What to do in Mons and the Borinage?
Live near Mons or planning a weekend there? Forget frozen-in-time tourist trails. The Borinage is on the move and reinventing itself: repurposed industrial heritage, protected nature and futuristic technology. Here’s your guide to the best of Mons and the surrounding area.
Where history meets boldness
The Borinage has a unique soul. Shaped by its mining and industrial past, the area has turned old scars into hubs of creativity and entertainment.
Living heritage
From slag heaps turned wildlife havens to industrial buildings restored as cultural or leisure venues: every place tells a story.
A festive spirit
People here know how to welcome you: from great traditions like the Doudou to new entertainment venues like Zoneo, the local energy is infectious.
Unapologetically modern
A border region that combines its legendary warmth with a real appetite for innovation.
Unusual gems
To surprise your friends, family or team, here are three experiences that beat the usual bars and cinemas.
BattleKart: mechanical and visual immersion
Forget traditional karting: here, the track becomes a huge games console thanks to floor projection. You drive real electric karts while interacting with scenery, power-ups and five game modes (racing, football, cooperation…).
Swarms VR: futuristic virtual reality
Dive into the most immersive LBE VR in the region. On the Corigis-B12 mining base, your body becomes your controller: an intense cooperative adventure to share as a squad.
The Arcade Zone: physical play is back
Air hockey and table football for fierce duels, Kickboxer and Basketball to let off steam: the perfect spot to rediscover the physical joy of play, token by token.
Your next day out in Mons? From €22
Nature, culture and great escapes
Le Grand-Hornu
A masterpiece of industrial architecture listed by UNESCO, home to the MAC’s contemporary art museum: where working-class history meets art.
The slag heaps
Turned into nature reserves, the Borinage’s slag heaps offer breathtaking views over the whole area.
Green walks
Along the canals and through the Mons countryside, trails for walking or cycling far from the bustle.
Where to go out at night?
Mons historic centre: around the Grand-Place, terraces, brasseries and speciality beer bars invite you to make the day last. Tasting a local beer is a must.
Zoneo: designed as a real place to hang out, where you spend a whole afternoon or evening mixing games, food breaks in the Lounge Zone and time with friends. On Fridays and Saturdays, it’s open until midnight.
Your perfect day in Mons
A ready-made, tried-and-tested programme:
Morning: culture and fresh air
A walk along a slag heap trail or a visit to Le Grand-Hornu to spark your curiosity.
A tasty lunch
A friendly meal in the historic centre to enjoy local specialities.
An action-packed afternoon
Head to Zoneo: a BattleKart session, a Swarms VR mission, then a game of air hockey in the Arcade Zone.
Evening
End the day with a drink in the Lounge Zone.
Mons and the Borinage have swapped coal dust for futuristic neon and boundless creative energy.
So, what are you waiting for?
For an hour or a whole weekend, the area always has a surprise in store. Start by booking your session at Zoneo.
