Tournai

Historic city centre and cathedral. Roman origins. Fought over by French and Germans for centuries. It has also been held by the Spanish, Austrians, Dutch and English at various times. Thomas a Beckett was bishop here. His gold cross is on display in the cathedral treasury. Later, Henry VIII of England held the city for a while in an unsuccessful campaign against the French. Part of Belgium since 1830, Tournai was an industrial and port city, wrecked during the First World War and partially rebuilt following the original appearance.