Binche - International Museum of Carnival and Mask

(Local Name: Musée international du Carnaval et du Masque) Housed in a former Augustinian monastery immediately adjacent to the church, the Musée international du Carnaval et du Masque (International Museum of Carnival and Mask) is surely unrivaled anywhere. Its collection comprises some 15,000 costumes, masks and other carnival items, and the museum features carnival customs from all over the world.

The first floor concentrates on costumes and masks from European countries, ranging from Russia to Italy and from the Balkans to the extreme north. The comprehensiveness of the collection can be judged from its inclusion of masks from the Swabian-Alemannic shrovetide carnival.

The second floor focuses on the carnival traditions of Africa, America, Asia and Oceania, many of whose customs are quite different from those of Europe. The story of Binche's own carnival is told on film in a special display hall.