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Industrial heritage · Mons, Hainaut
Grand-Hornu
Neoclassical mining complex built at the beginning of the 19th century by Henri De Gorge, with an oval courtyard, workshops and 425 workers' houses. A UNESCO World Heritage site, it houses the MACS contemporary art museum and the CID design centre.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Grand-Hornu
Grand-Hornu is in Hornu, in the municipality of Boussu, about 12 km west of Mons. The French industrialist Henri De Gorge bought the coal mine in 1810 and, from 1816, built a planned complex around it: workshops, offices, stables and a workers' village with 425 houses, each with four rooms, an attic and a backyard. The neoclassical design is by architect Bruno Renard.
The centre of the complex is the large oval courtyard, surrounded by brick arcades, where the maintenance workshops for the steam engines were located. De Gorge's idea was to attract miners by offering comfort that was rare for the time. In 1830, the mine had one of the country's first horse-drawn railways.
Extraction stopped in 1954 and the complex was abandoned and threatened with demolition. It was rescued in the 1970s and 1980s, purchased by the province of Hainaut in 1989 and inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2012 as one of the four great mining sites of Valônia.
Today Grand-Hornu brings together heritage and art. The former buildings house the MACS, the contemporary art museum of the Federation Valônia-Bruxelas, with major international exhibitions, and the CID, a centre for innovation and design. The courtyards and the ruins of the workshops can be explored in the same visit.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
From 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours, including the site and the exhibitions.
Best time
Open Tuesday to Sunday; closed on Mondays. On dry days you can stroll comfortably around the courtyards and the workers' village, which is outside. Check the current exhibitions at MACS and CID before you go.
How to get there
From Mons it is about a 15-minute drive along the N51 to Hornu. By train, the nearest station is Saint-Ghislain, with TEC buses to Grand-Hornu; check schedules before you travel.
Tip
Allow time for the workers' village, in the streets around the courtyard: the houses are inhabited, so view them from the street. The site has a café and a bookshop. Combine it with the Maison Van Gogh in Cuesmes for a day in the Borinage.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Grand-Hornu
What is the MACS?
It is the Musée des Arts Contemporains, a contemporary art museum occupying part of the Grand-Hornu buildings and hosting major exhibitions by international artists.
Can you get there by public transport?
Yes, by train to Saint-Ghislain and TEC bus to Hornu, but with fewer schedules. By car or taxi from Mons it's about 15 minutes.
Why is the Grand-Hornu a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
It is part of the major mining sites of Valônia, inscribed in 2012, and is a rare example of a planned workers' town from the early Industrial Revolution.
What days is it open?
Open from Tuesday to Sunday. Closed on Mondays. Check before you go.