TOURNAI is the nearest southern Belgium has to the Flemish "art towns" of Flanders and the north, and is a pleasant spot to spend a couple of nights. The town was badly damaged by Allied bombing during World War II, but the cathedral, arguably the finest in the country, survived pretty much unscathed, as did the narrow lanes and alleys of the medieval street plan.

Most things of interest are on the southern side of the river, grouped around or within ea... [More]