Mons

Industrial city and capital of the province of Hainaut, Belgium, 52 km/32 mi southwest of Brussels; population (2006 est) 91,200. Industries include coal mining, textiles, and sugar refining. The military headquarters of NATO is at nearby Chièvres-Casteau. It stands on the site of a Roman camp.

In World War I, it was the site of the Battle of Mons between British and German forces in August 1914. French reserves failed to arrive and those French troops that were present abandoned the British flank, leaving them open to encirclement. The British were forced to retreat onto one defensive line after another until the Germans overstretched their supply lines.

Location The city is situated between two important coal mining districts, the Borinage to the west and the Centre to the east.

Features The city has a town hall (1443–67), the collegiate church of Sainte Waudru (1450–1621), with a belfry, and three museums.