Musée d'Histoire militaire

About the museum

The Musée d'Histoire militaire is located near the Grand-Place in Tournai, a few steps from the Tour Saint-Georges. It moved to the Roc Saint-Nicaise district after leaving the Tour Henri VIII. It tells the long military history of a city that was part of the kingdom of France for more than a thousand years, was captured by Henry VIII of England in 1513, then came under Spanish rule and endured many sieges.

The ground floor shows how the city's defences evolved, from medieval warfare to the 18th-century “lace war” (guerre en dentelles), with the sieges led by Edward III, Henry VIII, Charles V, Louis XIV or Marlborough and the Battle of Fontenoy. The next part of the route covers the Revolutionary and Imperial periods, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and the Belgian regiments garrisoned in Tournai until 1914, with their weapons, uniforms and equipment.

The route ends with the two World Wars: the fighting of 24 August 1914, the Battle of the Scheldt in 1918, the bombings of 1940 and 1944, and the liberation of the city. An area on aerial warfare displays large shells, bombs, anti-aircraft guns and the combustion chamber of a V2 rocket that fell near Tournai in 1944 and was donated to the museum in 2020.

Highlights

• History of Tournai's fortifications and sieges
• Weapons, uniforms and equipment from the Revolutionary, Imperial and Dutch periods
• Room dedicated to the fighting of 24 August 1914
• Aerial warfare area with the combustion chamber of a V2 rocket
• Belgian regiments garrisoned in Tournai until 1914

Permanent exhibitions

• De la guerre médiévale à la guerre en dentelles – On the ground floor, the evolution of Tournai's fortifications and the city's sieges, from the Middle Ages to the 18th century.
• Révolutions, Empire et royaumes se succèdent – Weapons and mementoes of the wars from the Revolution and the Empire up to Waterloo, then of the Dutch and Belgian armies, including the many regiments garrisoned in Tournai until 1914.
• Les deux guerres mondiales – The fighting of 24 August 1914, the Battle of the Scheldt, the bombings of 1940 and 1944 and the liberation of Tournai.

Operated by

Ville de Tournai

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Every first Sunday of the month, for all visitors

Also free for teachers, the press, Museum Pass holders, museum-related associations, school groups from the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, municipal and CPAS staff, guides from the Tournai guides' association and tourist accommodation providers. Free admission applies on presentation of a card confirming the status. The ticket desk closes half an hour before the museum closes.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: not available
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The museum is not accessible to wheelchair users.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The museum is near the Grand-Place and the Tour Saint-Georges.

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