Mons

Hope you had an excellent party on Christmas and New Year’s Eve!

Well, I came back with the images of Mons, Belgium.

Belgian Monkey Wishing

Mons is a city of Belgium located at the Walloon area. Of a surface of 146,56 km², it shelters 91 221 inhabitants, which are French-speaking. Mons is the chief town of the province of Hainaut, and the cultural capital of Wallonia. The current territory of the commune of Mons was occupied by the Neolithic era, like the Roman time.

In VIIe century the city was founded, by Waldetrude, girl of Clotaire II. She took in Ixe century a consequent military importance following the establishment of the Vikings in the area.To reign with the Long Collar, first count de Hainaut, they build a fortress to protect Mons from the invaders. In Xe century, the city became the principal place of residence of the counts de Hainaut, and the administrative center of the county.

During centuries, Mons continued to develop and to extend around the castle, and from the chapter of Holy Waudru. The religious and civil authorities did not cease clashing there.In XIIe century, the kings Baudouin IV and Baudouin V undertook to renovate the fortifications.

In XIIIe century, Jean II of Avesne made the second wall, which included the town suit. The belfry, which is always let admire today, was high in 1661.

In 1691, the French conquered Mons. They will keep the city only 6 years, but this time was sufficient in Vauban to improve the defensive system of it.Following what the treaty of Ryswik restored Mons to the Crown of Spain. At the XVIIIe century, sovereign court of Hainaut, which then exerted its domination on the town of Mons, abandoned the castle.

This one was unmaintained and ends up being degraded. There remains about it today only the caretaker’s lodge, the belfry and the vault Sainte Calixte.In 1792, following the battle of Jemappes, Mons was proclaimed free city, and became the prefecture of the department.

In 1830, with the independence of Belgium, Mons lives to destroy its last fortifications. The modern city was built on their foundations, according to a diagram in two belts.

At the XXe century, the industrial revolution and the intensive mining which followed were given the responsability to develop and to modernize Mons.

Industry was established deeply in the city, leaving its mark there on the urban architecture and the local culture. Mons is a city today where it makes a good divertising.

In the heart of the old city, the Town square draws up its sumptuous masonries. The paved lanes which leave there are bordered of a multitude of coffees and restaurants.