Before you go

Your trip to Tournai.

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

Tournai – Hainaut Destination Mons and Tournai about 50 km from Mons

How to get there

Brussels Airport (BRU) Zaventem · 110 km
Brussels South Charleroi Airport (CRL) Charleroi · 100 km
Gare de Tournai 1 km

Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.

SNCB trains link Brussels to Gare de Tournai in about an hour, and there are frequent trains to Mons. From Brussels Airport the train usually requires a change in Brussels. By car, the E42 links Mons to Tournai, and the city is about 30 km from Lille in France.

How many days

One day is enough for the cathedral, the beffroi, the Grand-Place, the Pont des Trous and a museum. With a second day there's time to visit the Musée des Beaux-Arts and the TAMAT at a relaxed pace and to walk along the banks of the Escalda. Those staying in Mons can do Tournai as a day trip by train.

When to go

From May to September days are long and the banks of the Escalda are pleasant for walking. The beffroi is open Tuesday to Sunday, only in the afternoons. From November to March there is less activity and it's cold, but the museums remain open. Avoid Mondays, when almost all museums are closed.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

Do you need a car?

No. The station is about a 15-minute walk from the Grand-Place, and the centre, the cathedral, the beffroi, the museums and the Pont des Trous are all within walking distance of each other.

Suggested itinerary

An order that works

Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.

One day in Tournai

Morning
Cathedral and Grand-Place
Leave the station on foot, cross the Escalda and see the five towers of the Cathédrale Notre-Dame. Continue to the triangular Grand-Place, with the Halle aux Draps and the church of Saint-Quentin.
Afternoon
Beffroi and museum
After lunch, climb the steps of the Beffroi de Tournai to the viewpoint. Then visit the Musée des Beaux-Arts by Victor Horta or the TAMAT, the tapestry museum.
Late afternoon
Pont des Trous and Escalda
Walk along the quays of the Escalda to the Pont des Trous, the 13th-century fortified gate over the river.
Evening
Dinner in the center
Dine near the Grand-Place before the return train or stay overnight in the city to see the cathedral illuminated.

Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.

Before you go

Frequently asked questions

Can you see Tournai on a day trip?

Yes. From Brussels or Mons the train takes less than an hour, and the centre can be covered on foot in a day. Keep in mind the beffroi only opens in the afternoon and that museums close on Mondays.

How much time to reserve for the cathedral?

From half an hour to an hour, including the exterior with the five towers and the interior. It is a few steps from the beffroi and the Grand-Place, so you can fit it between the two visits. Check visiting hours before you go, as they change on days with mass.

What language is spoken?

French. In Flemish, the Dutch spoken in Belgium, the city is called Doornik, a name that appears on road signs and on station panels in the north of the country.

Can Tournai be combined with Lille?

Yes. Lille, in France, is about 30 km away, and there are trains between the two cities. Travelers in northern France can spend a day in Tournai.

Who are the historical figures connected to Tournai?

Clovis, the king of the Franks, was born there in the 5th century, when the city was the capital of the kingdom. The tomb of his father, Quilderico, was found in Tournai in 1653. The painter Rogier van der Weyden was also born in the city.

Back to Tournai