Discover the charms of Binche, Hainaut, Hainaut

Discover this 46.6km route on horseback, from Binche to Nivelles! Itineraries: Map 46/5-6 As you leave the guest house Le Relais de Bruille, head north-west along Rue Mon Plaisir, then turn left and follow the yellow route to cross the N563 in a clear spot, then continue across fields until you reach the N90, take care when crossing it. Take the road ahead until Rue Tienne-des Ronques. Then turn west and follow the yellow route that will bring you to Maurage which you will cross through Cité Leburton. Once you reach Rue de la Garenne you will head west towards Rue du Thieu. Map 45/7-8 This road will take you 25m further to the chapel where you will turn right (north) and go off this map 250m further. (This small portion of the itinerary is not illustrated) Map 45/3-4 This road of about 750m (north) takes you under the railway line then along the Canal du Centre where you will find yourself back on the map 46/1-2 (This small portion of the itinerary is not illustrated). 46/1-2 You will cross this whole map from south-west to north-east staying along the canal. You will pass through Thieu, Strépy Bracquegnies and then Houdeng Goegnies. You will see the boat lifts (it is possible to visit the machine room and cafeteria in season). A bit further on, still by the canal, is the Cantine des Italiens (cafe-restaurant and small museum remembering immigrant workers from Italy who helped to build the canal (you can make a stop here). After Houdeng Goegnies you will cross over Tout-y-Faut bridge. You will then turn to the left and cross over the Julie Brichant crossroads which is currently wasteland. You will then cross the new Canal du Centre to reach the north bank (RAVeL). You will pass under the E42 then cross over Morlet bridge, pass under the A501 and continue to Marie Gislain bridge (on the other side of the bridge is the restaurant Le Nautic - tel. +32 (0)64 267 229 or +32 (0)475 47 44 05). The route then becomes grassy. You will reach the Bruxelles-Charleroi canal: pass under the N59 then the N27, after the railway take the bridge and then the first dirt track on the right. You will reach the old canal where you will follow the south bank which you will cross just before the Cité-jardin des Trieux. (Just after the Cité-jardin des Trieux you can take a right to see the Château of Seneffe which often hosts exhibitions). Continue along the east bank of the old canal to pass through Seneffe. Keep going along this old canal until you reach the next map. However, if you would like to visit Flotène farm where Christian De Blende will give you a warm welcome, then take the last road shown on the map on the right, Avenue François Deladrière 15, 7180 Seneffe. 39/5-6 As you follow this old canal on the RAVeL line, you will pass through Arquennes and by the Château de la Rocq (private property) to get to Brabant where the guest house Chez Gertrude will welcome you. You will arrive there by the Chemin de Ronquières which has traditional cobblestones.

Enter into the fascinating universe of masks, travel through the world of winter festivals and carnivals. Discover the ritual functions of the mask in the five continents, the masked festivals of rural regions, the major carnivals in Europe’s towns and cities, the Walloon carnivals and the famous Binche carnival. Experience it, as though you were there, thanks to an audiovisual show on a giant screen.

Right in the middle of La Louvière, in a huge contemporary building, the Centre de la Gravure et de l’Image imprimée (centre for engraving and the printed image) is a multifaceted attraction whose primary goal is to raise the profile of modern graphical expression. The Centre organises all sorts of retrospectives of international artists, as well as putting on a large number of events (exhibitions, competitions, meetings etc.) designed to introduce people to different aspects of printing: from engraving to graphic design, via popular imagery, cartoons, posters and artists’ books.

Housed in the former La Louvière Palais de Justice, the museum is dedicated to the Romanian-born sculptor, Idel Ianchelevici (1909-1994). The permanent collection includes around fifty original pieces in marble, bronze, stone and plaster, as well as a large number of drawings. This collection introduces visitors to some sensitive work focusing on the human figure. The museum also puts on temporary exhibitions with a diverse programme of contemporary art, as well as organising educational services for all ages. Because art and culture are accessible to everyone, the museum offers tours to visitors with specific needs, including the hard of hearing, visually impaired and people with learning difficulties using multisensory displays, sign-language and appropriate educational activities.

Inscribed on the UNESCO world heritage list of blefries of Belgium and France in 1999, the belfry in Binche can be identified from afar thanks to its baroque onion-shaped dome. Equipped with bells some of which date from the 16th century, it is an integral part of the town hall built two centuries earlier, and reconstructed in several stages in the renaissance style.

The Binche belfry, part of the town hall, was built in the 14th century. Burnt down by the French in 1554, the hall was soon restored in a Renaissance style by architect Du Broeucq.

The origins of Binche’s town hall, on the Grand-Place, are closely associated with the economic development of the town – which was the site of a main meat market – and the emergence of municipal freedom, of which the belfry, now on the UNESCO World Heritage list, is another potent symbol. The three ground-floor arches and the base of the belfry date from the 14th century. The town hall was remodelled by Jacques Du Broeucq in the 16th century and altered again towards 1770 by Laurent-Benoît Dewez in the neo-classical style, and it regained its initial appearance at the end of the 19th century. The belfry also houses a clock and a 16thcentury carillon. Listed building (15-01-1936) Town Hall listed as an exceptional heritage site of Wallonia Belfry registered on the world heritage list (1999)  

Enter into the fascinating universe of masks, travel through the world of winter festivals and carnivals. Discover the ritual functions of the mask in the five continents, the masked festivals of rural regions, the major carnivals in Europe’s towns and cities, the Walloon carnivals and the famous Binche carnival. Experience it, as though you were there, thanks to an audiovisual show on a giant screen.

Binche is of Roman origin and lies in a rich agricultural area at the heart of a major road network. In the 11th-12th century, the counts of Hainaut built an imposing rectangular keep on a rocky spur surrounded by the river Samme which protected the Renaissance palace of Mary of Habsburg, governor of the Netherlands. The town’s first wall was built in the 12th century by Baudouin IV, count of Hainaut. It was ahead of its time in being built using stone, although wood was also used. The present thick stone wall was built during the 14th century, and only 300 m of its overall length (2 km), and 5 of its 30 towers and its gates have disappeared. With the support of the European Union, the Walloon Region has been able to embark on an extensive programme to restore the ramparts of Binche. At the same time, it has also conducted major archaeological excavations that have revealed the full extent of the significance of the Binche site, along with its extremely well preserved mediaeval defences. Ramparts listed (20-10-1947) Ramparts listed as an exceptional heritage site of Wallonia

Delightfully restored and lit up at night, with its 22 towers, today’s fortifications in Binche date back to the 14th century. They replaced an older, smaller construction that protected the rocky spur to the south of Binche. 

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Built in 1946 by the Boël factories for its Italian immigrant workers, its buildings have been rehabilitated into a café / restaurant and an information centre on immigration. From the ‘Cantine des Italiens’, rent electric boats without a license to explore the historic Canal du Centre. It’s fun and informative all at the same time.

Housed in the former barn of a farm, Grange de la Courte is a restaurant focusing on local cuisine. It offers quality produce from the farm or neighbouring holdings. Each table resembles a traditional farm table, overflowing with tasty dishes and intended to facilitate moments of joy. Grills, ratas, casseroles, fish, gourmet desserts, etc. A south-facing terrace, children's playground and proximity to farm animals.

In Lobbes, in the heart of the peaceful countryside, this restaurant offers French brasserie-style cuisine at an attractive price. The setting is modern with a nice view of the gardens and the pond and a superb 52-seat suspended terrace. They offer dishes of the day, various set menus, business lunches, seasonal menus, etc. This includes ultra-fresh ground beef tartare, grilled swordfish steak seasoned with herbal oil and foie gras. The menu is updated every season. There are set menus adapted to your needs: banquet, communion, marriage, birthday, etc.

With exotic origins, Vincent and Ling prepare refined, high-quality cuisine. A place of well-being with a friendly family atmosphere, "Le Pré en Bulles" offers innovative cuisine mixing Chinese culture and local produce, mainly from their farm. In good weather, the setting is very pleasant and quiet with the large sun terrace, the view of the lush nature and the playground for children. Ideal for complete relaxation in the countryside.

Dating to 1266, the site has withstood several sieges, which have altered the area’s layout overtime. In 1518, the castle fell into the hands of the House of Croÿ, and received a surgeon named Ambroise Paré who saved the life of Charles Philip de Croÿ in 1569 by tying his arteries, which was contrary to the prevailing practice. At the end of the 16th century, the castle was in a sorry state. Charles Alexander de Croÿ, Marquis of Havré, envisioned a new, majestic design and capped the 14th century octagonal dungeon with a fine slate onion dome in 1603. Thus converted into an opulent residence, the castle hosted some prominent visitors: Van Dyck, Rubens, Mary de Medici, Infanta Isabella, Mary of Hungary, and the Duke of Malborough, among others. After the French Revolution, the Croÿ family no longer inhabited the castle. They had neglected it, and abandoned it once and for all in 1839. In 1919, Canon Puissant tried to save the building, but he could not afford to pay for the task. By 1930, the building started to collapse and the very existence of the domain was threatened. Fortunately, on the initiative of Emile Poumon, a local historian, a number of citizens formed an NPO in 1978 and started the long work of safeguarding the place.

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