Showing posts with label Sightseeing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sightseeing. Show all posts
Habillons la ville
It’s
warm and cozy in Mons during Autumn-Winter.
21
October 2017 – 28 January 2018.
Lumière sur la ville
Mons lit up by 120 giant lanterns
around rue des Capucins and rue de la Petite Guirlande.
September 29 – December 2017.
Mons Street re-View
 |
| streetreview.eu |
Mons-style
Street View, a project since Mons 2015. A much more entertaining than Google!
Check out: www.streetreview.eu
Murals at Piétonnier
The
past few months walking around the old pedestrian shopping street at Rue de la Chaussée nearby
the Grand Place
got really depressing. More and more shops closed their business. Maybe most
people prefer to shop at Les Grands Prés commercial centre with easy access from the
autoroute with free parking spaces.
Achat-Minute
A new parking solution in the town center with 30 minutes of free parking on 110 sites.
Equipped with floor sensors which detect the presence of a vehicle
and the duration of the parking. The
user will then have 30 free minutes to make purchases in local shops.
Maison Van Gogh
On June 5, 2016 we celebrated Fête des
Voisins (The Neighbour’s Party) visiting Maison
Van Gogh in neighbouring area of Cuesmes located only 3 km away.
During 11 am – 12.30 pm there’s a
free visit and music performance by Bastien Loriou
with his barrel organ.
It’s our second visit to the house that Van Gogh
lived from 1879 to 1880, the first time after several renovations (having been
abandoned for nearly a century, The Van Gogh House almost disappeared due to
the poor condition).
Today we have the chance to have a look inside
and see the new layout.
It begins with an
introduction at the entrance of the garden. There’s also a new building allows
us to discover the context of Van Gogh’s arrival in the region and gives us an
overview of this “pays noir” (black country) called the Borinage. In this
little house, it’s completely redesigned. One media room plays the film narrating
the life of Van Gogh and his move to Borinage. The other contains replica works, period documents and letters, with multilingual interactive
screen. That’s it!
It’s a way shorter visit
compared to the Van Gogh exhibition at BAM last year. But this
venue was a major milestone. It was here, in this modest home, Van Gogh, one of the greatest painters from the 19th century took the first steps in his artistic career.
La Phrase
For
the people who love to read. It’s a feast of words. Winding the way past the
lovely facades. It’s a literature in the streets.
Electro Tunnel
It’s not a secret that the works
of the future station of Mons will accompany visitors and
commuters throughout the year 2015. Fred
Sapey Triomphe installed a sparkling ceiling suspended above
the ramp that gives access to the different platforms, to turn the temprorary
construction into a poetic and luminous experience.
And here's a video from a Mons born singer to get closer look...
And here's a video from a Mons born singer to get closer look...
Pairi Daiza: Jardin Impressionniste
Pairi Daiza, the Garden of the
Worlds, leads its visitors on a trip from one continent to another,
among the plant, animal, cultural and spiritual riches which can be
found hidden in this domain formerly inhabited by the Cistercian monks of
the Abbaye de Cambron located about 15 km away from the town center of
Mons.
Drawing inspiration from the
homage being given to Van Gogh, the park is opening, for Mons 2015, a
new garden inviting the visitor to take a path inspired by the most
beautiful works of impressionist artists. The theme of the garden is carried
out so that the views, lights and colours take us into the universe
of painters such as Monet, Manet, Pissarro or Renoir.
The garden becomes the easel, the
sky the canvas and the plants the brush strokes. The movement, the
fleeting impressions, the fluidity of the space materialise through a
movement, as it happens, of a flow of water which, like the
pictorial current, draws us into a universe that is both real
and bucolic inspired by the nature that surrounds us.
This garden open from April 4 –
November 8, 2015.
If you happen to be visiting or
around Mons, I would recommend to go to Pairi Daiza. It’s really a beautiful
park, whether you come alone or with your family. Honestly I haven’t visit all
the areas because it’s getting bigger every year and there’s always something
new.
Few months ago I was so happy
having the chance to meet the family who (mostly) built the park. They’re the
one who make me proud, making The Kingdom of Ganesha – the largest Indonesian
garden in Europe, which was opened in 2009. It reproduces the plant life and
feel of our beautiful and loving archipelago, particularly Bali because there’s
this massive Balinese Hindu temple called Pura Agung Shanti Bhuwana.
I still remember clearly when the first time I visited five
years ago.
Very emotional, knowing we have a piece of home in this
faraway land and located so close from our place.
The lush plantation and rice
terraces.
The jukung (Balinese traditional fishing boat).
The musical ensemble of gamelan.
The smell of incense which fills the air.
Thank you Mr. Eric Domb, the founder who has deep affection
to Bali.
“It is a symbol of my gratitude to Indonesia.
When I was 17 years old, I made the first visit to Indonesia and fell in love.
I came back thirty years later, 2006, with a project to build a real Balinese
temple, with the stone from Gunung Agung, with the best people to craft the
temple”.
This temple is a tribute to the
supreme deity that favours harmony, serenity, prosperity and happiness. Indeed,
'Agung' stands for large, Shanti for serene and Bhuwana for the Universe. Pairi
Daiza dedicated this temple to the Hindu community. So during the opening
season (April-November), along with Balinese people in Europe, we come and celebrate Balinese
Hindu ceremonies.
Apart from the Balinese temple, a miniature Borobudur, a
Timorese village, long Dayak houses and Papuan artifacts are also found in the
complex. The Indonesian government also sent a pair of Sumatran
elephants to enliven the Indonesian Park. It is the first endangered animal
breeding loan program that Indonesia ever had in Europe.
If you haven’t been to Bali or
Indonesia, come and join me on the festivities. Enjoy the traditional music,
dance performances and win special prizes. At least we have it three times a
year (check out Pairi Daiza website or Facebook for updates of the event).
See you there!
Musée du Doudou
Located in the Jardin du Mayeur,
the Doudou Museum invites us to discover the rich world of the Ducasse de Mons,
a jewel of world heritage and Mons folklore.
Housed in the former Mont-de-Piété building, built in 1625, the space invites us to discover this exceptional part of Mons heritage,
that is showcased through different angles: historical, anthropological,
scientific, artistic, lay or religious.
The
fact that the Doudou was recognised by UNESCO as one of the Masterpieces
of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2005 was by no
means an accident. Every year over Trinity weekend, the people of Mons come
together to pay tribute to Sainte Waudru and witness the legendary battle,
known as Lumeçon, pitting Saint George against the Dragon. It is a really
special time in Mons. Time stands still and the city is filled with an
incredible energy. It is often said that the Ducasse creates the tempo for the town
and its residents. The Doudou in Mons is a sacred event.
The experience is all about interpretation, and we can
(re)experience all the highlights of the event through all sorts of objects.
Seeing behind the scenes of the event, try to understand its popularity and
unifying spirit. The participation of local residents in the battle and the
passing on of the tradition to the next generation. Whether you are a local or
not, whether you are familiar with the festivities or have never taken part, you will experience the same intensity that spark that
fires every year in this crazy festival.
So what is it that drives local residents to get together and
experience this event as one? How has the Doudou been passed down the
centuries? What is behind all the highlights? Why does Saint George fight the
Dragon? Why do we need to create these legendary characters? To understand what
lies behind this exceptional legacy, the Doudou Museum looks at all the
different aspects of the event. All the different facets of Mons’ folklore and
heritage have been analysed with a fine-tooth comb, sometimes from some rather
unusual angles.
Mons’ Doudou is explained through history, anthropology, art,
religion and science. Behind Saint George and the Dragon, visitors are
introduced to all the different symbols. This event, which has been passed down
through the centuries, ultimately asks some really important questions about
our society.
Somewhere between reality and the imaginary, the
Doudou Museum takes us right to the heart of the Ducasse de Mons.
Tuesday – Sunday, 10 am – 6 pm
9 €
La Nuit des Musées
Night at the museum organized by Pôle Muséal Mons with theatrical performances, installations, creative
workshops.. all activities which mark our route during the evening. Mons
museums are placed under the spotlight, on August 21, 2015 - from 6 pm until
midnight.
This is an evening out of the
ordinary where we really enjoy the free visit to the museums in the warmth of
summer.
Starting from the Musée du Doudou and had to wait about 20 minutes before I could
got in (full story on the next post).
Then we continue to the Musée d'histoire Naturelle for the exhibition of Mons in the Age of The Great
Discoveries (free visit until October 31, 2015). This is one of the finest natural history museums in Belgium.
Visiting this museum not only remind us of a field trip with our school,
but seeing the collections we kinda wished it would come alive just like in the
movie of “Night at the Museum”.
Within few minutes walk, we arrived at Artothèque which
just opened on Easter weekend. The Chapel of the former Ursuline
Convent, a remarkable example of classical architecture dating from the early
18th century and a listed heritage building turned into the heart of the museum hub. An
art library and conservation centre for Mons heritage. Through interactive multimedia
devices available, it’s a new way to explore and discover the hidden
collections and museums of Mons. During the visit, we were also offered a
private guide who acted like a robot. One of the most unique experience we’ve
had.
To enjoy the atmosphere of course we thought we have to go
the the Grand Place. The Salle
Saint-Georges which conveniently
located at the main square were hosting an exhibition called
“Ouvrir les Murs”, a glimpse of the changes that have modernized and
reorganized the town for 150 years. It addresses different angles, urban,
architectural, historical, sociological, geotechnical ... the transformation of
the town of Mons.
It’s almost midnight and we decided to check out one last
venue, the Beaux-Arts
Mons (BAM) with
an art exhibitions called “MONSens”, Art Brut from Yesterday and Today. Initiated by platforms concerned with mental health issues,
this exhibition offers a historical and contemporary approach to the meaning
(or “sens” in French) of artwork created by artists working
within institutions or on the margins of the official ‘art world’. One of the most interesting part,
there was a ‘Schizometer‘, diagnostic
labeling by creating objects that challenge the psychiatric classification of
mental disorders. For example, my height indicates that I have anorexie mentale/ anorexia nervosa. People were
agreed with the result by seeing me in person and I was LOL (I might have that
size zero body image, but really I have no eating disorder).
Finally we climbed to the rooftop of BAM for a nice Friday
night out. The Rooftop Alhambra
opened during the weekend of summer months (July and August 2015). A cool yet
cozy hang out spot in Mons to have a drink and dance to great tunes played by
local DJs.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)