General Information About Thuin
Thuin is a commune in the province of Hainaut in the valley of the Sambre and located south of Charleroi. Thuin is known for its hanging gardens and the Belfry that can be found on the UNESCO World Heritage list. It consists of 2 parts : the “Ville Basse” which is built on the banks of the Sambre and the “Ville Haute” where the Belfry overlooks the river and where also the tourist information is located.
Places of interest
The Belfry, recognized by UNESCO World Heritage Site, dates from the 17th century but its origins dated back from the 13th century. Its role was both religious and communal. The building had an exceptional architecture. It offers he visitor the opportunity to explore the monument from top to bottom. It has a carillon with 25 bells and the great bell Maria Paula. At the top, 40 meters high, four alcoves give an exceptional panorama of the city and the valleys of the Sambre and Biesmelle.
In the ramparts of the fifteenth century, the Notger tower is the only remnant of the tenth century.
The hanging gardens of Thuin are already for a long time one of the most beautiful sights of the city. The site is protected since 1976 and been classified as exceptional heritage of Wallonia since 2009. They have even been described several times in poems. It used to be vegetable gardens destined to the supply the city. Now you find mainly vines of which the wine “Clos des Zouaves” is made.The neighborhood of the river, also called the neighborhood of boatmen, has typical houses and narrow streets and is home to retired boatmen and their families. Decorative elements remembers the inland water transport and panels tell the story about the boatsmen and the river. The weir still regulates the level of sambre. “Le Thudo”, derived from Thuin, is a barge transformed into a museum. This is one of the last witnesses of the epoch linked to the Skippers. Just outside the town is the historic tram museum of Thuin. About twenty historic trams and a steam locomotive from the nineteenth century can be admired. The highlight of the museum is the electric tram from 1901.
The History and The Culture of Thuin
The history of Thuin goes back to the second century when it was inhabited by the Romans. Remains of a roman cemetery were found to confirm this. The town is first mentioned in the books in the ninth century under the name Tudinium Castellum. The town was formerly owned by the Abbey of Lobbes. The monks of the abbey used Thuin as fortified refuge. The abbey was destroyed in the eighteenth century.
