Mundaneum

About the museum

The Mundaneum has its roots in the project of the jurist Paul Otlet and the future Nobel Peace Prize laureate Henri La Fontaine. From 1895 onwards they founded the Office international de bibliographie (International Bibliographic Office) in Brussels and set out to gather the world's knowledge in a Répertoire bibliographique universel, an immense collection of index cards. They also created the Universal Decimal Classification, which is still used in many libraries.

In 1910 an international museum opened in Brussels; in 1920 it became the Palais Mondial, housed in the Palais du Cinquantenaire. However, the Belgian government closed the site in 1934, and the collections then went through decades of moves, sometimes in poor conservation conditions. In 1984 they passed to the French Community of Belgium.

In 1993 the collections moved to Mons, into a former Art Deco cooperative department store on the rue de Nimy. An association was set up to manage this archive heritage. A museum space opened in 1998 with a scenography by François Schuiten and Benoît Peeters; the Répertoire bibliographique universel was inscribed on UNESCO's Memory of the World Register in 2013.

The archive centre and the museum space have been renovated since 2015. Today the Mundaneum combines an archive centre devoted to associative movements, pacifism, feminism and anarchism, a permanent exhibition and temporary exhibitions.

Highlights

• Répertoire bibliographique universel, inscribed on UNESCO's Memory of the World Register
• Art Deco building with a scenography by François Schuiten and Benoît Peeters
• Permanent exhibition “Mundaneum. Machine à penser le monde”
• Blue garden in the outdoor courtyard, free to access
• Ground floor freely accessible all year round

Permanent exhibition

• Mundaneum. Machine à penser le monde – The permanent exhibition traces the history of Paul Otlet and Henri La Fontaine and their project to gather and classify the world's knowledge, through the Répertoire bibliographique universel and archive documents.

Founded

1993

Operated by

Mundaneum asbl

Admission & discounts

Free admission: First Sunday of the month; ground floor free all year round

Free also for holders of the museumPASSmusées, journalists and teachers. A reduction is announced with the Mons Card, the Pass Partout, Action 365.be and the Pass VISITWallonia (amount not specified). Payment on site in cash or by bank card.

Accessibility

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

The whole building is accessible to people with reduced mobility, with a ramp, a lift and accessible toilets on the first floor. A wheelchair and seat canes are lent out. For blind and visually impaired visitors: audio description via QR codes, a tactile area, a booklet in Braille and tactile guide strips. For deaf and hard-of-hearing visitors: an induction loop at reception, videos with subtitles and in Belgian French Sign Language (LSFB), and contact by text message. Documents in FALC (easy-to-read and easy-to-understand French) and sensory bags on request. Accessible parking spaces on rue de Nimy and rue des Passages.

Kids & families

Great for kids & familiesRecommended for ages 6+

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Stroller-friendly
• Baby changing facilities

Visits recommended from age 6; family route at reception, activity bag from the marmaille&co network, museum recognised as a “musée joyeux” (joyful museum). For babies: pushchair parking, changing table, nursing chair, microwave for bottles.

Getting there & parking

On foot, allow about 15 minutes from the station towards the Grand-Place. By car, take the MONS-GHLIN exit from the E19 or E42 motorways, direction “Centre”, then rue de Nimy. Bicycle parking in front of the museum and in the inner courtyard.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Lockers
• Wi-Fi

Free public Wi-Fi. No café: a paid coffee machine and a water fountain are in the Utopia room, where you can also eat. Shop accessible without a ticket. Free cloakroom; backpacks are not admitted to the exhibitions, and secure lockers are provided.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

Up to 200 guests.

Hire of the museum space, the Utopia room, the educational space and the courtyard for receptions, workshops and meetings. Partner caterers, a technical manager and audiovisual equipment included. Up to 200 people for a cocktail in the museum space.

Plan your visit