

    Getting thereIntercity trains connect Brussels directly with Tournai several times a day; the journey takes about an hour. By car, it is about 90 kilometers from Brussels.Getting aroundAll major attractions are close together and are easily accessible on foot.

    Accommodations in Tournai

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    Campgrounds in Tournai

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      • 2Belfry of Tournai4 days
      • 3Notre-Dame Cathedral5 days
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    Nearby

    Hauts-de-France

    Hauts-de-France

    The Hauts-de-France region in northern France combines Gothic cathedrals, Flemish-influenced cities, and long sandy beaches along the Opal Coast. It is shaped by its role in both World Wars and its mining heritage, and is conveniently located between Paris, Brussels, and London.
    Lille

    Lille

    The dynamic capital of the Hauts-de-France region boasts Flemish architecture, vibrant squares and a rich cultural scene, making it a major hub in Northern France.
    Mons

    Mons

    Mons, just over an hour southwest of Brussels in Hainaut, is a university city with a spacious Grand-Place and three UNESCO listings. It uniquely combines a Baroque belfry, Gothic church art, and the Doudou, one of Belgium's most impressive folk festivals.Beyond Mons lie further historical traces: the Neolithic flint mines of Spiennes and the house in Cuesmes where Vincent van Gogh lived in the Borinage. In 2015, the city was a European Capital of Culture, prompting the modernization of many museums.
    Hainaut

    Hainaut

    Hainaut in southwest Wallonia stretches from the French border to the edge of the Ardennes, with Charleroi just under an hour by train from Brussels. You come here for the legacy of coal mining, designated a UNESCO World Heritage site, for moated castles, Trappist beer, and the Carnival of Binche.Between the Borinage and Charleroi, coal mines, workers' settlements, and boat lifts tell the story of Belgium's industrial rise. In the south, it becomes rural: the hilly Botte du Hainaut is home to forests, the Eau d'Heure lakes, and Chimay Abbey.
    Ypres

    Ypres

    Ypres (Ieper) in West Flanders, near the French border, is Belgium's central place of remembrance for the First World War. Every evening at 8 PM, the Last Post sounds under the Menin Gate for the fallen of the Commonwealth armies, and war cemeteries like Tyne Cot lie around the city.The old town with its Cloth Halls and Cathedral was almost completely destroyed in the war and then faithfully rebuilt. Those staying for a day combine the In Flanders Fields Museum, a walk on the Vauban ramparts, and the evening ceremony.