Car free style: Nivelles - Godarville

The Château de Seneffe estate and its Museum feature one of Belgium's most important silverware collections. visitwallonia.com/en-gb/content/chateau-de-seneffe-and-its-estate-silverware-museum

The St. Gertrude Collegiate Church is the pride and joy of Nivelles, with its impressive 102m nave with two opposing choirs and its 11th century crypt. This is one of the largest Romanesque churches in the world, an exceptionally handsome, grandiose monument that was consecrated in 1046 by Wazon, Bishop of Liege, before Henry III Emperor of the Holy German Empire.The Collegiate Church is still in use, regularly assembling Christians from the St. Gertrude Parish.You can also visit the crypt, the archaeological basement, the cloister and the central steeple that houses the bells and carillon.The southern turret boasts the Jean de Nivelles jacquemart, a copper warrior some 2.08 m high.The Nivelles Collegiate Church is a must-see. Don't miss it!

Enjoy the superb environment as you relax with your family.The park was fitted out at the beginning of the 19th century. A French garden, two ponds, an English garden and flowerbeds stand between the walkways.As you stroll through, admire the magnificent sculptures by Albert Desenfans, Ducaju and Michiels. Don't miss the grimacing neo-Gothic gargoyles or the 17th century Baroque gate recovered from the St. Gertrude Collegiate Church.At the bottom of the garden, sports and leisure facilities are available. The Reine Astrid sports field and a large multipurpose gym await football, hockey, tennis, basketball and track teams.The listed estate has two styles of garden, French and English. There is a fountain and a lake of several hectares where fishing is permitted between April and December.

Ce château d’exception du XVIIe siècle défendu par d’impressionnantes douves vous entraîne au cœur d’un autre monde. Le site ne se visite pas car il est destinés à l'organisation de mariages, réunions d’affaires et séminaires, garden-parties, soirées à thème, … Le château disposent de 20 chambres et de cabanes perchées dans les frondaisons majestueuses du parc qui entoure le Château.

Les ponts tournants pivotaient et s'alignaient dans le sens du canal pour laisser le passage libre aux bateaux. Ils étaient exclusivement manœuvrés par l’énergie humaine. Introduisant une manivelle au centre du pont, le pontier actionne une roue dentée qui se meut autour d’une couronne fixe. Dès que le pont se met à tourner, il repose uniquement sur un pivot en bronze de 10 cm de diamètre. Le pont en cours de rotation est donc un exemple étonnant d’équilibre.

Le Centre de délassement de Claire-Fontaine à Chapelle-Lez-Herlaimont (à proximité des axes autoroutiers) vous accueille dans un cadre verdoyant, proche d'une réserve ornithologique. Vous pouvez goûter aux plaisirs nautiques (plan d'eau, toboggan nautique, pédalos, pêche, mini-golf, pétanque, beach-volley,...), laisser vos enfants se dépenser à la plaine de jeux et savourer une spécialité régionale à la cafétéria.

www.belle-escapade.be/fr

www.berlanwez.be/

Au Fil de l'Eau is a 3-star hotel in Seneffe (province of Hainaut), It enjoys a lovely situation in a hilly valley, rich in beautiful landscapes.

www.hotelnivellessud.be/

gitesdewallonie.be/fr/le-mont-saint-roch

www.hainaut-terredegouts.be/producteur/ferme-du-scoumont/

www.fermedegrambais.be/

Nivelles, a small town with a great history, has a breathtaking historical heritage. Known for its magnificent thousand-year-old Sainte- Gertrude collegiate church, this charming town conceals a thousand and one little well-kept secrets. The city invites you to immerse yourself in the heart of its old quarters with medieval charm, or to stroll among the works of art that are scattered around the Dodaine park. Also discover the only sisterhood in Belgium, its craft beers and its famous ‘Târte al Djote’...

A 2-hour «NAUTICAL» trip on the ‘Canal du Center ‘with a delicious made-to-measure picnic basket. www.labarchetta.me

The jacquemart (an animated mechanised figure which strikes the hours on a bell with a hammer) of the Sainte-Gertrude collegiate church in Nivelle is one of 3 in Wallonia. Made of gold plates brass, this representation of a warrior is quite impressive in size: 2 metres high and 350 kg in weight! The locals are so used to the automaton marking the passing of time the city would not be the same without it. visitwallonia.com/en-gb/3/where-to-go-in-wallonia/walloon-towns-and-cities/nivelles

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