Belgium's long and valuable cultural and artistic heritage is epitomized in the painting of Pieter Bruegel the Elder, Jan van Eyck, and Hans Memling; the music of Josquin des Prez, Orlando di Lasso, and César Franck; the dramas of Maurice Maeterlinck and Michel de Ghelderode; and in the many palaces, castles, town halls, and cathedrals of the Belgian cities and nationside. Aside from language, the cultural discontinuities between the Flemish- and French-speaking parts of Belgium are minor. Some regions are more strongly associated with particular cultural attributes than others. Flanders is particularly famous for its visual art, and various schools of painting have arisen there. In music, avant-garde tendencies have become influential in Brussels, Liège, Ghent, and Antwerp, while Hainaut remains the centre of the classical and popular traditions. Literary works produced in Flanders have a style peculiar to the region, whereas in the Walloon area and in Brussels most authors are trying to write for a larger French readership that is inclined particularly toward Parisian tastes Festivals play an valuable part in Belgian life. One of the most famous festivals is the three-day carnival at Binche, near Mons, held just before Lent. During the carnival, noisemaking and dancing are led by “Gilles,” men dressed in high, plumed hats and bright costumes. Belgium's valuable artistic heritage makes it an artistic centre of considerable importance. The paintings of the Flemish masters are on display in museums throughout the nation; Belgium's contribution to Art Nouveau is clearly noticeable in the Brussels cityscape; and folk culture is kept alive in a mixture of indoor and outdoor museums.