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In virtue of its long history of conquests, monarch shifts and constant transforming of neighboring Countries in europe, Belgian people cultivated and endeavored to preserve its cultural, religious and ethnic customs, which built them into a strong national entity nowadays despite the unity of discrepant Flanders on the north and Walloon around the south. The strongest centers of long-standing traditions are likely to be met in small towns situated from coast to coast. Besides conservation of architectural masterpieces in face of medieval and gothic castles and cathedrals, Belgian settlements could be called also the focuses of folk art, in particular, ancient crafts (lace, carpet weaving, handicraft production paintings, copper utensils, and tanning arms) and national holidays of local folklore.
Within this context, you should introduce several towns of Belgium, which over the good reputation for the nation successfully maintained their position of local cultural centers.
Midway between Brussels and Antwerpen the city of Mechelen is located, the primary center of carillon music, or in short, the bell ringing. Particularly, the carillon of St. Rumbold's Cathedral is one of the best and most famous in Europe. Carillon Bells, a total of 49 pieces, were cast at different times, beginning with the 16th century towards the mid-20th. The biggest bell, referred to as El Salvador, includes a weight of almost 9 tons and there is yet another at least of the same weight. The entire quantity of bells is 98 units, and the total weight is nearly 80 tons. This town can also provide you with a trip to the Toy Museum, in which you may find Barbies', Lego's and other collection, and a privately run Clocks and Watches Museum with 1000 timepieces lovingly collected over the years.
Turnehout is, practically, the oldest town (province) in Belgium as it was referenced to by Roman authors in fifth century. Considering its long storytelling, there are lots of places to go to within this city, among which Renaissance building made by the English King Henry VIII. In Middle Ages Torenhout was well-known gobelin tapestry center in Europe, that is a distinctive feature of local art craft. Among interesting places to attend one should take notice of the Playing Card Museum, which exhibits specific documents dating from 1100 B.C. and original playing cards (dating from 16th century).
A site of multiple hostilities, Namur (the main city of Wallon), is mostly represented by huge fortress, which updated and expanded within the centuries. Among attractions it's impossible not to go to the Félicien Rops museum, which gives a possibility to see all stages of artist's life as you're watching his paintings, etchings and drawings. House of Butchers, one of the oldest and many impressive buildings in Namur founded in 1588-1590 years, nowadays appears to be a host building of Archaeological Museum of Walloon. Its exhibition includes a remarkable quantity of valuable artifacts found in the area in the Roman period and also the reign of the Merovingians (the very first dynasty of Frankish kings, who ruled in what has become France and Belgium) to the Dark ages. The museum displays vases, ceramics, floor mosaics, and religious objects found in tombs and houses from the Roman era.
Pekkerstad, Borstelstad or Schoenenstad - fundamental essentials nicknames obtained by picturesque town in West Flandria, Izegem. It is one of those national settlements, whose craft heart-warming tradition became a distinctive feature; in particular, it is associated with the brush-making and shoe-making manufacture, the development of that is shown in National Shoe Museum. As being a spot of tourist destination, this establishment demonstrates an in depth way how footwear is made by hand, a history of shoes in the mean of foot protection up to and including indication of prestige and shoe collections of other countries.
