Treignes

Treignes is also known as 'museum village' because it has as many as five museums and several other tourist attractions. The cobbled streets, the fountain, and the tranquility make the village worth a visit.

Here are some tips for a full day in Treignes.

•Steam Train Museum
The collection in the large hall includes steam trains, a steam tram (built in 1894!), old diesel locomotives, passenger carriages, ... You will also find temporary thematic exhibitions there. The whole gives you a nice picture of the railway of yesteryear. The 4 tracks, each 110 meters long, collect a series of marvelous railway materials including steam locomotives dating from the early 1900s and post-1950, diesel railcars, some passenger wagons from the 1900s, and maintenance equipment.

•Less than 1 km from here, you will find the Museum du Malgré-tout
This is a beautiful archaeological private collection. There are two permanent exhibitions: a hall dedicated to the 'archaeology of the Viroin region' and a 'pre-historical gallery.' Each year, one or two temporary exhibitions are also installed. Worth a detour!

•l'Espace Arthur Masson
Arthur Masson was a popular writer; somewhat comparable to Streuvels and Timmermans in Flanders. He wrote numerous books about typical folk figures. Around this, a unique museum was built in the old school building. With an audio guide (also in Dutch), you walk along -real-life- scenes. Through light and sound (in a rich Walloon dialect) you are catapulted back in time: a beautiful experience.
In front of the museum stands a magnificent statue with a fountain depicting the village characters of Arthur Masson.
Across the street, you will find a welcome center where you can drink a typical beer and purchase various 'local products.'

•Ecomuseum of the Viroin
The Ecomuseum presents the tools of various crafts from the region that contributed to the wealth of the village and the area between the Sambre and Meuse rivers: carpenter, floor layer, clog maker, barrel maker, cart maker, leather worker, animal treaters, ...

•Gallo-Roman villa - archaeological site
300 meters from the current village center, between the agricultural lands, there was a villa surrounded by its outbuildings from the 1st to the 4th century AD, covering an area of 6 hectares. The foundations were carefully restored and returned to their original state between 1980 and 2000. The extensive residence includes numerous subdivisions, including a large bathing area and a cellar. This is very well preserved and shows 5 niches and the beginning of a cellar hole. The building’s drainage system is still partially visible. The archaeological material is kept in the museum Malgré-Tout. On-site, there are 9 panels with explanations in three languages, illustrations, and a picnic area.

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