Hecq, Nord, Nord-Pas-de-Calais

The gîte, L'Air Pur, sleeps between 2 and 4 people and welcomes you to the heart of the Parc Naturel des Hauts Pays. The gîte is the barn belonging to a former farmhouse, with a sofabed in the living room, a dining room that seats 6 people, a kitchen with a freezer, a woodburner, a bathroom with a separate WC and a bedroom. It also has a television and Wi-Fi. Outside, you can enjoy the terrace with an orchard, outdoor games, a barbecue and a ping-pong table. This lovely gîte is the prefect base from which to explore the colours and the flavours of the Haut-Pays. Lounge/dining r. (TV/antenna, sofa-bed 1x2 p., wood stove), kitchen (ceramic hobs, multifunctional oven), 1 bedr. (2x1 p., child's cot), bathr. (bathtub), sep. WC. Boxr. Landlord's washing machine available.Cradle and baby gear available on demand. Charges included.

The gîte, Les Coquelicots, sleeps between 6 and 8 people and welcomes you to the heart of the Parc Naturel des Hauts Pays. The gîte boasts every modern convenience you could need on two floors. On the first floor there is a kitchen fitted with everything you might want, a bathroom, a sauna, a large reception area with a dining room and a double bedroom. On the second floor there are 2 double bedrooms as well as a second bathroom with a separate WC and a relaxation area with tourist information and books. If you fancy relaxing a bit, you can enjoy the terrace in the stunning garden, filled with flowers. A ping-pong table, bikes and kids’ games are also available. Jeanne and Benoît De Bisschop, the owners, look forward to welcoming you in their gîte on this farm in Audregnies. It’s in the centre of this picturesque village with very old roots that you will find their family-run farm, which grows all the main crops. Based in the Parc Naturel des Hauts-Pays, the gîte is the perfect base for all sorts of activities. If you’re interested in culture, history, fine food or folklore, the gîte is just under 30 kilometres from Mons and all of its rich heritage. If you’re into nature there’s plenty to do around here. Nestled in a lush green setting with enchanting valleys, meadows and fields with woodland bathed in a rainbow of seasonal colours, the region invites you to enjoy all of the beauty of untouched nature. The owners are delighted for you to explore their garden with its plants, vegetables and fruit trees grown naturally, as well as the local heritage, with a guided walk of the village and the surrounding area. Plus there are lots of local activities in the lovely country setting. The owners would be more than happy to tell you all about their work on the farm through the seasons. In the fields and woods, you can discover the natural riches of our region. There are also plenty of walking maps and information about local heritage, crafts food and drink for you to browse.

Mons Card Partner: €3 discountClassified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site since July 2012, Grand-Hornu a jewel of the European industrial heritage of the 19th century. Property of the Province of Hainaut since 1989, this historical landmark is today one of the most significant windows of contemporary art in Belgium. In addition to promoting the architectural riches of this unique site, the MACS and the CID teams focus their activities on contemporary art, offering large, high-quality international exhibitions of contemporary art and design. Guided tour available by reservation and audio guide rentals available. Free on the first Sunday and first Wednesday of each month for schools.

With capacity for two to four people, the bed & breakfast La Chrysalide welcomes you 5km from Mons. The room, fitted on the ground floor of a house in a cosy atmosphere, has a double bed, wifi and a private bathroom with shower. You can also enjoy the garden and terrace where the owners provide you with garden furniture, a barbecue, games for children and adults and bikes. In addition, a delicious and hearty breakfast with tea, coffee and water are offered to you in your bedroom. La Chrysalide is the ideal starting point for many activities such as visits to Havré Castle and Spiennes Mines, hiking or cycling in Malogne wood or on the Ravel L98 or GR 412 but also exploring the historic heart of Mons and all the cultural heritage of the city.

Located at the edge of the rural village of Grand-Reng, this charming old residence, which has been converted into guest rooms, will surprise you with the whimsy and creativity of its facilities. Enjoy the inviting interior of this manor home, the open fireplace during bad weather, the library, the spa and sauna and the body-massaging mattress. Hammocks, the enclosed garden and deckchairs are available on sunny days. Each season has its own appeal at Château Frankie! You can enjoy a generous brunch during your stay, including hot drinks, pastries, pancakes, eggs and a variety of other options.

Located at the edge of the rural village of Grand-Reng, this charming old residence, which has been converted into guest rooms, will surprise you with the whimsy and creativity of its facilities. Enjoy the inviting interior of this manor home, the open fireplace during bad weather, the library, the spa and sauna and the body-massaging mattress. Hammocks, the enclosed garden and deckchairs are available on sunny days. Each season has its own appeal at Château Frankie! You can enjoy a generous brunch during your stay, including hot drinks, pastries, pancakes, eggs and a variety of other options.

The Emile Verhaeren centre, opened in March 2010, provides a 60m² home for a large number of extracts of the poet’s work, along with explanatory texts (Fr-Nl and Braille), a series of reproductions of 25 historic documents and 13 canvases illustrating the close ties Verhaeren had with the representatives of avant-garde art and literature of his generation, with the neo-impressionist painters and great writers of the 19th and 20th centuries. From the museum, visitors can walk in the poet’s footsteps along the Circuit des Pierres: a 4km walk that goes through the famous Caillou-qui-bique. Guides are available on request for the museum and the walk. They are passionate members of the not-for-profit organisation Mémoire d’Emile Verhaeren in Roisin. The museum invites you to meet or get to know better one of Belgium’s most important writers. Between 1899 and 1914, the poet, Emile Verhaeren, stayed in Roisin in the Hauts-Pays. He came to stay at a farmhouse near Caillou-qui-bique looking for peace and inspiration. Today, these buildings are still standing on the provincial site of Caillou and house the Emile Verhaeren Museum. The exhibition was designed by the not-for-profit organisation Fédération du Tourisme de la Province de Hainaut, with documents contributed by the not-for-profit organisation Archives & Musée de la Littérature.

In Wallonia, the expression "natural park" refers to "a rural area of great biological and geographical interest, subject to measures designed to protect its environment, in harmony with the aspirations of the populace and the economic and social development of the area in question." Officially recognised on July 20, 2000, the Haut-Pays Natural Park is one of nine natural parks in Wallonia. The Haut-Pays natural Park spans land belonging to six villages: Colfontaine (the forest of Colfontaine); Dour (the rural former districts of Blaugies, Petit Dour, Wihéries and South Elouges); Frameries (Sars-la-Bruyère, South Eugies and Noirchain); Honnelles; Quévy; and Quiévrain (the former districts of Baisieux and Audregnies). The park is about 38 795 acres big, with 20 000 inhabitants. It includes the water divide of Belgium's two main river basins: the Scheldt River and its tributary the Haine and the Meuse River and its tributary the Sambre, in its French course.

The Rampemont Castle-Farm is a piece of heritage situated in the Haut-Pays Nature Park. This enormous four-sided medieval-looking building has a unique pastoral charm thanks to the presence of farm animals and an exceptional medicinal plants garden. Rampemont is now the property of Mr. & Mrs. Schneider, who have been maintaining and restoring it for almost twenty years. Since then, it has been open to the public by appointment.

What if you discovered the farm Pype-Lievens with Ingrid and Patrick? : They will be happy to immerse you in the core of their family farm. On the programme: -Guided tour of the farm and its facilities -Discover the animals and various types of breeding -Explanation of the product lines made with the milk from the farm -Explanation of the conservation of the silo and feeding the animals (very different in winter and summer) -Explanation of the standards and regulations updates -Tasting ice cream and yoghurt Only by appointment on Tuesday and Friday afternoon! From minimum 7 to maximum 25 persons Duration: 2 hours Price: € 2/person

Melliflor, a beekeeping educational farm to discover the world of bees. With family and friends, an activity for all, from 3 to 99 years of age

  The house of the people in Wihéries was inaugurated in 1922. It was built on the initiative of the "La Ruche Boraine" cooperative company (founded in 1902) by Maurice Mailleux (who was also the architect for the house of the people in Boussu). The building, which is right in the heart of the village, is striking for its generous size and its colour scheme (red and white bricks). Its classical structure features Art Nouveau decoration. The building is on two levels and takes up nine bays. The central section, with three bays, is flanked by two turrets rising to three levels and two wings, each of two bays. The building has a bâtière roof, with the exception of the turrets, which have roofs shaped like a beehive.  The sgraffito in the central bay illustrates this link to the world of bee-keeping. In fact a beehive is depicted in it, framed by scrolls under the words "Société coopérative". Under the bees are the words "La Ruche Boraine / Maison du peuple". Just below the balcony appear the words "Liberté", "égalité" and "Fraternité". Other sgraffiti depicting floral and plant motifs are also visible above the doors and windows on the ground floor. The house of the people once had a meeting room, reception room, café, room for selling bread, a bakery and a kitchen. The way the space is organised remains unchanged today, with the exception of the café which has been enlarged. Note the fanlights of the doors and windows alternating with yellow and green tinted glass. Listed: 29-09-1982  

Gourmet workshops organise original culinary workshops around the theme of the local cuisine for you. Various packages are available: The sweet workshop: Brussels waffles, cramique (fruit bread) and speculoos (gingerbread) The savoury workshop: grey shrimp croquettes, waterzooi You will get to cook and taste delicious food. The chef will guide you throughout this culinary journey. A culinary workshop? Taste, learn and test in a nice atmosphere.

In a beautiful wooded and green setting, the sports and recreation centre of Belvédère has everything to keep visitors happy. Throughout your walk, the slag heap is an integral part of the recreation complex and all around it, a physical exercise course has been built. You can also take advantage of two tennis courts, as well as the very first natural swimming pool in Belgium: an independent pool composed of various layers of volcanic rock and vegetation allows the swimming pool to be filtered; it is as large as an Olympic swimming pool. With three depths and fun water jets, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. In the summer, feel free to take a dip.

  The house of the people in Élouges was built in 1895. It was originally the property of the "Union, Ordre, économie" cooperative company. The building features an extended design facing the road. Its classical layout is made up of a central section of three bays, adjoined by two symmetrical wings, each with four bays. There are two levels and a bâtière roof with dormer windows. The façade is defined by pilasters and string courses in bluestone, in strips on the ground floor and fluted on the first floor. Note also on the ground floor that the windows are capped by a lowered arch while the windows on the first level are rectangular, with an entablature and pediment. Below the balcony in wrought iron, the entry door has retained its original decoration illustrating miners' tools. The house of the people, which still is one, was once occupied by a bread shop and an office (in the bays on the left), as well as by a grocer's and butcher's (in the right-hand bays). The central section accommodated the house of the people itself. The porch allowed access to the internal courtyard where the bakery, reception room and stables were located. Listed: 21-12-1983  

  The house of the people in Dour, which is still used as such, was built by the architect Alphonse Van Craenenbroeck in 1928-1929, commissioned by the "Les Socialistes Réunis" cooperative company. The wish of the company was to provide a modern place for people to meet, where the recreational and festive side could take precedence over the commercial side. The building seeks to express the leadership role played by the cooperative. Making beautiful use of the language of Art Deco, the building is designed according to a triangular plan with a semi-octagonal outcrop housing a café. The café is lit by large windows with recessed frames and there is a terrace above with a balustrade. The gable façade features a tower at its centre capped by a geometric amortisement. This style is also used for the tops of the pilasters and gables on the three façades, as well as for the friezes with angular motifs that underlines the elevation. Originally, there was a performance auditorium, which is no longer there. The austerity of the façade with its marked vertical thrust is in contrast with the richness of the interior, both in terms of form and colour (frieze, exotic timber panelling, stained glass windows, etc.). The octagonal pillars are transformed into stylised palm trees and the ceiling is animated with moulded profiles. The ceiling reflects the floor with its red and white chequerboard pattern. Note the two entrance areas decorated with stained glass windows, the benches marrying the base of the pilasters and the geometric frieze decorating the upper part of the walls. Listed: 29-09-1982  

Located in Château de Roisin, the Les Tourelles restaurant offers regional cuisine in a romantic setting. Housed in the castle’s outbuildings, this charming place will accommodate your banquets and retreats or meals with loved ones or friends. You’ll be welcomed by Philippe Maire and his team, including Michel Dubeaumont at the furnace, who spoil those who like to eat well. Jugged hare and hare fillet, noisette of venison, minced pheasant, roast wild boar, Roisin lamb (family bred), local produce (snails and cheese) are often on the menu. A paved courtyard, terrace, lawns and large car park make for a unique, harmonious whole in a warm atmosphere of times gone by. Bar open on Thursday afternoon for visits and estimates.

"Freshness, simplicity and diversity" have been the values behind their cuisine for almost seven years now. Located in the largest tree-filled square in Belgium, you will easily find space to enable you to stop off there and to come and enjoy our Greek culinary specialities. In a warm and cosy atmosphere, in a setting in which the decoration has been freshened up, thanks to professional hosting, you will be able to discover freshly-prepared dishes straight made to order at the foot of the Acropolis or sip an ouzo while biting into feta with that lovely taste of Kolymbari olive oil with an uninterrupted view of the town of Oia in Santorini. Place 31 specialises in grilled dishes, and all dishes are carefully home-made. Dolmades, soutzoukakia, keftedes, kokalakia giouvetsi, to mention but a few: names that will surely remind you of pleasant evenings spent on holidays in Greece. Place 31: an opportunity to go back to Greece, without even having to get on a plane! Take advantage of this chance to visit the Haut Pays area, which is less than 20 minutes from Mons. Place 31 has two outdoor seating areas and a private garden.

A small family-owned craft brewery. All of the beers produced in our facilities are not filtered and refermented on yeast in the bottle. The adventure began with the parents, Pierre-Alex and Marie-Noëlle CARLIER - POURTOIS, the first brew took place on 24 March 1988. The eldest son, Kévin CARLIER, a biotechnology graduate is now at the head of the brewery with his wife Bérangère DESCHAMPS and his father-in-law Claude DESCHAMPS. The youngest son, Cédric CARLIER, with his wife Stéphanie JUSTE, both graduates of catering school, are at the head of the Restaurant le Fourquet, opposite the brewery. Regional dishes are prepared with local beers. The succession is assured with the two daughters of Kévin and Bérangère, Manon and Ninon, as well as the two sons of Cédric and Stéphanie, Ethan and Mathys. Brewing and bottling of artisanal unfiltered beers, refermented in the bottle on yeast:-the Moneuse, a clear amber beer, pure malt. -the Moneuse Spéciale Noël, a dark amber beer, pure malt. -the Saison d'Epeautre, a blonde beer, from wheat. -the Darbyste, a golden beer, based on figs. -the Vermontoise, a blonde beer, with pronounced bitterness, and a light aftertaste of lemon. Visits are organised on appointment. The opportunity to learn more about brewing and taste a few products. And why not take a few bottles home?

Nestling near the border with France, L'Estaminet is a friendly establishment which above all wants to make sure that its customers have a good time, whether that be by having a drink or by having something to eat. Indeed, there is something for all tastes here – if you are going through Quiévrain, they will be able to serve you a beer from the Dubuisson abbey, every day from Monday to Friday in the morning, and also on the traditional market day. But you can also peruse their menu, where it will be impossible to not find something that takes your fancy. From starters to dessert, there is bound to be something you will thoroughly enjoy. Grilled food, small stewed dishes, mussels when they are in season and fish will thrill your taste buds, at lunchtime and in the evening.

The "L'Air Pur" holiday cottage, with a capacity of two to four people, enables you to stay right in the heart of the Hauts Pays Nature Park. The holiday cottage, which is located in the former barn of a small former farmhouse, has a sitting room with a sofa bed, a dining room which accommodates six people, a kitchen with a freezer, a wood-burning fireplace, a bathroom with a separate toilet and a bedroom. It is also equipped with television and WiFi. Outside, you can enjoy a terrace with an orchard, outdoor games, a barbecue and a table tennis table. This charming holiday cottage is the perfect base for discovering the colours and flavours of Haut Pays.

The gîte, L'Air Pur, sleeps between 2 and 4 people and welcomes you to the heart of the Parc Naturel des Hauts Pays. The gîte is the barn belonging to a former farmhouse, with a sofabed in the living room, a dining room that seats 6 people, a kitchen with a freezer, a woodburner, a bathroom with a separate WC and a bedroom. It also has a television and Wi-Fi. Outside, you can enjoy the terrace with an orchard, outdoor games, a barbecue and a ping-pong table. This lovely gîte is the prefect base from which to explore the colours and the flavours of the Haut-Pays. Lounge/dining r. (TV/antenna, sofa-bed 1x2 p., wood stove), kitchen (ceramic hobs, multifunctional oven), 1 bedr. (2x1 p., child's cot), bathr. (bathtub), sep. WC. Boxr. Landlord's washing machine available.Cradle and baby gear available on demand. Charges included.

The campsite is located in the Hauts-Pays Nature Park, about 7.5 miles from the French border and close to the motorway. It is a green and peaceful family place, and yet it is close to the centre of Roisin. The site is surrounded by three fishing ponds, two restaurants, a banquet hall - “Les Tourelles” - as well as the ponds' chalet.

The gîte, Le Montagnard, sleeps between 6 and 8 people and welcomes you to the heart of the Parc Naturel des Hauts Pays. Lovingly decorated, the gîte has a living/dining room, a kitchen equipped with everything you need, a bathroom and a shower room with 2 separate WCs, 3 bedrooms, a utility room and a garage. You can also enjoy the garden and terrace with a barbecue and games for the kids. In an enchanting setting, the gîte is the perfect starting point for lots of activities in the great outdoors. Whether you’re into mountain biking or hiking, you can explore this lush green setting in the heart of the Parc Naturel des Hauts Pays. Check out the RaVEL routes and soak up the well-protected diversity of nature.