Musée du Doudou

About the museum

The Musée du Doudou occupies the former Mont-de-Piété of Mons, a brick and bluestone building constructed between 1623 and 1625 under the direction of Wenceslas Cobergher. Acquired by the City in 1923, the building housed from 1930 the Musée du Centenaire, which presented collections of history, Gallo-Roman archaeology, numismatics, ceramics and weapons.

Over the decades these collections were moved to other sites in the city, notably the Artothèque and the Mons Memorial Museum. After works completed in 2014, the building houses the Musée du Doudou, located behind the town hall in the Jardin du Mayeur. The building stands out for its staircase, one of the oldest straight staircases known in Mons, and for its original timber roof structure.

The museum is an interpretation centre devoted to the Ducasse de Mons, a ritual festival recognised by UNESCO as intangible heritage since 2005. The route follows the thread of Saint George and the dragon and brings the atmosphere of the festival to life throughout the year, through archive and immersive films, large screens, interactive displays and objects from the Mons collections. Each year some objects leave the museum for the Ducasse, and the projections are renewed.

Highlights

• Route devoted to the Ducasse de Mons, UNESCO intangible heritage
• Legend of Saint George, the dragon and Saint Waudru
• The combat known as the “Lumeçon”, placed alongside other tales of heroes and monsters
• Archive films, immersive films and large screens
• 1623-1625 building with a remarkable straight staircase

Permanent exhibition

• Parcours permanent : la Ducasse de Mons – The route tells the story of the combat of Saint George and the dragon and of the Ducasse de Mons, using objects, archive films, immersive projections and interactive displays.

Operated by

Ville de Mons

Admission & discounts

Free admission: First Sunday of each month: free admission.

The museumPASSmusées is accepted (sold at reception and online). The Mons Card gives discounts at several sites and museums in the city.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description

The museum describes itself as accessible to people with reduced mobility, with a dedicated entrance on the rue du 11 Novembre. Tours adapted for visually impaired and blind visitors exist, with Braille materials; live audio description of the procession and the Lumeçon combat has been offered since 2019.

Kids & families

Activities for children (courses, school and out-of-school offers) are provided by the education service of the City of Mons.

Getting there & parking

Entrance for people with reduced mobility via the rue du 11 Novembre. Bicycle racks are available.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit