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Square · Mons, Hainaut
Grand-Place de Mons
Mons's main square, featuring the 15th-century Gothic Hôtel de Ville, the lucky monkey on the façade and, beyond, the Jardin du Mayeur and the Musée du Doudou. It is the stage for the Lumeçon combat.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Grand-Place de Mons
The Grand-Place is the heart of Mons life. The paved square has façades ranging from Gothic to Neoclassical, with café and restaurant terraces almost all the way around. On one side stands the Hôtel de Ville, the town hall, built between 1458 and 1477 in the Gothic style; the belfry that crowns the building was added in 1717–1718. On the opposite side are the Maison de la Toison d'Or and the old Halle aux Draps.
On the Hôtel de Ville façade, beside the entrance, is the Singe du Grand-Garde, a small iron statue of a monkey whose head is worn by visitors' hands. No one knows for sure why it is there: theories range from a blacksmith's masterpiece to a tavern sign. Since 1930, when writer Paul Heupgen invented the legend, passing the left hand over the monkey's head is said to bring good luck for a year.
Passing through the Hôtel de Ville courtyard leads to the Jardin du Mayeur, a small, quiet garden in the centre. There is the Musée du Doudou, which uses large panels and festival artefacts to tell the legend of Saint George and the dragon and the history of the Ducasse de Mons, recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Heritage in 2005.
On the Doudou Sunday, which usually falls between late May and mid-June, the Grand-Place hosts the Lumeçon, the combat between Saint George and the dragon, with the square packed with spectators. The rest of the year it hosts markets, concerts and, in December, the Christmas fair. The fountain installed in 2006 has 92 jets emerging from the ground.
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
Half an hour for the square and the monkey; another hour for the Jardin du Mayeur and the Musée du Doudou.
Best time
In the morning, when the square is quieter, for photographing the Hôtel de Ville façade. At night the buildings are lit and the terraces are full. On the Doudou weekend, between late May and mid-June, the square is packed and access to the Lumeçon is contested.
How to get there
From Gare de Mons it's about a 15-minute walk uphill through the town centre shopping streets. TEC buses stop at the Grand-Place.
Tip
The monkey is at hand height next to the Hôtel de Ville entrance; at weekends there is often a short queue for photos. The Musée du Doudou is closed on Mondays. During the Doudou period, book accommodation months in advance.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Grand-Place de Mons
Where is the lucky monkey?
On the façade of the Hôtel de Ville, next to the main door, in front of the Grand-Place. Tradition calls for passing your left hand over its head.
What is the Musée du Doudou?
It's the museum of the city's festival, in the Jardin du Mayeur, behind the Hôtel de Ville. It tells the legend of Saint George and the dragon and the history of the Ducasse de Mons, with large panels and items used in the festival.
Can you enter the Hôtel de Ville?
The historic rooms of the building, such as the wedding hall and the portrait gallery, are open to visitors on certain days, usually with guided tours. The building usually closes to visitors for about a month during the Doudou. Check with the tourist office.
What is the Lumeçon?
It's the fight between Saint George and the dragon, staged on the Grand-Place on the Sunday of the Doudou. It lasts about half an hour, and the crowd tries to pull hairs from the dragon's tail, which, according to tradition, bring luck.