As the official Cultural Capital of Wallonia since 2002 and the future European Capital of Culture in 2015, Mons city counts various major assets. It is an important legal and university center of the Province of Hainaut as well as its administrative center, and has developped its leading role for patrimony and tourism. Mons appears three times on the World Heritage List of the Unesco for its Belfry, the Neolithic Mines at Spiennes and the Doudou Festival.

The historic heart of the city houses besides museums of high quality buildings belonging to the major heritage of Wallonia, such as the majestic St Waltrude's Collegiate Church, the gothic townhall dating from the great period of the Dukes of Burgundy and a unique baroque 270ft high Belfry.

Many other buildings, the oldest ones dating back to the 11th century, illustrate its civilian, religious and military architecture throughout the ages. But it would be a mistake to limit the interest of the city to its historic center. Mons is also surrounded by nature with major settings like a boating harbour at the Grand Large, the Neolithic Mines at Spiennes and Van Gogh's House.

There is of course the Doudou festival, deeplyrooted in local and religious traditions, just as the Procession of the Golden Coach, dating from the 14th century, and the legendary Combat named «the Lumeçon»,with St. George fighting against a dragon in front of thousands of spectators each year on the Trinity Sunday.

But Mons is also a forward-looking city with its scientific Park INITIALIS where about thirty new technology oriented companies settled and work on matters such as biochemistry, telecommunications, civil engineering and informatics.