Tournai: a journey through time in the heart of Wallonia

Located in the heart of Wallonia, the city of Tournai is a real journey back in time. With its rich historical and cultural heritage, it offers visitors a unique immersion in the history of the region.

Tournai, also known as Tournai-la-Grande, is the oldest city in Belgium. Founded by the Romans more than 2000 years ago, it has had a tumultuous history marked by invasions, wars and successive reconstructions.

The city center of Tournai is a true architectural treasure. Notre-Dame Cathedral, listed as a UNESCO world heritage site, is one of the city’s jewels. Built between the 12th and 13th centuries, it is considered one of the most beautiful Gothic cathedrals in Belgium. With its five naves and its 83 meter high tower, it proudly dominates the city and offers a breathtaking view of the surrounding area.

Not far from the cathedral is the Belfry, another symbol of Tournai. Built in the 12th century, it is the oldest belfry in Belgium and is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From its height of 72 meters, it offers a panoramic view of the city and its surroundings. The Belfry also houses the History and Archeology Museum, which traces the history of Tournai through an impressive collection of objects and documents.

Strolling through the cobbled streets of the city, you discover many other architectural treasures. The Renaissance and Baroque style houses bear witness to the city’s past wealth. Among the most remarkable, we can cite the Maison de la Louve, the Maison de Lalaing and the Maison du Roi.

Tournai is also known for its museums. The Museum of Fine Arts houses an important collection of paintings, sculptures and art objects, ranging from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. The Tapestry Museum is dedicated to the art of tapestry, a tradition that dates back to medieval times. Finally, the Natural History Museum offers an immersion in the world of the region’s fauna and flora.

But Tournai is not limited to its architectural and cultural heritage. The city is also famous for its gastronomy. Local specialties, such as waffles, Liégeoise dumplings and Flemish stews, will delight visitors’ taste buds. The city’s many restaurants and brasseries offer tasty and authentic cuisine.

Tournai is also a lively city, where many events and festivals take place throughout the year. The Tournai Carnival, one of the oldest in Belgium, attracts thousands of visitors each year. The Pentecost festivals, with their folk processions and traditional dances, are also very popular.

Finally, the surroundings of Tournai offer numerous opportunities for walks and discoveries. The hilly landscapes of Wallonia, crossed by numerous hiking trails, invite visitors to recharge their batteries in the great outdoors. History buffs can also visit the region’s many castles and archaeological sites.

In conclusion, Tournai is a true pearl of Wallonia. With its rich historical and cultural heritage, its museums, its gastronomy and its numerous events, it offers visitors a journey back in time to the heart of the region. Whether you are a lover of art, history or nature, Tournai will seduce the curious in search of authenticity and discoveries.

Namur, a gourmet city: discover its cuisine and local specialties

Namur, located in Belgium, is a picturesque city that enchants its visitors with its architectural beauty and warm atmosphere. But what makes Namur even more attractive is its delicious cuisine and local specialties that reflect the gastronomic richness of the region.

Namur cuisine is renowned for its simplicity and authenticity. Here, dishes are prepared with fresh, local produce, highlighting the natural flavors of the ingredients. The people of Namur attach particular importance to the quality of the products used in their cuisine, which results in tasty and generous dishes.

One of the most famous specialties of Namur is the “tarte al djote”. This tart made with chard, cheese and shortcrust pastry is a delight for the taste buds. Chard, also known as “djote” in the local dialect, is a green plant used in many traditional dishes in the region. The al djote tart is often enjoyed with a local beer to accompany this succulent dish.

Another Namur specialty is “stoemp”. It is a dish made from mashed potatoes mixed with vegetables such as carrots, spinach or cabbage. Stoemp is often served with sausages or ham, creating a perfect marriage between the mild flavors of the vegetables and the salty taste of the meat. This simple but delicious dish is a true symphony of flavors that delights the palates of gourmands.

Sweet lovers will not be left out in Namur. The city is famous for its delicious waffles, which are a real institution in Belgium. Namur waffles are distinguished by their light and crispy texture, as well as their generous topping of icing sugar. They can be enjoyed plain, or garnished with fresh fruit, whipped cream or melted chocolate for those with a sweet tooth.

Speaking of chocolate, Namur is also known for its delicious production of artisanal chocolates. Namur chocolatiers use traditional techniques and quality ingredients to create fine and refined chocolates. From praline to truffles to chocolate bars, the chocolatiers of Namur are artists who transform this delight into a true work of art.

To accompany these culinary delights, the people of Namur appreciate local beers. Belgium is famous for its brewing tradition, and Namur is no exception. Local breweries produce a wide range of beers, from light lagers to fuller-bodied browns. Namur beers are renowned for their quality and unique taste, making them the ideal companion for any meal.

In addition to its local cuisine, Namur also offers a variety of restaurants and cafes that offer international cuisine. From Italian restaurants to Asian restaurants to French bistros, travelers can find a wide variety of culinary choices in this foodie city.

In conclusion, Namur is a gourmet city that will satisfy the taste buds of the most demanding visitors. With its authentic cuisine, local specialties and brewing culture, Namur offers a unique culinary experience that will delight all lovers of good food. So, don’t hesitate any longer and come discover the gastronomic treasures of this charming Belgian city. Enjoy your food !

Boom! There it is (again), this disturbing crowd armed with clubs. Lighting torches, brandishing pitchforks, supporting progress like the rope supports the hanged man. We will remember, she had already caused misery to Galileo and it is regularly, full of hatred as well as ignorance, that we see her in the Simpsons attacking everything that resembles good sense. Since the last time, we can say that we didn’t miss her. Remember, these were barbaric practices that could not be revisited (and again!) in the interest of animal welfare without being called Islamophobic, or something like that. But, you will tell me, these people can say what they think! It’s their right! OK, no need to convince me on that. Let’s stay on the question of rights by talking about the right to education because it is clear that some of these terrible jokers will have taken the next step by burning down schools. And, at the risk of seeming a bit belligerent to you, I see it as a declaration of war. Against who? You, me, us. Finally, our society as a whole since declared to its laboratory and its favorite anteroom: the school. But, I am perhaps going a little far given that even the decapitation of a teacher, these days, with a little victim lexicon, it is put into perspective.

Faced with this lively and distinguished crowd, we first find those stunned, not to say naive. They really didn’t see ANYTHING coming. But yes, strange unidentified flying object that this retrograde stiffening. “Where did he sneak in? No doubt he made his way in while we were discussing the sex of angels? In any case, it is now more common, in living rooms where one allows oneself to think, to ogle one’s forelock than to watch the back door.

Next to it, you have the fascists. We could do without them too. Especially when they try to be buddy-buddy. Whatever the subject, from their point of view all fights are good as long as they can eat the veil and the djellaba. What bothers them is not really that women’s rights, for example, are violated, no. It’s because young dark-haired people listen to music too loudly and an illicit smell of Ras el-hanout floats in the air. “Because in my time, it smelled of marjoram and I can tell you that Huguette was sweet!”

In the background (because they feel really bored at the moment…) there are the defenders of good. Those who always need victims to save to find a place on the right side of morality. Well yes, for them it hurts. They were on the verge of appearing in the history books as resistance fighters against our fascist state. No luck. Not only do their favorite instruments/victims demonstrate against good (apparently, they weren’t too keen on mixing tolerance and homosexuality in the same sentence) but, IN ADDITION – you’ll see, it’s hilarious – they are doing alongside very Caucasian conservatives who, in the past, had already rebelled quite a bit against the right to abortion and other nice things. Stop the machines, living together is out of fashion. Hating together is faster and above all more effective. In any case, it reconciles quamis and corduroy more easily and that’s a find!

Let’s ignore those who don’t care (there are too many of them) and, in a corner, divided, you will find the secularists, the real ones… as united as the former Yugoslavia. Don’t make me say bad things about them, I’m one of them! But it’s true that it must be said that between the naive people who move around like kids whose schoolbags are being extorted, the fascists who file their teeth with bayonets, the virtuous who caress their narcissus in a corner , the unconscious people who throw bread to the ducks and the secular people who always look under the microscope at the train that is coming straight at them, it makes you want to slam the door.

“But, this text has passed, what more do you want?” Yes, I admit it, the text has been passed and I am delighted that toddlers, of all origins (I see you coming, smart kids), can hear at school what is not always said at home. “Man has no authority over women”, “Homosexuality is normal”, “When it’s no, it’s no”, take your pick, there are plenty of them. Hear it and above all acquire the skills accordingly. With all due respect to the fervent defenders of the sacrosanct privilege of parents to address these questions – while charging the school mule for everything else – it is in favor of greater equality that this knowledge must be taught fairly. Equality for each and everyone to benefit from the same relational codes in their approach both to themselves and to others. No differentialism, even if it is shrouded in sacredness, could serve as a stepping stone to the creation of second-class citizens, citizens who have not been provided with their own instructions, instructions necessary for all life in Company. What better way, moreover, to create ghettos than to leave the transmission of such societal values ​​to the discretion of family units. These principles do not concern exclusively these cells but the entire organism, if it wants to be viable and are all common denominators going far beyond the interests of egocentric particularisms.

Yes, EVRAS was supported. Well played guys. Shall we send the end credits? No. This would ignore the underlying problem. Because, if a text that nothing should have prevented has indeed been saved – yay! – lukewarm is the mobilization today to denounce the incredible and violent reactions that this will have provoked. Here we are relieved, satisfied to have defended what was nothing other than the obvious. Champagne, then. Enough of naivety. Considering this outcome as a victory would be like believing that the Dreyfus affair was enough to defeat anti-Semitism. Isn’t it time to name things rather than being afraid of them again and again? What is this news if not the snapshot of a growing problem, the composite portrait of an identity rage and a religious entryism which progress hand in hand, doors opened by some and reverences made by others? others. Intolerance, the one of which we all tremble at being accused, a stinking lackey bringing discredit and denouncing those who are accused of it, there it is. Once distinguished, let’s not stop there and let’s not be afraid (especially!) to name it.

How much longer will we, feeling more guilty than guilty, play with soft stomachs, lower our heads and look at our shoes? The first step was semantic and infiltrated all sectors, particularly institutional. The next will use institutions to impose differentialism that is uninhibited because it is legal. Let’s stop feeding the crocodile, giving in, thinking of calming this steamroller.

Let’s do better than defend ourselves, let’s act! Let’s invest in the land in solidarity. It is almost not too late to install strict neutrality in public services and transmit to young people the knowledge and taste of this treasure wrested from obscurantism at the cost of so much effort: Secularism. A secularism to be included in our Constitution. Right now!

The time has come to unite and come out of the woods. Rest assured, not to burn down schools, no. To invest them.