Hainaut (Henegouwen)
The province of Hainaut is unknown to many, which is a shame, because the attractions are plenty. You will find two large cities: Courtrai and Mons. Courtrai is one of the oldest cities in Belgium and situated by the river Lys. Especially the beguinage, the belfry and the Grand Place are very much worth visiting. Mons has similar highlights: the belfry and the Grand Place, but the most lovely is the church Rampe Sainte-Waudru.
A smaller place worth visiting is Thuin, dominated by its belfry, cobbled streets and hanging gardens, but you can also visit the impressive ruins of the abbey of Aulne, belonging to the most important heritage of Wallonia. Lovers of botanical gardens in Hainaut can visit Parc Paradisio in Brugelette, where the most beautiful flowers and plants can be seen in the large Indonesian and Chinese gardens. Also penguins, hippos and many more animals live here. The province also features two arboretums, one located on the estate Monceau-sur-Sambre, one of the nicest parks in the region, the other in Semapark in Jumet. The parks are ideal for walking and they're open throughout the year.
