We seem to be in museum central at the moment. It's not that we are looking out for them they just seem to be everywhere. In Tournai we felt we could not pass by Musée des arts de la Marionette, the puppet museum. They had lots on offer with over 2500 puppets from all around the world.
Pleased to see Punch and Judy from Britain.
Personally I was fascinated by the building which housed the museum. It was once a very wealthy businessman's 'villa' who had 12 children. The house literally radiated around a circular staircase with amazingly detailed woodwork in a radial pattern from the stairs. Unfortunately the whole place could have done with a cash injection in the maintenance department.
The main staircase.
A very forlorn and old puppet sat in a chair.
Not to be too museumy we also visited in Tournai, Musée des Beaux-Arts. Again I felt the building was more interesting than the contents. Perhaps it's me!! The museum was designed by the celebrated Art Nouveau Belgium architect Victor Horta. As an aside his house is in Brussels and well worth a visit. The building did not disappoint, again could have with a bit of TLC. The exhibits were rather second rate and not enough of them. Looking at old photographs of the museum it used to be rediculously packed with paintings, sculpture and furniture. It seems someone in Brussels thought they would be better displayed in the capital!
The entrance courtyard.
A winged hippo.
The one modern piece was this huge winged and 'flying' hippopotamus in the main atrium. As they say it takes all sorts. Whilst sometimes we go to exhibitions, institutions or events that do not prove to be totally worthwhile it is still worth exploring these as sometimes a real gem is discovered. Such at Le Musée National Des Jeux De Paume in a previous post.
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