Discover the Wonders of Lessines, Hainaut, Hainaut

This circuit is only available in French and in Dutch. Please feel free to download the FR map card.

This circuit is only available in French and in Dutch. Please feel free to download the FR map card.

This circuit is only available in French and in Dutch. Please feel free to download the FR map card.

Between mountains and valleys, the White Mill of Ostiches emerges from several angles throughout the walk. But the landscape is not the only attraction of this hilly green region: it is also known for its good produce and its traditional rural heritage. Still in operation, its forge teaches you about iron work and bladesmithing. The mill, meanwhile, comes alive on Sundays in summer and transports you to another time. Also enjoy the charms of place d’Ostiches, its old brick and limestone farmhouses and its sun terraces.Hike nodes : START 91 - 92 - 1 END

This circuit is only available in French and in Dutch. Please feel free to download the FR map card.Cycle Nodes : START 14 - 15 - 17 - 19 - 20 - 21 - 28 - 32 - 30 - 45 - 34 - 35 - 39 - 40 - 36 - 32 - 27 - 23 - 15 - 12 - 10 - 13 - 6 - 7 - 3 - 52 - 22 - 13 - 23 - 14 END

Departing from the village square, you’ll discover the Flobecq countryside once known for its “simple” culture. The angelica, chamomiles and burdocks which once covered the area have today given way to fields and meadows, offering you a quiet and relaxing environment conducive to walking. Here, herbalists and healers shared their knowledge on the benefits of plants and nature. On your way, the Medicinal Plants House will tell you a little more about the history of therapeutic herbs. Take advantage of its garden with its sunny terrace, where you can relax and have a drink. Hike Nodes : DEPARTURE 42 - 30 - 31 - 32 - 33 - 30 - 42 END

A ridge Road leads you to the philosopher’s cross. There, lying on the grass under the willow, you can enjoy relaxing tranquillity thinking about the "farmer Anrys”. For a few moments, you will think that time has stopped. Yet this tranquillity will be present during this walk along the fields and meadows of the region. Lahamaide will seduce lovers of nature and the Pays des Collines. Hike nodes : START 62-50-57-68-64-65-66-67-62 END

This rural walk is a nice getaway in the heart of the Pays des Collines, along encased dirt roads that connect Ostiches Lahamaide and Oeudeghien, three villages, each belonging to a different entity. The past, memory, folklore and nature encounter the walkers and lead them on a discovery of its present. The circuit allows you to guess the passage of the former vicinal steam tramway. At the end of the walk, stop at the tavern of the Ecomuseum to quench your thirst.Hike nodes : START 62-59-74-61-78-24-21-31-79-59-62 END

  Romanesque in origin – no doubt from the end of the 11th century – the church of Saint-Léger in the hamlet of Wannebecq, consists of a single nave of four bays and a narrower chancel with flat chevet. Both are built in irregular local stone blocks almost totally strengthened in the corners by rough-hewn limestone blocks. A tower with an octagonal spire and frame structure dating from the 15th century occupies the western part of the building. This tower is reinforced by buttresses with an entrance on both sides from the 16th century remodelled in the 20th century, as well as by roof pitches of which the one in the south houses a stair turret. A chapel dedicated to St Léger was added to the south side of the nave, probably in the second half of the 16th century. Built from brick and limestone, it stands out from the rest of the building with its Hennuyer Gothic style. The building also underwent a fundamental restoration programme conducted in 1922 by the architect A. Dufour, who wanted to put back the primitive characteristic of this place of worship, which is still surrounded by its walled cemetery. Building listed on 25-11-1971  

The Hospital of Our Lady with the Rose was founded in 1242 by Alix de Rosoit to care for the poor, the sick, and pilgrims, and was run by members of an Augustinian community. The Renaissance-style buildings set around a Gothic cloister now house a museum illustrating both the life of the religious community and the material, spiritual and medical care which the community gave to the sick between 1242 and 1980 (history and development of pharmacy, medicine and conditions in hospitals etc.). Visitors can also see the farm, gardens, cemetery and ice-house. Financed by European funding, a large-scale renovation project is due to be completed in 2011-2012. Listed building (14-03-1940) Listed as an exceptional heritage site of Wallonia

  The surprising result of ten centuries of history and fourteen building programmes, St Peter's church, which is built on a Romanesque core, is a building of Gothic style whose unusual design, being nearly as wide as it is long, is the result of the many enlargements carried out over the years, mainly from the 14th to 16th centuries. It owes its consistency to the use of porphyry blocks, with the exception of the chancel, which is built from Tournai stone.   A victim of the bombing that destroyed its Romanesque and Gothic structure of the church irremediably in 1940, as well as virtually all of its furnishings, the building was fully restored between 1950 and 1952 under the direction of the architect Simon Brigode. The church, restored to its original shape, presents a complex design made up of a west porch under a polygonal spire against which are placed two side chapels. This porch leads into a relatively narrow single nave with bays that are amplified by the transversal chapels forming double side aisles. A chancel ending in a pentagonal chevet completes the grouping. The sacristy, adjoining the chancel, dates from the time of the restoration. Despite the damage caused in 1940, the church whose interior architecture was modified more profoundly, has retained a certain number of interesting features. For example, one of the chapels backing on to the tower, the chapel of the Holy Trinity, has two epigraphs: a consecration stone from the first half of the 15th century and details of the income earned by the chapel. Building listed on 10-11-1941  

  An interesting relic of industrial heritage is this boat loader, associated closely with the trade in porphyry, a magma rock known for its great hardness and quarried in Lessines since the Middle Ages, before it was exploited intensively from the second half of the 19th century. Called "el Truc à batchos", the metallic silhouette of the device has loomed over the old Tacquenier loading dock since 1922, when it was built by Ateliers de Construction of Marchienne-au-Pont. The crushed porphyry, brought on wagons from the quarry to the neighbouring hangar, was taken to the structure on a conveyor belt. The rock was then stored in an elevated position in one of the loader's  eight 35-ton silos and then tipped into the barges below through four spouts. This unique example of a boat loader in Belgium remained in operation until 1984. Listed on 2-06-2009

  Built in the 18th century using brick and limestone, the old presbytery of Ghoy occupies the interior of an enclosed garden. This long building has the particular feature of having an upper level added after the initial building was finished, but only above part of the living quarters. The window frames are in the simplified Tournai style, blending brick and limestone in a more or less homogeneous whole. The building has a bâtière roof, hipped at the front. Building listed on 29-04-1992  

  St Martin's church is the result of an important pilgrimage to the Virgin. In the second half of the 12th century, a second parish came into being, dedicated to the worship of St Géréon or "Petit Acren". St Martin's church then became Acren Saint-Martin or "Grand Acren". The two parishes finally united in 1804 under the French régime and the commune of "Deux-Acren" was created. In 1828, this decision was confirmed by the destruction of St Géréon. St Martin's became the only church in the parish and bears as souvenir two cockerels, symbols of the two original parishes. The church was then restored and enlarged between 1869 and 1871 by E. Carpentier, an architect from Belœil, who added the turreted façade, the first bay of the naves, etc. The Gothic building consists of a tower, the sole survivor of a 13th-century building. The nave dates from the 14th and 16th centuries. It is flanked by two side aisles with the final bay serving as a transept. The church also has a 14th century chancel and an intersting porch under a mansard roof. The interior of the building is in no way outdone by the exterior. Note the culs-de-lampe sculpted with busts of a satirical tendency, as well as the baptismal fonts dating from the 12th century. Building listed on 4-01-1950  

  Château de l’Estriverie is mentioned for the first time at the end of the 13th century as a "house" belonging to Jean d’Audenaerde. This house was then located on the estate of the de Lestriverie family, the estate from which the castle takes its name today. Described in the 15th century as a "house and tower on a mound enclosed by water and ditches", this fortified house was built on the site of the motte castle of the 13th century. It was enlarged in the 16th or 17th century and became a castle in the traditional L-shape backed by a second group of buildings, also in an L-shape, made up of outbuildings. The castle is built in brick, limestone and sandstone on two levels. It has slate bâtière roofs supported by a corbelled frieze. The façades feature a lower section in limestone blocks or cladding stone. The entrance is dated 1630 and is adorned by the coat of arms of the Cottrel family, owners of the château in the 16th and 17th centuries A listed building, the Château de l’Estriverie has retained all of its majesty and heritage character. Its main courtyard, moats, turrets and roofs  still catch the visitor's eye and dominate the countryside. Building listed on 7-07-1976  

In this magical, timeless setting, discover a terrace and restaurant in a majestic architectural structure. www.notredamealarose.be/ latabledalix.be

Authentic and Accessible CuisineWith a menu highlighting fresh and seasonal ingredients, La Maison du Cocher offers a simple, healthy, and flavourful cuisine. Every dish is carefully crafted to enhance the quality of the ingredients and delight your taste buds.A Renowned Terrace and Spacious ParkingWhen the sun comes out, take advantage of the sunny terrace, known for its peaceful and welcoming ambiance. Plus, a large parking area ensures a hassle-free visit.Enjoy a gourmet getaway in a stunning setting and experience the warm welcome of La Maison du Cocher!

Set in the heart of the château's historic grounds, the Enghien golf club boasts a restaurant serving a menu of local produce in a peaceful, leafy setting. golfclubenghien.com/en/restaurant

This stylish cocktail and wine bar offers a wide selection of creative drinks, sharing platters, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere – perfect for afterwork drinks, a night out with friends, or a romantic date.A Local Favourite in HainautWhether you're just passing through or live nearby, Be Well Bar is the perfect place to enjoy a quality cocktail, share delicious tapas, and spend a pleasant evening in great company. A trendy bar in Lens that blends hospitality, craftsmanship, and relaxation.

Discover this old farmhouse with its bric-a-brac décor, just a stone's throw from the Aubechies Archéosite®, a visit the whole family will love. Step back in time as you enjoy a Roman meal on a leafy terrace. www.taverne-saint-gery.be/

The Arenberg Tavern stands on the grounds of the Great Mill in Rebecq.Don't hesitate to stop by to discover the local beers and specialties proposed there, including 'carbonnades à la Barbar' (beef stewed in beer from the Lefebvre brewery in Quenast) or Tilquin Gueuze.Friendly and flavourful. Give it a try!