Pont des Trous

Wallonia


Dating from the 13th century, this photogenic fortified bridge defended the city and was also used for toll collections. Partially destroyed in WWII, it was rebuilt with the central arch larger to allow modern barges through. It is likely to be further modified at some point to let still larger river traffic pass, but it remains an intriguing reminder of Belgian defensive architecture.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Wallonia attractions

1. Tour du Cygne

0.33 MILES

One of two towers preserved from the original 1202 city wall, this is a surprising sight at the end of a nondescript lane.

2. Église St-Quentin

0.44 MILES

Église St-Quentin is a hefty Romanesque church with a 12th-century nave, posterior Gothic features and a striking red-tiled roof. When viewed from near…

3. Grand Place

0.48 MILES

Tournai’s gorgeous triangular main square is ringed with cafes in fine gable-fronted guildhouses merrily flying guild banners. Kids play in ‘dare-you’…

4. Halle Aux Draps

0.49 MILES

Tournai's former cloth hall is the Grand Place's finest building, with an elegant gilt-detailed facade and a brick-vaulted interior that opens for…

5. Cathédrale Notre Dame

0.5 MILES

Dominating Tournai’s skyline are the five spires of its remarkable cathedral, which survived WWII bombs only for a freak 1999 tornado to compromise its…

6. Trésor de la Cathédrale

0.5 MILES

There are some impressive pieces in the treasury in the heart of Tournai's cathedral, including a fabulous 'Last Judgement' châsse (casket), a striking…

7. Beffroi

0.53 MILES

Belgium’s oldest belfry is 72m high with a narrow 257-step spiral staircase that becomes even narrower higher up. There's a good multilingual display on…

8. Musée de Folklore

0.54 MILES

This is a lovable and sizeable warren of fascinating city-relevant relics and ethnographic artefacts. It's all in French, but many of the cameo scenes are…