Military History Museum
Tournai
0.94 Km 00:02
Fine Arts Museum
A perfect place if you love museums where architecture and collections echo each other, if you are looking for a timeless moment of contemplation, and if you want to discover one of Wallonia’s most singular artistic and architectural jewels.
- Monday : Closed
- Tuesday : -
- Wednesday : -
- Thursday : -
- Friday : -
- Saturday : -
- Sunday : -
Information
Museum of Fine Arts of Tournai, a masterpiece of art and architecture
The Museum of Fine Arts of Tournai offers a truly distinctive experience. Here, art is not only displayed on the walls: it begins with the architecture itself. The only museum ever designed as such by Victor Horta, a major figure of Art Nouveau, the building is itself a remarkable work, listed as exceptional heritage of Wallonia. A visit that appeals equally to art lovers and architecture enthusiasts.
An iconic architecture designed for art
From the outside, the museum intrigues with its singular form, often compared to a turtle . This bold choice is not merely aesthetic: Horta imagined here one of the first prototypes of a modern museum on an international scale.
Inside, circulation is fluid, natural light is carefully controlled and the spaces are designed to guide the eye and highlight the artworks. The building represents an elegant transition between Art Nouveau and a modernism inspired by Art Deco, creating an atmosphere that is both warm, rational and profoundly innovative for its time.
A major collection from the 15th to the 19th century
The permanent exhibition reveals one of the most important collections in Belgium, spanning several centuries of creation, from the 15th to the 19th century. The galleries invite visitors on a true journey through the history of art, punctuated by encounters with great masters.
Visitors encounter names that inspire admiration: Ensor, Manet, Monet, Seurat, Van Gogh, Toulouse-Lautrec, Vander Weyden A range of works and artistic sensibilities that engage in dialogue within a setting that is both intimate and majestic. Each gallery offers a moment to pause and contemplate, where the scenography leaves full space for emotion.
A human-scale museum ideal for contemplation
Despite the richness of its collections, the Museum of Fine Arts of Tournai retains a peaceful atmosphere, almost confidential. Visitors explore at their own pace, taking time to pause before a detail, a brushstroke of colour or a gaze. Silence, light and architecture create a privileged relationship with the artworks, far from the bustle of large museums.
Located in Tournai, just a few minutes’ walk from the historic centre, the museum naturally fits into a day of discovery in the city, combining heritage, culture and leisurely exploration.
Opening times
Tuesday to Saturday, 9.30 to 17.00 • Sunday and public holidays, 11.00 to 17.00 • Closed on Mondays and on 1-2/01, 8/01, 14/03, 1/05, 1/11, 25-26/12
Price
adults €4 • 65+, children, students (6-18) €3 • Free entry on the 1st Sunday of the month
Tour length
1 hr to 1.5 hrs
Group
Price (min. 20 people) €3
Guided tour Please book in advance at the Tourist Office (+32 69 22 20 45) • €89/ 2 hrs (1 to 20 people per guide).
Weather in Tournai
Events
Le musée des Beaux-Arts de Tournai présente l’ensemble de ses sculptures habituellement gardées en réserve. Avec Cortèges, les œuvres sortent de l’ombre.
Les sculptures du musée sortent de l’ombre
Objet d'études précieux, la collection de sculptures du musée des Beaux-Arts de Tournai est souvent gardée en réserve, comme c’est le cas dans la plupart des musées. Or, à Tournai, on dispose d’un espace spécifiquement dédié à la sculpture. Le temps d’une exposition, le musée a choisi d'y présenter l'ensemble de sa collection d'effigies sculptées, sans distinction (une centaine d'œuvres).
Au cœur de l'Atrium de sculptures, découvrez des figures de toutes les époques, de tous les styles, des individus anonymes, héros ou célébrités, intentionnellement mêlés, sans socle ni piédestal, dans une mise en scène inédite.
Cortèges est visible jusqu’au 15 novembre 2026.
Une invitation à regarder l’art autrement, à Tournai.
