5, From Brussels to Courtrai and Ypres.

Rariway from Brussels to Courtrai, 55 M., in 11/2-2'/2 hrs. (fares 8 fr. 30,
5 fr. 60, 3 fr. 30c.); from -Courtrai to Ypres, 21 M., in 4 hr. (fares 2 fr. 60,
1 fr. 95, 4 fr. 30c.). — Departure in Brussels from the Station du Nord

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From Brussels to (15 M.) Denderleeuw, see p. 3. The line
to Ghent and Ostend (R. 4a) here diverges to the N.W., and that
to Grammont and Ath (p. 7) to the S.W. Our line enters E. Flan-
ders, and passes Haeltert, Burst (branch to Alost), and Herzele.
— 28 M. Sotteghem, a small town of 2900 inhab., with several boot
and shoe manufactories, is the junction of the Ghent and Gram-
mont line (R. 18) and of a line to Renaix (p. 79) as well as ofa
steam-tramway to Wetteren (p.87). The church contains the tombs
of Count Egmont (p. 103), who had a castle here, his wife, and his
sons. In front of the church is a monument to Egmont by Caloigne.
— Three small stations.

38 M. Oudenaarde. — Hotels. Hér. pu Saumon, Dz 1a PommMe-p’Or,
20 R. at 2, D. 2 fr., both in the Grand’ Place (Pl. A, 2) and well spoken of;
VILLE DE & De BRuxELLes, with café-restaurant, both near the station
(Pl. A, 1). — An hour is sufficient for a visit to the beautiful Hdtel de Ville.

Oudenaarde, Fr, Audenarde (46 ft.), a very ancient town with
6600 inhab., manufactories of linen and cotton goods, and breweries,
was once celebrated for its tapestries and preserves from its period of
prosperity a hotel de ville that vies in beauty with those of Brussels
and Louvain. Oudenaarde was the birthplace of Margaret of Parma
(b. 1522), regent of the Netherlands under Philip II., a natural
daughter of Emp. Charles V. and Johanna van der Gheenst. Under
the walls of the town, on 14th July, 1708, the Allies commanded
by Marlborough and Prince Eugene of Savoy gained a decisive vie-
tory over the French.

The street to the right, opposite the station, leads in 10 min. to
the Grand’ Place, crossing the Place de Tacambaro (Pl. A, 1), in

is a Monument (by W. Geefs) to volunteers from Oudenaarde
shed in Mexico while serving under Emp. Maximilian (1867).
N. side of the Grand’ Place rises the —

**HOtel de Ville (Pl. A, 2), a small, but very elegant building,
erected in the late-Gothic style by H. van Peede and W. de Ronde in
1525-29 and recently restored without and within. The facade, which
has three stories, the ground-floor being a hall borne by columns,
somewhat resembles that of the Hotel de Ville at Brussels (p. 128),
but presents a richer appearance in virtue of its smaller proportions.
The tower which rises in the centre of the groundfloor hall has an
open loggia on the first floor also, its main weight being supported
by the principal fagade wall. The two upper stories of the tower are
octagonal and the whole is covered with a crown-shaped roof. The
entrance is on the W. side. Thence we ascend the staircaise (con-
cierge 50 c.) to the first floor. The Salle des Pas-Perdus and the