The Grand Guard Monkey

The Grand Guard Monkey, the lucky charm of the city of Mons

Firmly attached to the façade of Mons’ Town Hall, he is probably the oldest and most famous citizen of Mons. His polished skull is continuously stroked by locals and passing tourists. Every distinguished guest of the city is, of course, invited to greet him upon their arrival.

As some regional authors say, he has surely "witnessed the Lumeçon over a hundred times."

Who? The Grand Guard Monkey, of course!

The crouching, mischievous monkey, scratching his cheek with his left hand, is widely known—far beyond his place of residence. Known? Yes! But what do we actually know about this small statue, which has sparked so much curiosity and debate?

The 3 Hypotheses

The history of the Grand Guard Monkey is based on three widely accepted hypotheses in Mons:

It may be the masterpiece of a blacksmith aspiring to achieve mastery in his craft. Monkeys were particularly popular in medieval times.
It could have been the sign of a tavern once located in the cellars of the Town Hall. This tavern was reportedly closed in 1897 or around 1903/1904.
It might have served as a pillory for unruly children. In the Borinage region, people used to say: "If you don’t behave, I’ll take you to the monkey of Mons."

Which of these hypotheses is the most reliable? None? All three? It’s up to everyone to decide! In truth, no one can say with certainty the origin of this small animal, so dear to the hearts of both locals and visitors.

Lucky Charm of Mons

Nothing is certain about the Grand Guard Monkey, as we said? Not quite! We know for sure that since 1930, it has become the lucky charm of the city of Mons. Of course, this is only true if you stroke its head with your left hand. This legend was created by Paul Heupgen (1868-1949).

He spoke of it this way in one of his Viéseries:
"In truth, no one knows where it comes from or why it is here: there are many hypotheses, but no certainties. No certainties, except this one: whoever strokes it is assured of happiness for at least a year."

Text from the article: "On the façade of the Town Hall of Mons: The Mystery of the Monkey of Grand'Garde" in Annales du Cercle Archéologique de Mons, Volume 79, Mons, 2003, pp. 331-341.

Benoît VAN CAENEGEM,
Curator of the Sainte-Waudru Collegiate Church and its Treasure.