A town of art, history and folklore

Binche is a Walloon city and municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut.  the city counts 32.000 inhabitants.

the motto of the city is "Plus Oultre" (meaning "Further" in Old French), which was the motto of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, who in 1545 gave the medieval Castle of Binche to his sister, Queen Mary of Hungary. 

in 2003, the Carnival of Binche was proclaimed one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.

we have visited 2 permanent collections and 2 exhibitions, which are all presented in the International Carnival and Mask Museum Binche (Rue Saint-Moustier 10, 7130 Binche)

http://museebinche.be

arty-farty.fun's opinion: ***
discover the past  "Plus Oultre" 

until 30th august 2020

the Ticuna are an indigenous people of Brazil (36,000), Colombia (6,000), and Peru (7,000). They are the most numerous tribe in the Brazilian Amazon. wiki https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ticuna

this exhibition is a true immersion in TICUNA mythology and presents not only the contextual aspects and the daily life of the tribe, but also the masked ritual of the Feast of the New Girl. one section of the exhibition is dedicated to the Ticuna’s struggle for the official demarcation of their territory in which Pedro Inácio was one of the iconic figures. his death in July 2018 prompted the museum to organize this exhibition in his honour.

EXPRESSING ONESELF: TICUNA ART. what can we learn from the Ticuna people: art is closely linked to the Ticuna's daily life. It is an important means of expression of their culture and allows them to affirm their singularity as well as their identity.

arty-farty.fun's opinion: *
great to discover if you take the time to understand the planetary message of the Ticuna people, prior to the visit

the Interpretation Centre differs from a conventional museum gallery as it invites you to discover the Carnival of Binche, its history, its actors, its customs and traditions. this tour displays the most beautiful pieces of the museum’s collection, shows archive images and testimonies never presented before, exclusive testimonials, photographs and documentary films.

arty-farty.fun's opinion: *****
The Carnival of Binche is a living and exceptional heritage, a popular, human and social event. it has been recognized as a “Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity” by UNESCO in 2003. this folkloric event, coming from a long oral tradition, is a real rite that gives the participants the feeling to be unique. for the inhabitants, and according to the famous quote, “there is no place like Binche in the world”.

the museum presents a "masks"  journey across the five continents, from the European winter festivals to the enigmatic ceremonies of North America and Latin America, from the mysterious customs of Africa to the fascinating traditions of Asia and Oceania.

arty-farty.fun's opinion: ***
tHERE IS NO nEED TO GO aROUND THE wORLD! (Etienne loves uppercase :-(      discover superbe folklore and masked traditions from around the world

until 16/08/2020

This exhibition is organized in collaboration with the Accademia delle Arti Orafe of Rome and presents a number of drawings made by goldsmith design students during the lockdown period.

Deeply affected by the coronavirus pandemic, Italy was the first European country hit very hard by COVID-19. Homebound, the students of Barbara Brocchi, a famous goldsmith design teacher of the Accademia delle Arti Orafe of Rome set themselves the callenge to reinterpret the sanitary mask from an artistic point of view.

arty-farty.fun's opinion: *
great idea but this exhibition is not implemented to its value in this location

a 2-min walk from the International Museum of Carnival and Mask

Fbg Saint-Paul 38, 7130 Binche

www.labinchoise.be

Located at the foot of the well-known ramparts of Binche, including a shaded patio in the green setting of the Parc de l’Académie.

La Binchoise Brewery-Restaurant is hosted in  an authentic setting of an old malt house. they offer a typical Belgian menu and suggestions based on the chef’s inspiration. 

the brewery produces around 8000 hectolitres per year, not only of its own brands of beer, but also of contract-brewed beers. more than ever, we wish to emphasize our authenticity, the Belgian craftsmanship, and the character of our beers. we assert our status as traditional brewers. 

arty-farty.fun's opinion: ***
great beer(s), charismatic owner , hugable clients. we do love the people of Binche , very open, very social having a couple of beers together. note: in Binche there are 45 bars (cafés) in Binche, much appreciated.