Mons Christmas market on the Grand-Place

Mons Cœur en Neige, now in its 22nd edition, spreads Christmas over three spots in the centre of Mons. The Grand-Place holds the Christmas market, with colourful Alsace-style chalets, pop-up chalets for local artisans and a big Christmas tower. Around the corner, the Marché aux Herbes becomes a food and drink village under a canopy of lights.

On the Place Léopold, next to the station, there is a covered 600 m² ice rink and a Christmas fun fair. Skating costs €7 an hour for under-12s and €10 for everyone else, skates included. On weekends a free little train runs through the centre.

Stalls open at 11:00 and close at 20:00 from Sunday to Wednesday and at 21:00 from Thursday to Saturday, with food and drink carrying on later. On 24 and 31 December everything closes in the afternoon, and the market is closed on Christmas Day and New Year's Day.