A 102-metre-long nave, a park with works of art and a six-kilometre cycling route give Nivelles a range of cultural and active attractions. There is also the Tour Sainte-Gertrude, with its 14-kilometre procession route. When planning your trip, the first question is whether you would like to focus on architecture and history, spend time in Parc de la Dodaine or take a cycling route.
Church architecture, archaeology and local history
The Collegiate Church of Sainte-Gertrude has a 102-metre-long nave, two facing choirs and an 11th-century crypt. Archaeological excavations beneath the church uncovered five churches built between the 7th and 10th centuries. The collegiate church’s architectural features thus sit alongside a history of several earlier building phases. Architecture and archaeology offer different perspectives on the same place: the church’s spatial layout and the layers beneath it.
The Musée communal d’Archéologie, d’Art et d’Histoire de Nivelles is housed in the former refuge of the Priory of the Trinitarians of Orival. The building is an impressive 18th-century residence. Here, the focus is on a residence that once served as a refuge for the priory, while the collegiate church is distinguished by its choirs, crypt and archaeological layers.
The former town fortifications also have a surviving landmark: Tour Simone is the only surviving part of Nivelles’ former fortifications. In contrast to the collegiate church’s layered building history, the focus here is on a single remnant of the fortifications.
The Tour Sainte-Gertrude procession
The Tour Sainte-Gertrude is a procession in Nivelles and is recognised as a masterpiece of the oral and intangible heritage of the French Community. Its 14-kilometre route follows in the footsteps of the abbesses and choir nuns. During the Tour, horses pull the reliquary of Saint Gertrude on a 15th-century triumphal cart. The route, reliquary and historic cart are distinct, specifically named aspects of the tradition. If you would like to plan your trip around the procession, check the event date in advance.
Parc de la Dodaine and the cycling route
At Parc de la Dodaine, you can stroll among works of art. The grounds include a French garden, an English garden, two ponds and flowerbeds along the paths. The two garden styles offer contrasting designs, while the artworks provide another point of interest along the way. The park also includes a lake covering several hectares, where fishing is permitted from April to December.
For a separate option when planning an active trip, there is a cycling route open to everyone from Nivelles to Genappe. It starts behind Nivelles station, follows line 141 and is six kilometres long. The starting point, route and distance are all specified. Check the route conditions before setting off. The cycling route and the procession route are two different offerings: the former is designated for bicycles, while the latter is part of the Tour Sainte-Gertrude.
Discover more destinations: Heverlee, Diest, Orp-Jauche, Overijse, Chaumont-Gistoux, Kampenhout, Boutersem, Leuven
Go to the main travel overview: Brabant.
