Brussels to Namur, Liége, and Cologne. Ottignies Station, Great Luxembourg line. The scenery by this route is exceedingly fine, particularly between Namur and Liége.

Mont St. Guibert (Station), at a picturesque village. There are the remains of an old castle on the property of Mr. Deman, which will be seen from the railway. The château itself is worth seeing, but the grounds are only open to the public on the payment of half a franc each, which Mr. Deman gives to the poor of the commune.

Gembloux (Station), where the line from Fleurus to Ramillies crosses, near a small town (population, 2,320), the trade of which is cutlery. It lies in a hollow.

Rhisnes (Station).-The last station before reaching Namur, in a lovely country. After passing several cuttings, the line is carried over a long bank, below which lies the river Sambre, presenting a rich scene.

Namur (Station).-Route 8.

ROUTE 7B

Brussels to Paris, by way of Mons and Quiévrain.

Brussels to Soignies and Jurbise, see Route 2.

Between Jurbise and Mons the road presents many engineering difficulties. On approaching Mons the traveller sees its steeples, towers, and fortifications stretched before him. Before entering the town, the commune of Nimy and the river Haine are passed; running parallel to one another, the railroad and river pass through a bastion, and enter the town together. The Station is situated within the arsenal.

Mons (Station). Hotels: De la Couronne; De l'Aigle Noir; Royal; Du Singe d'Or.

A large and fortified town, 38 miles from Brussels, the chief town of the province of Hainault. Population (1873), 24,234. The river Trouille divides it into two parts, and is partly overlooked by the mound of the Panina. It is said that Julius Cæsar built a castle here, which, taking the name of Castrum Cæsaris, formed the beginning of the town of Mons--destroyed by the barbarians in the

fifth century. Alberic, Count of Hainault, repaired the remains of the town, and surrounded it with walls. In 804, Charlemagne formed it nto the capital of a province. Mons after this became the scene of many troubles. Under the reign of Charles V. it had its greatest degree of prosperity; the manufactures of cloth and serge were carried on to a great extent. Iron was wrought here to great advantage, and the beauty of the chasing in their jewellery excited the admiration of strangers. Under the French Republic, Mons became the department of Jemappes. The fortifications, rebuilt in 1815, upon a new plan, are preserved with much care. The streets are steep, but wide, clean, and in good repair. The monuments and curiosities are numerous, and worthy of attention.

Mons was the natal town of Orlando Lassus, the celebrated musician of the sixteenth century. Ten miles south of Mons, within the French territories, is the spot where was fought the sanguinary battle of Malplaquet, at which the Duke of Marlborough and Prince Eugene conquered the French and lost on the battle field 20,000 men.

Mons has a communication with the Scheldt by the Canal de Condé; and also, by railway, with Jurbise, Ath, Tournai, Lille, and Calais.

Mons also possesses manufactures of gloves, leather, and cutlery, and several tan-yards and bleaching grounds. The principal buildings are the Castle, the Hôtel de Ville, and the Church of St. Waudru, which is said to be built on the site of Cæsar's Castle. The altar deserves attention. There is also a Theatre, a Public Library, a College, and a Foundling Hospital. Mons was the birthplace of Peter Denys, a journeyman blacksmith, who constructed the beautiful iron ornaments which decorate the Abbey of St. Denis, near Paris.

Church of St. Waudru is said to be the finest in Belgium. It was founded in 1460, on the site of another church, burnt in 1169. More than a century elapsed ere the works were finished. The nave is a masterpiece of boldness, elegance, and lightness; the numerous columns which adorn it, and form innumerable Gothic arches at the top, compose a most delightful whole. Space will not permit us to enter further into detail in connection with the many curiosities of this church, save ir

allowing us to notice the splendid picture of the Exaltation of St. Francis, by Van Thulden; a Descent from the Cross, by Teniers; a Gothic altar, finely sculptured; the beautiful stained glass in the windows; and last, though not least, the fine statues, formerly adorning the screen, but happily preserved.

St. Elizabeth.-This church is remarkable for its light and graceful spire.

St. Nicholas, in Havre, is noted for the severe and imposing aspect of the interior. It possesses some fine carving in wood. From the tower of the belfry a magnificent view of the surrounding country is obtained.

The Public Library is open every day; it contains 13,000 volumes, and about 300 manuscripts.

Hôtel de Ville is a Gothic edifice, erected in the year 1440. It contains nothing remarkable, but is the chief ornament of the Grand Square.

The Palais de Justice and Museum will well repay a visit.

At Mons a branch railway ensures a direct communication from Paris to Charleroi, Namur, and Cologne. This route avoids the detour to Braine-le-Comte. On leaving Mons, the railway crosses the river Trouille, and passes not very far from the Canal de Condé and the sluices of St. Ghislain; after which it reaches Jemappes Station.

MONS TO QUIÉVRAIN.-After leaving the fortification, the railroad inclines at first towards the right, traversing an extensive plain, bounded on the left by the Panisel and the little hills of Flènu, and crowned by the high chimneys of numerous coal works. The canal from Mons to Condé, which, for a distance of five leagues, runs in a perfectly straight line, is seen on the left, as also the village of Cuesme, the theatre of one of the most sanguinary episodes of the celebrated battle of Jemappes. Passing the levant of Flènu,

Jemappes (Station) is reached. Population, 4,670. It is remarkable for the victory gained by the French under General Dumourier, and the late Louis Philippe, when Duke de Chartres, over the Austrians, 1792. A stone close to the post road marks the scene of the battle. Outside the town are immense heaps of coal; these are the accumulations

of a busy time, brought to supply an apparent demand, which, however, did not last long. The village of Quaregnon is passed after leaving Jemappes, near to which are seen the ruins of the ancient tower, known by the name of the High Court. The railroad here takes a considerable bend, and shortly after runs into the straight line, which continues to the frontier. The country on each side is in high cultivation, and adorned with many beautiful country houses.

St. Ghislain (Station) is next reached, the church of which is on the right. On the left are the magnificent establishments of Hornu, established by the late Mad. Degorges Legrand. St. Ghislain is a very ancient town; population, 1,800. The surrounding country very much resembles the neighbourhood of Manchester and Bolton.

Boussu (Station) is the next. The chief place of a canton; population, 3,500. The château of the Count de Caraman, at present the property of the Count de Nedonchelles, is here situated. This architectural wonder should be seen by the tourist; there are many remarkable traditions connected with it. The station has been erected in a part of the magnificent park, from which it is separated by a splendid iron railing. The church of Boussu contains some fine pieces of sculpture. Between Boussu and Thulin, the next station, there is nothing worthy of notice. Quiévrain is arrived at shortly after leaving Thulin; it is the last station of the Belgian Railway. The office of the Belgian Custom House is here, and the passports and baggage of parties entering Belgium are

examined.

Brussels to Braine-le-Comte, see Route 2.At Braine-le-Comte the line to Namur branches off east from that of Mons. A direct line is open to Charleroi, past Waterloo (page 40), Genappe and Nivelles (page 44).

Ecausines (Station) is shortly arrived at, standing among valuable quarries of blue limestone. After leaving the station, a fine viaduct of nine arches is passed. The church of the village of Marché-les-Ecausines contains some exceedingly curious tombs. Passing through a country possessing no remarkable features,

Manage (Station) is next reached. The junction of the Mons and Manage lines takes place here. On the left lies Seneffe, remarkable as the spot where William III., Prince of Orange, in 1674, fought the old warrior, Condé, on which occasion 27,000 were killed. There is at the latter place a magnificent château, enclosed by a remarkable park. Leaving Manage the scenery becomes more varied interesting works of art are numerous. Traversing the tunnel of Godarville, the railroad takes a course, the windings and turnings of which it is impossible to describe-now turning to the left, now to the right-now passing hills, now opening a passage through them. After passing the Gouy-lez-Piéton and Pont-à-Celles Stations, the road next traverses a cutting, the sides of which exhibit layers of earth and flint strangely superposed. On approaching Gosselies the landscape becomes more interesting and varied, the cuttings are of immense depth; as the slope lowers, the country houses seen on either side are numerous and elegant.

Gosselies (Station) is distant 1 mile from the town, to which an omnibus conveys the traveller. It presents nothing worthy of notice; population, 3,000. On quitting Gosselies, the railroad traverses a rich and beautiful country, cutting through several beds of coal, and passes Sumetz, situated in a most picturesque manner at the base of a little hill; the Abbey of Sart-le-Moine is here situated. It contains a rich altar-piece of wood sculpture. Passing the

E

Roux (Station), the road traverses a rich open country, in the midst of which are the manufacturing districts of Charleroi, and shortly reaches

Marchiennes-au-Pont (Station), the junction with the Sambre and Meuse Railway, now extended to Berzee, Walcourt, Silenrieux, Canuin, Vireux, &c. At Marchiennes-au-Pont the Brussels and Charleroi canals join the Meuse. The river Sambre is here met with, and between this station and Namur the railroad crosses it no less than sixteen times. The railroad here crosses it on a beautiful bridge. On the right, after leaving Marchiennes, the gigantic establishments of Moncean Fonteine are seen; at the distance of a league and a half from these, the ruins of the Abbey d'Alne are situated-the traveller should visit these. Crossing the river Heure, which effects its confluence immediately after with the Sambre, the coal works of Lodelinsart are passed on the left, and the town of La Providence,-here the manufacture of iron is carried on to a large extent. The stranger should not think of quitting the neighbourhood without visiting some of these Cyclopean caves, which cast into shade the Vulcanian smiths of Etna, and all the mythological fictions of the ancients. Approaching Charleroi, the fortifications of which are seen through the trees by which they are shaded, the station situated in the lower town and near the place is arrived at. Charleroi (Station).

Hotels: Du Grand Monarque; De Pays Bas; De l'Univers.

Has 13,500 inhabitants, and is of little consequence, the fortifications having prevented its becoming what it otherwise would have beenone of the most flourishing towns on the Continent. The district around has a population of 80,000, and presents a scene of extraordinary activity. The Charleroi coal-field is the most extensive in Belgium, giving employment to 10,000 miners, and yielding annually 3,000,000 tons of coal; the glass trade is also carried on to a very great extent, and those numerous and extensive iron works, which derive their supplies of iron ore from the Sambre and Meuse district-one of the most picturesque and interesting countries in Belgium, but, with the exception of a few eminent geologists, totally unknown to travellers. It extends about 40 miles

south of Charleroi to the French department of the Ardennes. The Sambre and Meuse Railway, which commences at Marchiennes-au-Pont (as above), about a mile from Charleroi, traverses it in its entire length, terminating on the Meuse, near Givet.

The Sambre and Meuse present attractive features to the lovers of angling, the trout of the former and craw-fish of the latter being abundant and excellent. Bridges span both the rivers here. At two leagues distance from Charleroi, in the picturesque valley of the Sambre, are the ruins of the Abbey d'Alne (already mentioned), the most ancient monastery perhaps in Europe, built in the year 656.

The railway crosses the river Sambre many times between Charleroi and Namur. The scenery is most charming. At Charleroi the line branches off, and leads to Walcourt, and having offshoots to Laneffe, Morialmé, Philippeville, Chimay (on the French border), and Florenne.

Charleroi to Namur.-Shortly after leaving the station, the village of Couillet, renowned for its metallurgic establishments, is passed; then Montigny-sur-Sambre, the factories of which give employment to many workmen. Crossing the Sambre, the elevated chimneys of

Châtelineau (Station) are observable, near a town celebrated for its earthenware, which is in high estimation. Leaving Châtelineau the traveller passes the beautiful château of Beaulieu, the gardens of which are much spoiled by the railway, and shortly arrives at

Farciennes (Station), near a pretty village of 1,500 inhabitants, which has been literally cut in two by the railway passing through it. Through a country rich, varied, and interesting,

Tamines (Station) is next arrived at, close to a village of little importance, then Auvelais, a pretty village, possessing nothing to interest the tourist. Crossing the Sambre for the seventh time since leaving Marchiennes, immediately after leaving Auvelais, the railroad enters vast cuttings, made in enormous banks of schistus, curiously disposed. Passing the hamlet of Grand Bois, and again crossing the Sambre, deep cuttings are entered, on emerging from which are seen richly clad meadows, through which meanders the

Sambre. On the right is seen the steeple of the church of Ham-sur-Sambre, and on the left that of Lemmepe.

Moustier (Station) is then seen, and further on to the left Mornsmerit; then a cutting, then again the Sambre, and always the Sambre, which recedes, approaching and bending like a serpent, enfolds amorously the green hills, then retires, coquette as she is, to wander about in a thousand circuits, where the eye in vain strives to follow her. The railroad next passes through a lovely wood, surrounded by forests; on the right, as far as the eye can reach, rise a succession of hills, entirely wooded, which lower insensibly, and terminate in front of us by a slight elevation, in which is situated the village of Francères; on the left are the park and château of Loye, and looking across the viaduct the traveller may perceive the magnificent buildings of the Abbey of Floreffe, situated midway on the side of a hill higher than all those we have hitherto seen, and bristled here and there with the points of rocks, which cut off by their aridity the vigorous vegetation which surrounds them on all sides.

Floreffe (Station). The village gives evidence, in the immense church and the beauty of its abbey, of the importance anciently attached to it by the Counts of Namur. It has 1,600 inhabitants. Crossing the Sambre three times after leaving Floreffe, the railroad passes Malenne, a celebrated abbey, the beautiful steeple of which, erected in 1651, is seen between two hills towards the right. Passing through a country somewhat varied and interesting, the Sambre, in following the course of the railroad, describes innumerable curves and turnings, and crossing a fine viaduct, reaches the station in Namur, situated outside the Porte-deFer, which leads to Louvain. NAMUR (Station).-Hotels: Hotel d'Harscamp, highly recommended; landlord, Mr. Hoogen.

Hotel de Hollande, a very comfortable, good house; Hotel Belle Vue.

The capital of the province of Namur, at the conflux of the Sambre and the Meuse, a well-built city, with wide and clean streets. It contains a population (1873) of 26,030, who are chiefly employed in the cutlery business. It is defended by