The best road cycling routes around Hamois

a small picnic area possible by the water with the watermill nearby.

The church has witnessed numerous historical upheavals. It suffered severe damage during the Sack of Dinant in 1466 by Philip the Good and again in 1554 when troops of the Duke of Nevers ravaged the town. Each time, however, the church was carefully restored, with significant efforts undertaken in the 19th century under the direction of architects Léopold Schoonejans, Jules-Jacques Van Ysendyck, and Auguste Van Assche. Their work aimed to restore the church to its original 13th-century splendor. In the early 20th century, the First World War brought further devastation. The church was severely damaged but was rebuilt between 1919 and 1923 by architect Chrétien Veraart. The iconic onion-shaped bell tower, often compared by Victor Hugo to a giant water jug, remains a striking feature against the backdrop of the towering cliffs, symbolizing the fragility of human endeavor. Visitors to the Collegiate Church of Our Lady of Dinant are immediately impressed by its splendor. The church stretches 50 meters in length and 30 meters in the transept. The central nave rises to a height of 22 meters, while the side aisles reach approximately 14 meters. Cylindrical columns support the large arcades of the nave, conveying both majesty and simplicity. Source: mycityhunt.de/standorte/dinant-be-158247/poi/notre-dame-dinant-54065

Beautiful mill

18th century castle with Romanesque chapel

With beautifully restored buildings towards homes

It all began in 1240, when the monks of the Belgian monastery of Notre-Dame de Leffe began brewing beer. For a long time, they produced their own abbey beer. However, during the French Revolution, the monastery was closed. It wasn't until 1929 that the monastery was revived, and the monks resumed their brewing activities. A good twenty years later, the brothers Nys and Albert Lootvoet began producing beer based on the Leffe Abbey recipe. Their company is now owned by the brewing giant Anheuser-Bush InBev. Source: bierpedia.org/bier/leffe-blonde

In 1152, Henry the Blind, Count of Namur, donated the church of Leffe to the Premonstratensians of Floreffe. The monastery resulting from this donation became an abbey in 1200. It was rebuilt in the 17th and 18th centuries and plundered by the revolutionaries in 1794. In 1816, the current buildings were sold and converted into workshops. They were repurchased in 1903 by French Premonstratensians who were then in exile and, starting in 1931, restored by their Flemish confreres from Tongerlo, who rebuilt the abbey. The abbey today has a double courtyard. The 17th-century abbey quarter, rebuilt in 1747, borders the guest quarter, dating from 1604. The former library, which was separate from the abbey, is now a primary school. Source: visitwallonia.de/de/content/abtei-notre-dame-de-lesse

It all began in 1240, when the monks of the Belgian monastery of Notre-Dame de Leffe began brewing beer. For a long time, they produced their own abbey beer. However, during the French Revolution, the monastery was closed. It wasn't until 1929 that the monastery was revived, and the monks resumed their brewing activities. A good twenty years later, the brothers Nys and Albert Lootvoet began producing beer based on the Leffe Abbey recipe. Their company is now owned by the brewing giant Anheuser-Bush InBev. Source: bierpedia.org/bier/leffe-blonde