Mons' year of culture

As unusual as it may sound, Mons' former slaughterhouse serves as an exhibition hall this year. That's where the works of 20 inventors from the Neolithic up to the present day are shown. Among them is Jean-Charles Houzeau, who developed the heliometer, a solar instrument, in 1882. Albert Toilliez, who found that Stone Age chisels are suitable as a coal mining tool, is also represented.

The bell tower in Mons rises above the city of 95,000 inhabitants. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is visible from everywhere in town. Victor Hugo called it a "coffee pot" because of its bulbous shape. The French writer found it ugly ; "if only it weren't so great," he lamented. It is the only belfry in Belgium created in Baroque style. In April 2015, it will be re-opened as a museum.

The exhibition "Van Gogh in Borinage" is one of the highlights of the Capital of Culture year. It presents the first drawings of the Dutch artist, who lived as a preacher in the mining region Borinage, just outside of Mons, from 1878 to 1880. This period is considered to be decisive in his development, as local motifs regularly come up in his works.

In 2000, Google established its European data center in Mons - continuing what had already been started by two Belgians towards the end of the 19th century. Back then, Paul Otlet and Henri La Fontaine founded archives in the Mundaneum, a kind of Google in paper form consisting of 18 million index cards. The Mundaneum is one of five UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Mons.

The inhabitants of Mons are hoping for better times. The Capital of Culture year is expected to help reduce the unemployment rate, which is now at 20 percent. But there are plenty of ways to invoke good luck in Mons - like by stroking the head of this little monkey at the town hall once a year with your left hand, or snatching a horse tail hair from St. George's horse at the annual dragon fight.

The region surrounding Mons profited from the mining industry until 1958. But then it became too expensive to mine coal that was deeper than 1,000 meters below the surface. The rubble mounds on the outskirts of the city are a reminder of that era, just like the numerous two-story brick houses lining major roads leading to Mons. Many of them are now empty.

Mons is one of the rare cities in which women were in charge - among them one who was even beatified: Saint Waltraud, who saved the city from the plague in 1349. Together with other wealthy women, she constructed St. Waltrudis Church. Once a year, the relics of these women are driven through the city in a golden carriage.

The bust of Saint Waltraud is an eye catcher in the city's impressive Gothic church. The French army once stole it and melted it down - which is why only a replica made of copper is now on display in the St. Waltrudis Church.

Most of the streets in Mons are paved with cobblestones and lead to the Grande Place. With its numerous coffee shops it's a favorite meeting ground for the 20,000 students of the two universities. The City Hall, in Gothic style, is also located there.

Five new museums will be opened in Mons in April this year. At present, the entire city seems to be a huge construction site. Also the former barracks of the cavalry is in a process of transformation. In line with the slogan of the Capital of Culture year, it will be turned into an art and design museum.

So far, Mons is the smallest ever Capital of Culture. Each quarter this year, Mons aims to attract visitors with a new sensational program. Exciting exhibitions, museum openings, and festivals are in store. The city will spend 70 million euros to create a true party atmosphere with 5,000 artists from 12 participating countries.