small but strong town in French Flanders, in the county of Hainaut, seated on the river Thespe. It contains about 2500 inhabitants; but the houses are wretchedly built, and the streets irregular. It was fortified by M. Vauban in a strong regular manner. About this place are a prodigious number of white stones proper for building, and used by sculptors for statues: they are known by the name of Stones of Avenes.