Daussois between ponds, church and living tradition

Daussois combines distinctive traces of the village’s history with a landscape in which ponds, fields and evidence of traditional crafts shape the character of the place. Those looking for a holiday apartment in Daussois can therefore plan their trip around different interests: discovering historical features, planning a route and, in between, exploring the landscape at its own pace.

Saint-Vaast Church and the history of Daussois

An important point of reference in the village is Saint-Vaast Church. It has a Romanesque tower and has been a listed monument since January 30, 1948. The church also contains the tomb of Toussaint de Robaulx, who died in 1618. These details give the local history specific names and dates and make the church a subject of interest for anyone whose journey is concerned not only with the landscape but also with historical connections.

The Château de Daussois is also one of the village’s notable historical landmarks. Jean de Robaulx had it built in 1614. Another trace of the past leads to the washhouse: At least since 1757, a spring known as „ladris“ had stood on its site. The municipality diverted the spring in 1870 in order to build the washhouse of Daussois. Those who wish to explore the village’s history attentively will find various layers of time here, revealed in buildings, springs and traditional features of the place.

Ponds, a lime kiln and a route through the surrounding area

After the construction of Walcourt Abbey in 1232, ponds were created on the lands of Daussois that belonged to the monks at the time. The ponds are about 15 metres wide and almost 30 metres long. Nearby, a former lime kiln is still clearly visible among the fields. This creates an appealing combination of landscape and historical land use for planning your day: You can experience the ponds as a distinctive natural feature while also looking for traces of work from earlier times.

If you would like to include an active outing in your trip, the northern loop of the Boucles de Cerfontaine starts at the church in Daussois. This allows you to combine route planning with the historic village centre without every day of your holiday having to follow the same pattern. Accommodation in Daussois can therefore be especially suitable if you would like to alternate between a historical discovery and a tour through the surrounding area.

Malots and the procession tradition

Daussois also has a strong tradition centred around the Malots, the inhabitants of Daussois. The oldest known evidence of an armed procession escort formed by Malots dates from Trinity Sunday in 1713. For 200 years, the Malots have opened the procession to Notre-Dame de Walcourt on Trinity Sunday. These traditions give the local history a communal and vibrant dimension. They are a special point of interest for travellers who want to learn about the customs and cultural identity of a place.

When choosing your holiday apartment, you should consider which focus is to define your trip. Those mainly seeking historical details can combine the church, château, washhouse and procession tradition in their minds into a cultural itinerary. Those who prefer being outdoors can turn their attention to the ponds, the former lime kiln and the northern loop. Accommodation in Daussois thus gives you a clear choice of location for a trip in which culture, landscape and regional history stand side by side.

For further guidance when choosing a suitable destination, you can also include Senzeille in your plans.

For the overarching travel overview: Cerfontaine.