Major Sabbe barracks, now the Carré des Arts

During the reign of Kingdom of the Netherlands, Mons was given a modern barracks (the Guillaume barracks, built in 1824-1827). An infantry barracks, it was renamed “Major Sabbe” after the First World War, and continued to be used until the Second World War. It was then used as the Jean d'Avesnes middle school. Since 1995, it has been used as a venue for higher education in art. The local television station, Télé Mons Borinage, is also based there (since 2000). Every year, during the first fortnight of July, the Festival au Carré is held there, a cultural event dedicated to theatre arts.