Have you heard of Thuin? It is a sweet Belgian city with a rich medieval past. Tracked down in the Hainaut region. Thuin, a medieval city seated on a rocky outcrop, overlooks the Sambre and Biesmelle valleys. In the heart of the old center, the cobbled streets, the Posts and the winding alleys will plunge you into the corridors of time. Unusual for its current “Fluid” art course, the city is discovered through the works. The Sambre that will amaze you with its green meanders, manual locks, vessels, the boatmen’s quarter, and the RAVeL. Without forgetting: the Belfry, the Vicinal Tramway Museum, the “
Address to reach this Medieval town : Place du Chapitre 3, 6530 Thuin
Scroll down to make your journey to Thuin an exciting one:
Beffroi de Thuin
Soaring high above the town, inscribed by UNESCO for its extraordinary 7th-century architecture, the belfry of Thuin ensures an incredible lookout of the region. Thuin’s 1639 stone bell tower is capped with five slate spires and several gilded baubles.
The steps are steep and the expedition is not for those who are scared of heights since the steps are translucent and the walkways are slim. Make sure you climb up the belfry when the bells are ringing.
The bells ring on the half-hour and the hour. The ringing is done with a pneumatic system now, but the original mechanisms are all there in plain sight. On some days here, Christmas Carols are also played.
Follow the guide to find out its carillon, assembled of 25 bells as well as its two major bells, lovingly named as Maria and Paula. Once you touch the top of the tower, 40 metres high, you will discover 4 towers, each offering a different view over the valleys of the Sambre and Biesmelle.
Visitors get the opportunity to watch a movie retracing its story. A fantastic way to learn about the purpose of the belfry in the town. A mesmerising place to visit.
The Hanging Gardens of Thuin
In the heart of Thuin, On the south side of the Biesmelle valley, at the top of the city, the Hanging Gardens, appraised as an “exceptional site”, proposes an extraordinary atmosphere in Hainaut! These gardens are part of the fortresses of the medieval city. The south confronting porches enjoy a microclimate and have a distinct flora and fauna. Constructed of thin paved lanes and towers, this remarkable setting even has its vineyard, festoon with at the work. You can have a nice stroll around the hanging garden which layout was connected to Thuin’s ramparts, give poetic and peaceful atmosphere. It has three circuits starting from the belfry and returns to the same place one of 4km and two others of 2km. A map is available.
The medieval city illustrated by a green M and the boatman life illustrated by two blue waves. These 200 terraced gardens also offer an artistic route illustrating the medieval city, its past and its architectural evolution through time. Looking forward to seeing you in these exceptional hanging gardens!
The Aulne Abbey
The ravages of the Cistercian Aulne Abbey are curled up on the right bank of the Sambre, on a site beautifully called “Vallée de la Paix” or Valley of peace. The environment is certainly very serene and invites for a pleasant walk. According to the legend, the Abbey was established by the later canonized Abbot Landelin of Crespin repented thief, in 657. Originated as a Benedictine monastery, in the XIIth century it became a Cistercian Abbey. He named it Aulne, the French word for Alder, trees growing abundantly in the region.
The Abbaye d’Alene seesawed periods of splendour and decadence until 1794 when it was painfully wrecked by French revolutionary troops. In 1859 when the last monk expired, the Monastery was evacuated and swivelled into a hospice.
Education panels all along the outdoors itinerary will tell you more about the location and the Cistercian monks residing there. The landscape garden also is a wonderful place to relax. Highly recommended.
Thudo Ecomuseum
why not explore the lower part of the city, favorited by the boatmen? The 17th and 18th houses are quite noticeable with their narrow doors and windows, and plaques referring to boats’ names on their façade.
Thuin, formerly a boatmen’s town, discloses a portion of its past to tourists. Stride on board this narrowboat-museum, attached by the Quai de Sambre
With their close houses built from rubble stone and bricks from the region, the narrow streets are waiting to be explored. In the Thudo Ecomuseum, this former vessel presents how boats were built, the several communication means, what happened during the war. The various themes are depicted with postcards, construction drawings, scale boats and more. Many sailors retired in the area and still live there. You will find a lovely square with a view on the Sambre to rest a little.
Le Clos des Zouaves
Le Clos des Zouaves is an exclusive taste of Belgium. This vineyard, rooted in 2001, stretches over Thuin’s rescinded gardens. The very first harvest, in 2003, ascertained an actual success with the 700 bottles! So much that the wine manufactured has now its Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée: Côtes de Sambre et Meuse. The vineyard counts 1,000 plants along with the terraced gardens. The latter, facing south and protected by the walls, manufacture quality grapes of the Régent variety, which is harmonized perfectly to the provincial climate. The so-called “reasoned” strategy is used for this winegrowing: only the strict minimum of chemical products is used to treat them. The wine has been vinified as a naturally sweet wine, in 50cl bottles. Their wine is of the Banyuls or Maury type, accompanying foie gras, chocolate, or desserts. This change arises due to poor weather conditions, but it is famous for the public and is moreover a little dependent on weather conditions.
