Folklore Museum Tournai

The Musée de Folklore et des Imaginaires, known simply as the Folklore Museum of Tournai, is one of the most atmospheric city museums in Wallonia. Its collection contains more than 40,000 objects illustrating daily life in Tournai and the Picardy region between the 18th and 20th centuries. Reconstructed interiors show shops, workshops, classrooms and living quarters, with particular attention paid to the region's fair and carnival traditions. The museum is housed in a historic patrician townhouse in the heart of Tournai.

Accessibility is partial. The main entrance has been fitted with a discreet wheelchair ramp, and the ground floor with several of the most important exhibition rooms is fully accessible. An adapted toilet is located on the same level. A spacious lift connects the ground floor with the first floor, where additional galleries are found. The upper floors, accessible only via a historic wooden staircase, are not accessible. Most of the core collection, however, can be viewed on the two lower floors.

The museum is located in a pedestrian zone with cobblestones. The accessible parking spaces on Rue des Jésuites are 150 metres from the entrance, and the route is challenging due to the cobbles but doable. The underground Tournai Centre car park offers a more comfortable alternative. A visit to the Folklore Museum combines perfectly with an outing to the Notre-Dame Cathedral and the belfry of Tournai, both UNESCO World Heritage sites.