Five miles south-east of Tournay, to the right of the post road to Ath, is the battle-field of Fontenoy, seen immediately after passing the village of Bourquembrays. In this spot was fought the battle between the English, Dutch, and Austrians, commanded by the Duke of Cumberland, and French under Marshal Saxe. Quitting Tournay, the following stations are met with, none of which is of any importance: Havinnes, Bary-Maulde Lueze (where the lines from Renaix and Mons come in), and Ligne. After which we arrive at Ath Station (Inn: Cygne). A fortified town on the Dendre, 21 miles from Tournay. A terrible fire in 1433, a hurricane in 1600, and an earthquake in 1691, and other disastrous events, dismantled Ath of all her monuments, &c. St. Julien's Tower and the Parish Church alone escaped the conflagration. Ath sustained many deadly sieges. The fortifications constructed in 1815 are strengthened with great care. The population is about 9,000. At a short distance from Ath, on the direct line to Brussels, via Hal (see below), is Enghien Station. A town containing about 8,700 inhabitants. The beautiful park and gardens surrounding the chateau of the Duke D'Aremberg, destroyed during the French Revolution, deserve notice. At Meslin l'Evêque, near Ath, the cultivation of the mulberry and silkworm has been introduced with much success. The Belioel, 6 miles from Ath, not far from the road, is famous as the patrimonial estate of the Prince de Ligneillustrious in the triple capacity of diplomatist, soldier, and author. Maffles, Attre, Brugelette, Lens Stations, are next met with, all near places of no importance. Jurbise Station. A small commune, with a population of 700 souls. It is about 8 miles from Mons by railway. The country along from Jurbise to Braine-le-comte is rather interesting. Here there is a correspondence with the railway from Mons. Soignies Station. Hotels: De l'Ange; des Voyageurs; des Trois Rois. The chief town of a canton of the province of Hainault, in the district of Mons, with a population of 6,800 souls. Its origin is ancient, The church of St. Vincent is believed to be the most ancient in Belgium; from its shape, and by the style of its architecture, it is certainly one of the most curious. The beautifully sculptured stalls are worthy of notice. The college of Soignies is one of the most renowned in Belgium; it is still well attended. The principal trade carried on is in the quarrying of the stone, known as that of Soignies. Post Office, near the church. Braine-le-Comte Station. A small ancient town of the province of Hainault, in the district of Mons. It is said that Brennus, the Gaul, 391 years before Christ, founded a fortress and tower upon the site of the present church. The parish church is deserving of notice. The stone tabernacle at the choir is a fine piece of sculpture, but much disfigured with gilding and painting. The front of the convent of the Dominicans is an elegant structure. The principal hotel is Du Cygne. The manufactures are chiefly cotton spinning and lace thread spinning. On the right the line turns off to Charleroi and Namur. Travellers, proceeding direct to Namur and Liége, change carriages at this station. The surrounding district here is celebrated for the superiority of its flax, the best grown anywhere. It is employed in the manufacture of brussels lace. To the north-west, a few miles distant, is Steenkerke, the spot where the Duke of Luxembourg defeated William III., with a loss of 7,000 men, in 1692. Quitting the last station, the railway pierces the tunnel of Braine-le-Comte, and enters a deep cutting, passing Heunnuyres, a commune of the province of Hainault; and La Genette, where Jean Jacques Rousseau died, in 1741, after which it arrives at Tubise Station. A commune in the district of Nivellos, in the province of Brabant, with a population of 2,500 souls. Lembecq Station. A town containing 2,300 inhabitants, with no objects of interest save its old chateau and its numerous distilleries. Nothing worth notice presents itself after leaving the Tubise station. Crossing the Senne and the canal Charleroi, we next arrive at Hal Station. Hotels: Des Pays Bas; Duc de Brabant. A pretty village of 7,600 inhabitants, built partly on the Senne, and on the canal Charleroi, having no objects of particular interest, save the church of St. Mary, celebrated as possessing a miracle-working image of the Virgin. It is of wood, two feet high, and has acquired immense wealth by pious offerings, including gold plate given by Charles V., Maximilian I., Pope Julius II., &c. A side chapel contains 33 cannon balls, aimed, it is said, at the church, and caught by the Virgin in her mantle, which she had spread over the town to protect it during a bombardment. The high altar deserves special notice, it being one of the most beautiful in Belgium, made of marble, and sculptured, it would seem, by Italian artists. Below is the tabernacle, and underneath St. Martin dividing his cloak. The Seven Sacraments are represented on the bas reliefs, admirable works of art, at the lower rows, and the entire construction is surmounted by a pelican. The gorgeous font, of brass, cast at Tournay, by the artist Lefevre, in 1467, is worth seeing. It is placed in the octagon baptistry of the church, and is covered with a spire, adorned by statues, and groups representing the baptism of Christ, St. Martin, &c. At Hal, the direct line from Lille, via Enghien, falls in. Leaving it, we pass the village of Eysingham, and crossing the Senne, arrive at Loth Station, about 5 miles from Brussels. It has a very fine church, richly ornamented, and having over the high altar a painting, by De Crayer, the Martyrdom of St. Peter. Quitting Loth, the railway runs parallel with the canal Charleroi, passes Ruysbroeck and Forest stations. After which, it leaves the suburb of St. Gillis, crossing the gate of Hal on the left, the boulevard, and arrives at the south station, entering Brussels-(Route 7). ROUTE 3. London to Brussels, viâ Dover, Ostend, Bruges, Ghent, and Malines. London to Dover-(Route 1). Mail steamers leave Dover for Ostend at 9-40 a.m. and 10-40 p.m. The distance from port to port is 63 English miles, and the voyage is made from to 5 hours. Fifteen miles south, the light of Du kirk is seen, before the Ostend one shews itse Two jetties flank the Ostend harbour, which dry at low water, and form very nice promenade The Passport and Custom House Offices a quite close to the harbour, and open daily at 5 a.m in summer, so that tourists wishing to proceed o their route need not be delayed. A Commissionai will be always found at hand to attend to one! passport and secure places, for whose services couple of francs will be demanded. Travellers going direct from Ostend to Cologn can avoid the necessity of having their baggag searched here by declaring it for transit, and de livering it over to the care of a railway official who is to be found at the Custom House. On arrival at Cologne it will be delivered up on the production of the ticket. Ostend.-Hotels: Hotel Fontaine, highly recommended, very con veniently situated, near the sea and harbour. It has a splendid dining-room. Bath Hotel, an old-established first-class hotel. Recommended. The Ship Hotel, a comfortable house, situated o the Quai. Moderate charges. English Private Family House, 13, Rue Louise close to the sea-side. Moderate charges. W. C. Wiltcher, proprietor. Ship Brokers, Messrs. R. St. Amour and Son. Omnibuses attend the arrival of each train. The Harbour of Ostend is formed by a natural inlet of the sea, which has forced a passage between two sand-hills. The south-western bank, or beach, is of a triangular shape, and possesses some degree of elevation above high-water mark, and the surrounding country, so that, at half tide, it is completely peninsulated; and on this bank the town is built. This inlet has been improved at different times. Ostend is a strongly fortified town, containing 17,340 inhabitants, and is placed between the sea and the harbour, being surrounded by water on every side, and enclosed with ramparts. The land all round is low, and the waters have to be controlled by sluices. It sustained a memorable 18 Hal Hote A p partly having church miracle wood, 1 wealth given b II., &c. aimed, i the Virg marble, a St. Marti ments are gorgeous 1 is covered groups rep At Hal, t falls in. L singham, ar Loth Sta It has a vel having over the Martyrd Quitting 1 the canal Ch stations. Α1 St. Gillis, cr boulevard, a entering Brussels siege of 3 years' duration, between 1601 and 1604. 50,000 of the besieged, and 70,000 of the Spaniards who besieged it, under General Spinola, fell during the siege, which was given up only by order of the "States General." The town was reduced to one heap of ruins. It was ceded in 1715 to the Emperor of Germany. Louis XV. entered it in 1745, after a siege of 18 days, which all but completed its destruction. In 1826, the gunpowder explosion which occurred there committed great ravage, and inflicted much ruin on the place. Ostend possesses a College of Navigation. The oyster parks are outside the Bruges Gate, and ought to be visited. The town, but shabby in appearance, contains, however, two good squares, or, as they are more properly called, places. The Maison de Ville forms the entire side of one of them. It was formerly reckoned among the most magnificent structures of the kind in Belgium, being ornamented with two fine towers at each wing, and a dome in the centre; but this superb building was nearly ruined by the bombardment of 1745. The body of the town-house still subsists, but of its dome and two beautiful towers there only remains the stump of one of them, surmounted by a wooden cupola. The church has no claim to architectural merit, but the inside is richly ornamented. It has a lofty octangular steeple, with a very clumsy spire, affording, however, an excellent sea-mark. The Fortifications of Ostend are more than two miles in circumference. They were dismantled, but had not been essentially injured. They are now undergoing repairs and additions which will make them very formidable. As the place is situated on an elevated beach, the ramparts tower above the flat country, which being lower than high-water mark, can be speedily and extensively inundated. The only hostile approaches are along the high sand-hills to the north and south; the former is protected by a strong redoubt, built by the late French government and called Fort Napoleon. It forms a favourite promenade. Ostend is a favourite watering-place, and is much frequented in the months of August and September. There are very many bathing machines on the beach; and near the sea, on the Digue, a bathing house has been established. Steamers for London twice a-week, every Tuesday and Friday afternoon or night, performing the voyage in about 11 hours; also daily at 10 mrn. and 8 aft. by the mail packets to Dover, in 41 to 5 hours. A direct rail (the West Flanders) is opened to Thourout, Courtray, &c. Ostend to Bruges.-(Distance, 14 English miles.) The railway, on leaving Ostend, proceeds through a country presenting no very remarkable appearance, being rich in an agricultural point of view, but flat and undiversified in its general ap pearance. Plasschendael Station. A commune with a population of 1,600, situated a little to the right of the railway. It possesses no object of interest save its ancient château Plasschendael. The Dunkirk and Ostend canals join here. BRUGES Station (Flemish, Brügge, i.. Bridges, of which there are many).-Hotels: Hotel de Commerce, a first-rate old established house, enjoying an excellent reputation. Hotel de Flandre, an old established house, famous for its fine wines and good dinners. Aigle Noir; Rosimont. The railway station at Bruges is on the Vrydags Markt, or Friday's Market. The West Flanders Railway is now open to Courtray, making a direct railway from Ostend and Bruges to Paris, via Lille, Amiens, &c., It is 23 miles shorter than by Ghent. A railway runs to Blankenburg. On leaving Ostend it is a very general custom for travellers going to Germany to take a railway ticket for the whole distance to Cologne, for the purpose of reaching the Rhine with the least possible delay. In doing so, they deprive themselves of the opportunity of visiting the cities in Belgium, which possess more objects of interest to the lover of the fine arts, more pure and perfect specimens of florid Gothic architecture, a richer collection of rare and beautiful paintings, by the old Flemish masters, than can probably be found in the whole of Germany. If, instead of hurrying in this hothaste through a country which presents so many points of interest to travellers in general, and to Englishmen in particular, our countrymen were to devote a part of their time to Belgium, they would never regret becoming acquainted with its peculiarities, its fine old cities, its glorious monuments, its arts and sciences, the people, and their institutions. |