The best city hikes and walks in Walloon Brabant

"The Flossenbürg Monument" was erected in memory of the Martyrs of the Resistance of the Second World War. Text on the monument (translation) "The granite from the quarry of the Flossenbürg concentration camp was offered by the authorities of the city of Flossenbürg to the city of Jodoigne in memory of the Belgian resistance fighters - Jodoigne 10 September 2000". Source: https://www.tracesofwar.nl/sights/137321/Monument-Martelaren-van-het-Verzet-Jodoigne.htm Also visible on this corner: a memorial plaque for the poets Paul Moreau and Paul Stienlet (the latter died in Dachau in 1945 and was a member of the resistance - to which the monument is also dedicated) and some houses from the 18th century.

This listed chapel, of impressive proportions and dedicated to the Virgin Mary, was consecrated in 1353. It arose from the locals' need for a place of worship within the city walls. Today, it stands proudly on Jodoigne's Grand Place, which it dominates from a height of 27 meters. Its Gobertange stone makes it luminous, and its spiral bell tower is remarkable. Restored between 2008 and 2011, it is partially deconsecrated and hosts exhibitions at the Jodoigne Cultural Center. In an adjoining room, you can discover interesting items, including the recumbent statues of Wynand de Glimes, Viscount of Jodoigne, and his wife Michelle d'Yedeghem. Source: https://www.destinationbw.be/fr/fiche/decouverte-et-divertissement/chapelle-notre-dame-du-marche-jodoigne_TFOLOD-A0-007C-1BBT/

This listed building from 1773 is the former town hall of Jodoigne. Its characteristic façade, made entirely of Gobertange stone, is one of the most beautiful in the town center. It houses the new reception area of the Walloon Brabant Tourist Office, the Gobertange Stone Interpretation Center (GOB), the Jodoigne-Orp-Jauche Cultural Center, and the Walloon Brabant Storytelling and Literature Center. Source: https://www.coeurdelardenne.be/details/LOD-A0-007C-1CHZ&type=11/

'Vicomté' stands for viscounty and 'La Vicomté' is sometimes also used as a nickname for Jodoigne. Viscounts of Jodoigne were originally noble titles that were awarded to members of the family de Glymes de Hollebecque, especially in the 16th and 17th centuries. This title was often linked to the possession of the castle de la Vicomté. It is not so easy to see the structure and size of this castle by sight. When you come from the Gete you walk along a rising path with an old wall on the left and an old fence with an old gate and old stairs in the depths on the right. It seems as if all this merges seamlessly into the terrain behind the castle of Vicomté. The small tower in brick and Gobertange stone that Dominiek mentions is the first recognizable part of the domain when you walk to the main square. From the main square it is a lot easier: you recognize the house immediately. Photos of the various parts that make it up, with some history, can be found at https://www.destinationbw.be/nl/fiche/ontdekking-en-recreatie/het-kasteel-van-vicomte-jodoigne_TFOLOD-A0-007C-15NJ/ Also mention that on the Vicomté domain there are still remains of the ramparts that once stood around Jodoigne and that were first built in the thirteenth century. That rampart had several towers and gates. It enclosed the primitive castle that stood on the site of the current Château Pastur. Something more about the Counts of Glymes who stayed here in the 17th century: Jodoigne was then just going through a period of decline. The 17th century was called the century of adversity (and the 16th century was not much better). In the 17th century, the King of Spain transferred the Jodoigne estate to Philippe de Ligne, Duke of Aarschot and Arenberg. And a few years later, it was bought by Count Winant de Glymes. Winant de Glymes and his wife Michelle d'Yedeghem lived in this castle of Vicomté. A few dozen meters further on the market, in the chapelle Notre-Dame du Marché, is their tomb. The Glymes family had a strong bond with Jodoigne. Guillaume de Glymes, already lived in a country house in Jodoigne-Souveraine in the fourteenth century, the predecessor of the current castle there that was built by the half-brothers Antoine-Joseph de Glymes and Ernest-Joseph de Spangen.

In the park in front of Pastur castle you can admire a lion in Maas stone on a column, clutching the city's coat of arms between its claws. Around it, ceramist Claude Rahir painted a fresco in 1987 on the initiative of the Confrerie Capella Fori Geldoniensis. The water pump is also a little further to the side (not working).

The interior of this church is very simple and bathed in intense light, which floods the choir – the most remarkable part of the building – and the nave from the unnoticed bays that overlap in the choir. The interior is covered with vaults that were rebuilt in 1749. The entire building is Gothic in style, but nevertheless largely imbued with the Romanesque spirit. (Wikipedia)

This monument comes from the Saint-Médardus church and was unveiled at this location (at the foot of the steps) during the festivities for the 150th anniversary of Belgium on 6 September 1980, in the presence of J. Martin, great-grandson of Jacques Martin, who died in 1830 at the Berchem war cemetery. This stele from 1905 replaced an initial mausoleum inaugurated in 1831. Jodoigne was one of the hundred municipalities that received a flag of honour at the National Congress of 18 September 1832 as a reward for the efforts they had made for the success of the Revolution. The company of volunteers from Jodoigne numbered more than 60 men and distinguished itself by its courage during the fighting in the Brussels park from 23 to 27 September 1830. (GAL Culturalité en Hesbaye brabançonne asbl)

There was already a chapel on the Grand-Place of Jodoigne in 1279 and it was then called the capella fon geldoniensis. The economic and demographic growth of the city in the 14th century prompted the local religious authorities to enlarge the building. In the first phase, they wanted to build a very large chapel, with three naves. But due to a lack of money, the project was stopped and the single nave that can still be seen today was stopped. In 1353, when the square, high and massive tower that we see today was not yet finished, the Bishop of Liège dedicated the chapel to Our Lady. In 1632, the building was deliberately set on fire by mutinous troops, but it underwent a large-scale restoration campaign from 1634 to 1637. On that occasion, the initial shape was restored to the twisted spire, a curiosity in Brabant. For many years, the cost of building and maintaining the chapel required original initiatives. For example, the civil rights taxes levied by the city since 1211 were deposited with other taxes in the churchwardenship fund. After years of financial contributions, the citizens of Jodoigne believed that their fate was linked to that of the chapel. The building, which had been neglected for many years, has been classified as a historical monument since 1958. It was restored and the work was completed in 2011. The chapel is now deconsecrated and hosts concerts and cultural events. (Information board on site)