Must-Visit Art Galleries in Mons, Belgium

The old slaughterhouse in Mons is hardly the place you’d expect to find a thriving cultural scene, yet the city has skilfully transformed its old abattoirs into the ideal industrial setting for temporary exhibitions. A whitewashed hall, 70 metres (230ft) long and 10 metres (33ft) wide with ample natural light, provides the perfect canvas for the contemporary art that’s showcased here. The only things reminding us of the building’s bloody past are the names of its other spaces. L’Étable (the Stable) is reserved for the digital arts, while le Frigo (the Fridge) houses the World Crafts Council of the Belgian French-speaking community.

The “Gallery of the Golden Gun” has a knack for taking you back in time with its fondness for 19th- and 20th-century artworks. Paintings by local artists get special treatment by owner Véronique Lebailly, as does everything in the Impressionist and Pop Art traditions. The collection, with its many names from the greater Mons region, testifies to a profound knowledge and deep understanding of the creative undercurrents that were popular in the area in the recent past.

A project to match Mons’ overall congenial spirit, THANKSgalerie combines a good drink with artistic stimulation and an open spirit. Both established and new artists, for example, from the local art academy ARTS2, get to display innovative works in the dramatic setting of an old, rust-colored Gothic chapel. The mood is usually dynamic and casual thanks to the bar serving many specialty beers and a nice wine selection.

Also incorporating a sense of inclusiveness in their mission statement is TRE-A Galerie. Welcoming regulars and new art enthusiasts every day with the door wide open, the private gallery invites everyone to take a look at their collection of contemporary art, sometimes exploring today’s movements through an examination of older pieces. Soon, guests will also be invited upstairs for a look at a collection focusing solely on the 20th century.