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Museum · Tournai, Hainaut
TAMAT - Musée de la Tapisserie
The tapestry and textile arts museum of Tournai, housed in a neoclassical mansion on the place Reine Astrid. More than 250 works spanning six centuries, from 15th-century Tournai tapestries to contemporary textile art.
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 TAMAT - Musée de la Tapisserie
In the 15th and 16th centuries, Tournai was one of the major tapestry centers in Europe. The city's workshops wove enormous pieces for kings, dukes and cathedrals, with scenes of battles, biblical stories and Antiquity. The TAMAT, Centre de la Tapisserie, des Arts Muraux et des Arts du Tissu, tells that story and what came after.
The museum occupies a neoclassical mansion on the place Reine Astrid. The collection has more than 250 works spanning six centuries: 15th-century Tournai tapestries, pieces from later centuries and contemporary works, including those of the Forces Murales movement, which renewed Belgian tapestry after World War II.
In addition to the exhibition rooms, the TAMAT has research studios for artists, a documentation center and a conservation and restoration workshop open to the public, where you can see the meticulous work of treating old textiles.
Temporary exhibitions bring textile art from various countries and engage in dialogue with the collection. The TAMAT is one of the contemporary art centers maintained by the Federação Valônia-Bruxelas.
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
About 1 hour.
Best time
Opening days change with the season: from April to October the museum is closed on Tuesdays; from November to March, on Mondays. It closes at lunchtime and on some city festival days. Check before you go.
How to get there
It is located on the place Reine Astrid, about a 5-minute walk from the Grand-Place and close to the Musée des Beaux-Arts. From the Gare de Tournai it's about a 15-minute walk.
Tip
Ask to see the restoration workshop when it is open to visitors. Combine it with the Musée des Beaux-Arts, a few minutes away, for an afternoon of museums.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about TAMAT - Musée de la Tapisserie
Why does Tournai have a tapestry museum?
Because in the 15th and 16th centuries the city was one of Europe's major tapestry centers, with workshops that worked for courts and churches.
Are there only antique pieces?
No. The collection ranges from the 15th century to contemporary textile art, and the temporary exhibitions feature artists from several countries.
What days is it open?
It depends on the season: from April to October it is closed on Tuesdays, and from November to March on Mondays. Confirm before you go.