The best walks and hikes around Donceel

Tram ride departing from Haneffe Square

Part of the tram tour, here's the complete tour: https://www.komoot.com/fr-fr/highlight/8272846

The castle dates back to the 18th century and was extensively renovated in the 19th century. It was long inhabited by the Brabant de Limont family. In 1993, it became a hotel and a venue for parties and meetings.

pretty path laid out by the municipality along the fields

Built in the 10th century, owned by the de Haneffe family in the 14th century, it passed through marriage to the de la Marck family. To end up in the 15th century with Guillaume de la Marck, the “Boar of the Ardennes” who often took refuge there. During the Wars of Religion, it was besieged by Prince-Bishop Gérard de Groesbeek in 1568. The castle remained in the de la Marck family, allied to the d'Arenberg family in 1748. It was sold to the d'Oultremont de Warnant family in 1805. In 1816, it passed to the de Hamal family. In 1869, it fell prey to the flames and was rebuilt in the medieval style. In 1885, it passed to the de Laminne and in 1908 to the de Radzitzky d'Ostrowick until 1953. It was then sold to a demolition company and partly dismantled. A Flemish priest, Valéry Stuyver, bought it in 1960 and tried to restore it but a new fire in 2003 destroyed this project. The castle was bought in 2015 by Mr. van der Marck (descendant through the Dutch branch of the de la Marck). Source: https://terres-de-meuse.be/offres/circuit-autour-du-chateau-de-seraing-le-chateau-chapon-seraing-fr-3318358/

The church of Saint-Martin in Seraing-le-Château was built in the 16th and 17th centuries and consists of a single nave of 3 bays, extended by a choir with stucco and decorated with a dove of the Holy Spirit. The church contains a recumbent grave from 1585, that of Jean-Guillaume de La Marck, nephew of Guillaume de La Marck. In front of the church you will find a war memorial and in the cemetery around the church there are (remains of) various old graves and war graves. Also note the large statue of Mary on the other side of the road. Source: https://www.egliseinfo.be/lieu/45/seraing-le-chateau/saint-martin

Haneffe also commemorates the two official world wars and their impact on the municipality and the people who lost their lives. The monument that was erected for this purpose, together with the names of the victims, can be found on the central square, just at the exit of the very small village park where you can relax for a while.

Haneffe's fortified house, to the left of the church when you stand in front of it, and his farm, which is to the left of the fortification, are inextricably linked. The "high courtyard" refers to the fortified house, while the "low courtyard" refers to the farm buildings that serve as logistics for the castle. The entire complex dates from the 18th century, with some outbuildings from the 19th century. The current quadrangle consists of two identical wings with stables and haylofts. The moat around the castle also surrounded the farm and connected to the existing pond at the entrance. The farm and the castle were separated and therefore also connected by a drawbridge. The farm is also visible and accessible via the Rue Ribatte (where you can see the current name of the farm, Ferme Schalenbourg Filles). Today it is a pedagogical farm and from the farm you can reach the fortified building (and the church) via the courtyard and a small bridge, but ask permission and do not go into the garden of the fortified house!