The best road cycling routes around Hélécine

At the end of 2025, the urban planning permit for the renovation of the castle and its outbuildings was granted. It will be a large-scale restoration project – the complete renovation of the main castle and the improvement of the facades and roofs – aiming to breathe new life into this 17th-century gem, classified as exceptional heritage of Wallonia. The project includes the operation of the castle as a large guest house, combining historical preservation with public access. During my visit in July 2026, it was clearly visible that the works had started: there were construction containers along the driveway, where there was quite a bit of activity. source: haltinne.be

The domain of the Haltinne castle covers 279.98 ha of agricultural land, forests and meadows. The 'Struviaux' stream and several springs supply water to four ponds and the castle's moat. From an architectural point of view, the Haltinne castle is an exceptional heritage. Its appearance today is the same as when it was built in the mid-1600s. The imposing towers, loopholes and moat are reminiscent of a military function, but this is indeed a castle farm. Not only the facades, roofs and moat, but also the castle's monumental staircase are protected as exceptional heritage of Wallonia. This stone staircase has steps two meters wide, with a wide handrail also in stone. The massive character of this staircase contrasts with the statuettes representing the allegories of the four seasons. The wrought iron gate originally intended for King Leopold II and the 'Ciergnon' castle, the false windows in the east tower and the barn with a straw roof consisting of round limestone pillars are some other points of interest of the castle, which is however not publicly accessible. source: haltinne.be

On the spot where, according to legend, a statue of Our Lady, plowed out by a team of oxen, hung against an oak tree, a late Gothic chapel was built in 1538, which quickly became a place of pilgrimage. The chapel's interior also pleasantly surprises visitors. The rood screen is decorated with a beautiful apostle pew from 1613, probably from the Clerk's Chapel. Pilgrims used to offer a kilo of salt here to prevent children from bedwetting. Even today, the chapel attracts many visitors and, thanks in part to the procession, the May pilgrimage, and the candlelight procession, remains a center of religious life. It is open daily. On Sunday, September 8th, or the following Sunday, there is the annual rosary procession around the chapel to commemorate its dedication. This procession features a modern depiction of the mysteries of the Rosary, which also includes the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady. At the beginning of the procession, a farmer walks with an old plow. This refers to the legend that a farmer in the early sixteenth century allegedly found the statue of the Virgin Mary while plowing. The chapel on Ossenweg is said to have been built later in this neighborhood. The statue of Our Lady of Ossenweg is also carried in the procession. Source: https://www.zoutleeuw.be/kapel-van-de-ossenweg

Since 1965, the Oteppe castle and its surrounding estate (65 ha) have been run as a holiday centre ("L'Hirondelle") with a hotel, campsite, holiday chalets and bungalows, swimming pools, playground and fishing ponds; as a result, the village's population has almost doubled during the summer months.

The Château Rose was built by order of Albert-Pierre Stier (1745-1816). In 1776, he bought the seigniory of Orp, as it had been known since the end of the 17th century, when the land of Orp-le-Grand was merged with that of Orp-le-Petit. The pillory of Orp-le-Petit at the front is one of about fifty in Belgium that are listed by the Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage. When our country was invaded by France in 1794, the French revolutionaries rushed to abolish the symbols of the Ancien Régime and the pillory was demolished. A few years later, around 1826, Baron Jean-François de Vinck de deux Orp (1774-1827), nephew of the builder of the castle, had the restored elements of the pillory rebuilt on his estate, more specifically in the central part of the meadow below the castle. Source: https://www.orp-jauche.be/wp-content/uploads/Brochure_PetitPatrimoinePopulaire_ORP.pdf

the old railway line between Halen and Tienen is now a nice cycle path along many orchards.

Monument in honor of the veterans and the fallen.

Franc-Waret Castle is located in the commune of Fernelmont, in the province of Namur, Wallonia. It is surrounded by a moat and decorated with French-style gardens. An English-style garden extends over 120 hectares around the palace.