カレニョンの天然記念物・トップ13

Michel Raulier: The Nail Tree of Stambruges Tree worship in our region is very ancient. Proof of this is the discovery in Blicquy, in the place called "Ville d'Anderlecht," of a set of 120 posts up to 90 cm in diameter. These may have served as supports for offerings, as evidenced by the numerous iron pins found in the filling holes. This could correspond to an artificial sacred grove housing deities, similar to Lucan's description of petrified forests in Pharsalia. In the past, trees, with their longevity and majestic shape, aroused a sense of sacredness in the minds of our ancestors. They were also believed to be capable of helping people solve their problems, particularly health problems. Many customs exist: walking around the tree, driving nails to fix the ailment, and tying cloths or fabrics to bind it. These trees were often Christianized by the installation of religious images or a chapel nearby. One example among others is that of Notre Dame de Foy. In Foy, near Dinant, a woodcutter discovered a 15th-century statuette in the heart of a very ancient oak tree in 1609. Long forgotten, the figurine bearing the image of the Virgin had been placed in a niche carved into the trunk. Over time, the wood completely covered it and erased its memory. In Stambruges, there is one of these remarkable trees, and beside it is a chapel, called "the chapel of Erconpuch" or, by another name, "the chapel of Arc-au-Puche," dedicated to the Virgin Our Lady of Arc-au-Puits, formerly called the Virgin of the Woods.

The Mer de Sable nature reserve is a 22-hectare protected area, renowned for its peat moors and young birch forests. Formerly a pond that dried up in the 19th century, the site is home to exceptional flora, including heather and carnivorous plants such as the sundew. The reserve, classified as a major heritage site in Wallonia, offers marked trails for hiking and observing local biodiversity.

Pretty garden located behind the town hall.

Special, that sandy area and a nice place to eat (there is also a restaurant)

This peaceful oasis is well hidden behind the town hall. it used to serve as an orchard and yard of the aldermen's house. Now it is a beautiful piece of green in the middle of the city. You can admire the ancient trees and the statue of the Ropieur, which depicts a boy who splashes passers-by with water from the fountain.

It is at the confluence of the Trouille and the Nouvelles river that this waterfall bridge was born. Originally there was a mill, which was turned into a tannery after the First World War. Today it is a bucolic place surrounded by nature.

Behind the town hall is the magnificent Jardin du Mayeur. It is the ideal place to enjoy the carillon of the belfry. Le Jardin du Mayeur was created in the 1930s. Do the math: some of its trees are therefore three-quarters of a century old!

This is a summit climb. Especially on the adventurous side. There are ropes there to hoist you up. The other side is a nice wide walking path. In my opinion, the most beautiful slag heap on the GR 412.