Tour of the gardens and Beloeil Castle
We have had the pleasure of collaborating with Beloeil Castle for several years for our summer walking shows. Why not take advantage of your trip to this magnificent setting to discover more about this fascinating estate? Explore the grounds of Château de Beloeil during the day before attending the Jungle Book show, and enjoy a preview of our fast food area and bouncy castle park. You can also visit the interior of Château de Beloeil, also known as the Belgian Versailles, and immerse yourself in the eight centuries of history of this medieval fortress transformed into a pleasure palace.
The estate is open every day during July and August from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. You can book your visit on the Château’s website or buy your tickets directly on site.
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Discover the region
Going to see The Jungle Book at the Beloeil estate is also an opportunity to discover the beautiful Picardy region that surrounds it and its cultural attractions.
Don’t hesitate to explore some of the 500 kilometres of marked trails in the Scheldt Plains Nature Park, discover the sea of sand in the Stambruges forest, visit the Iguanodon Museum, the Aubechies archaeological site, and more.
Ath, well known for its giants and its ducasse festival on the fourth Sunday in August, is also a charming town in the heart of a green region. Its Grand-Place, surrounded by historic buildings, lively terraces and a variety of shops, is a must-see during your visit. Many people make the trip to do their shopping. There are also historical gems, such as the Burbant Tower, built in 1166 and listed as a major heritage site in Wallonia.
Tournai is one of Belgium’s oldest Gallo-Roman cities, along with Arlon and Tongeren. As the first capital of the Frankish kingdom, it played an important historical, economic, religious and cultural role within the County of Flanders during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. If you haven’t had the chance yet, come and admire Belgium’s oldest belfry or the magnificent Romanesque and Gothic cathedral of Tournai, famous for its five towers, which have earned it the nickname ‘the city of five bell towers’.
Set in a rural setting, Aubechies is a village representative of the architecture of Hainaut from the last century, surrounded by flourishing nature. It is the domain of tiles and red bricks, with the occasional beautiful sandstone gable… Listed as one of the Most Beautiful Villages in Wallonia, Aubechies is notable for its many listed buildings and characterful farms: Saint-Géry Church, the former Bruycker Castle, Bruyère Farm, the farmhouse of Saint-Ghislain Abbey… forming a charming and picturesque ensemble.
The construction of the Château d’Attre was commissioned by the Count of Gomegnies in 1752 on the foundations of an old castle. This magnificent neoclassical residence, listed as a major heritage site in Wallonia, is one of the few Belgian castles to have preserved all of its period furniture and décor.
The Municipal Museum of the Fair and Memory will take you back in time with its many collectibles and activities. The lights, music, colours and magic of the fairground, with a carousel dating back to the 1920s and a flea circus and its history: there are some fabulous items to discover! Manufactured objects, posters, archives and postcards will bring the highlights of life in Saint-Ghislain through the ages back to life.
The Iguanodon Museum immerses you in the history of the discovery of the Bernissart iguanodons. This major discovery in the world of palaeontology is a fabulous adventure, which will take you through the different stages of this discovery, room by room, until you reach the museum’s centrepiece: a real fossilised iguanodon skeleton.
The Stambruges Forest offers a selection of hiking trails, crossing a land rich in legends and stories. In this ancient charcoal forest, the magical and the sacred coexist: fairies, hermits and will-o’-the-wisps live alongside calvaries, chapels and venerated trees. Only the muffled footsteps and whispers of walkers accompany the echo of the black woodpecker.
To the south of the forest, the sea of sand or sea of Stambruges looks like an ancient pond covering around forty hectares. Submerged two centuries ago, it was once fed by rainwater. This fish-filled lake was very popular with migratory ducks. One can imagine that the Princes of Lignes, owners of the woods, used to fish for carp and pike there.
Founded in 1242 by Alix de Rosoit and entrusted to nuns, the hospital operated until the 1980s, when it was converted into a museum. This place is one of the oldest hospitals in Europe and is definitely worth a visit, with its many facets: Baroque chapel, cloister, gardens, ward, convent… An unmissable place where care for the soul and care for the body come together…
Founded in 1242 by Alix de Rosoit and entrusted to nuns, the hospital operated until the 1980s, when it was converted into a museum. This place is one of the oldest hospitals in Europe and is definitely worth a visit, with its many facets: Baroque chapel, cloister, gardens, ward, convent… An unmissable place where care for the soul and care for the body come together…
Cycling and walking
Wallonia Picardy is a must-visit cycling destination, with its 1,600 km of cycle routes connected to the Flemish, Walloon and French networks, its two nature parks, its numerous waterways and its small country roads… not to mention the 200 km of greenways of the RAVeL (Réseau Autonome des Voies Lentes), which is safe and user-friendly, offering more than 45 marked local routes for family outings or walks, bike rides, horse rides or rollerblading.
Would you like to take the opportunity to explore the surrounding area by bike or on foot? The Hainaut Rando website is there to help you plan your trip and suggest alternative routes, taking you past the region’s cultural and natural points of interest.
Beloeil is also the starting point (km 0) of the 1,600 km network of signposted routes known as the ‘points-nœuds’ in Picardy Wallonia. This system allows you to create your own route using specific signposts. The ‘points-nœuds Wapi’ network map is on sale at the Beloeil Tourist Office for €7 or on the website.
Various hiking packs (€10) published by the Picardy Wallonia Tourist Office are also available (walking maps of the Scheldt Plains Nature Park, Topoguide of the Dendre Valley, etc.).
Bicycle hire:
The Beloeil Tourist Office has six electric bikes available for hire (only if booked 48 hours in advance on 069/689516). Other hire points in the region are available via VisitWapi.
Please note that a bicycle rack is available free of charge at the entrance to the Château de Beloeil estate.