Open sandy habitats, a Natura 2000 wetland and a festival featuring the blessing of horses offer different reasons to visit Grez-Doiceau. Walking trails, local history and local food culture are also themes you can build your trip around.
Nature Between Sand and Water
The Sablière de Nethen lies in the Nethen valley, within the municipality of Grez-Doiceau. It provides a refuge for specialised fauna and flora that depend on increasingly rare open sandy habitats. The protected area is recognised as a site of great biological interest and is part of the Natura 2000 network. The focus here is on open sandy habitats and the wildlife and plant life associated with them.
The Etang de PĂ©crot offers a different natural setting: this five-hectare Natura 2000 wetland lies in the Dyle valley and provides a refuge and nesting sites for waterbirds. Fishing is the main activity there. Activities for members and non-members are also offered during the season. If you are interested, check the latest information on seasonal activities before your trip.
Walking Trail and Local History
The Promenade des 3 vallées is a nine-kilometre walking trail through the villages and three valleys of Grez-Doiceau. Alongside the individual nature highlights, this named route takes in villages and valley landscapes on a single walk. If you want to make the trail a focus of your visit, you can factor in its stated length when planning, without assuming a particular walking time.
Architecture and landscape offer other points of interest. The Eglise Saint-Georges was rebuilt by Valduc Abbey in 1782. The Château de Piétrebais-en-Grez stands on the Piétrebais, whose waters feed the castle moat. The church and moat thus reflect different aspects of local history: the rebuilding of a church on the one hand, and the connection between a castle and a watercourse on the other.
Festivals and Local Food Culture
The Saint-Georges festival is celebrated annually around 23 April. The three days of festivities include a religious procession and the blessing of horses. The highlight is the battle between Saint George and the dragon. As the exact programme varies, check the latest festival dates if you would like to plan your stay around the event.
L’Hatches is a sweet-and-savoury combination featuring pork served with brown bread. The chapter meeting of the brotherhood associated with L’Hatches takes place on the last Sunday in August. This offers a different seasonal reference point from Saint-Georges in April. If you plan your trip around it, check the latest programme in advance. The chapter meeting is always held on the same day of the week; Saint-Georges, by contrast, is celebrated only approximately around 23 April.
Discover more destinations: Sint-Genesius-Rode, Beauvechain, Haasrode, Halle, Keerbergen, Grimbergen, Kortenberg, Leuven.
Back to the regional travel overview: Brabant.
