Beaumont, Belgium Attractions
Beaumont lies surrounded by woods on a hill above the river Hantes, close to the French border. As early as the 12th C. it was defended by a 2.4km/1.5mile long wall with 30 towers, later demolished in the 16th C. During the 18th and 19th centuries the town experienced a modest upturn in fortune, boosted by its cloth industry.
Montignies - Saint-Christophe
In Montignies-Saint-Christophe, 5km/3mi to the northwest, the Hantes is spanned by a 25m/82ft bridge with 13 arches. Lying as it does on the route of the Roman road to Trèves, the bridge is often referred to as a "pont romaine" (Roman bridge) but in fact almost certainly dates from the 15th C.
Rance, Belgium
(Near Beaumont)
Rance - National Marble Museum
Despite the dust and the appearance of chaos, the museum is unique and utterly fascinating, demonstrating the techniques of marble extraction and processing. The museum also maintains a collection of all the different kinds of marble found anywhere in the world.
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 13:00 |
| Close | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
Guides
Guided tour available as optional extra.
Salamander Tower
The Tour Salamandre (Salamander Tower) on the southern edge of the hill is the main survival from the old ramparts. Built in the 16th C. it is now a museum, its five floors given over to documents and other items of local history as well as a display of regional arts and crafts. The former include memorabilia of Napoleon I (who made a stop here en route to Waterloo).
The top of the tower affords a lovely view of the Hainaut countryside.
The top of the tower affords a lovely view of the Hainaut countryside.
Hours
May 1 to June 30
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
July 1 to August 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 |
Sivry, Belgium
(Near Beaumont)
Sivry's natural history and toy museum boasts a collection of more than 5,000 animal specimens.
Hours
January 16 to December 14
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | Closed | Closed |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
April 8 to September 30
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
Guides
Guided tour available as optional extra.
Sivry - Observatory of the Permanent Center of Nature
An old observatory that includes a planetarium, medicinal plants and a weather center.
Sivry Observatory of the Permanent Center of Nature
Route de Mons 52
B-6470 Sivry
Belgium
Route de Mons 52
B-6470 Sivry
Belgium
Guides
Guided tour included with admission.
Solre-sur-Sambe
Some 10km/6mi northwest of Beaumont, just off the road to Merbes-le-Château (which bypasses the village), the moated château at Solre-sur-Sambre is one of the less well-preserved of Hainaut's feudal castles. It is entered through the 13th-14th C. keep on either side of which high walls extend in a square with two round corner towers. The right-hand tower and knights' hall, the latter with a magnificent fireplace, are open to visitors.
