Ellezelles: Outdoor Art, Witches’ Sabbat and Regional Cuisine

Ellezelles combines unusual outdoor art, lively traditions, regional specialities and trails steeped in imaginative stories. When planning your trip, it is therefore worth choosing your preferred focus first: would you like to discover art and village culture, experience the annual Witches’ Sabbat, learn about regional products or spend time on various trails in the Pays des Collines?

Outdoor Art and the Sabbat des Sorcières

The Sentier de l’Étrange forms an open-air art gallery. Unusual and fantastic figures by the painter Watkyne line the Sentier de l'Étrange and give the walk its own character. The Maison du Pays des Collines is the starting point for this trail. Those who would like to experience art beyond indoor spaces will find a concrete reason here to explore Ellezelles in a special way.

A second defining experience is the annual Sabbat des Sorcières. The festival commemorates Quintine de la Glisserie and attracts thousands of visitors. It takes place every year on the last Saturday in June. During the Sabbat des Sorcières, the witches dance in a circle around the devil; the event concludes with a large fireworks display. If this event fits your travel plans, the date is an important reference point when choosing your holiday dates.

The Past at the Écomusée du Pays des Collines

The Écomusée du Pays des Collines is located in La Hamaide, a village within the municipality of Ellezelles. There, the Maison Louise showcases an authentic house from an earlier period, with a former grocery shop and rooms from that era. The Maison Louise also presents rural life from 1850 to 1950. This allows regional history to be viewed not only through individual dates, but through living and working environments.

Another exhibition at the Écomusée du Pays des Collines is entitled “Chronique d'une servante”. It explores the role and work of women in the past. This offers an additional perspective on the everyday lives of earlier generations and is suitable as a cultural focus for a quieter day of travel.

Local Products and Flavours

Ellezelles is also known for its distinctive regional cuisine. The farmers’ markets of Ellezelles offer a wide variety of regional products. At the Brasserie des Légendes in Ellezelles, various beers from the Quintine range as well as Hercule are brewed. At the Ellezelles site, Quintine Nature and Quintine de Noël are matured in various wine, cognac and rum barrels, which subtly refine their aromas.

The “Au Chaudron des Légendes” tavern serves cuisine du terroir. All the food prepared for it comes from local suppliers. This allows you to combine cultural discoveries and regional food culture in different parts of your day when planning your trip, without every holiday day having to follow the same rhythm.

Trails for Different Holiday Days

Those who would like to stay active while exploring the surroundings of Ellezelles can plan the “Au cœur des collines” hike. It is a 13 km route around Ellezelles. The RAVeL des Collines runs along a completely redeveloped former railway line, Line 87, and now connects Ellezelles with Flobecq. Your plans can therefore include both a longer hiking route and a trail along a former railway line as different ways to enjoy the outdoors.

The themed trails also each have their own character: the Sentier enchanté is inhabited by small fairy-like creatures, while the Circuit des plantes médicinales is decorated with sculptures. Ellezelles also offers an Aventures-Jeux® game featuring a dragon story, a village of the strange and various tasks. This allows travellers to choose between art, history, exercise and playful exploration.

Choose Accommodation to Suit Your Travel Plans

When looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home in Ellezelles, you can match your stay to your preferred travel focus. For the Sabbat des Sorcières, the fixed date is decisive. For a cultural trip, the Maison Louise, the Écomusée du Pays des Collines and the “Chronique d'une servante” exhibition take centre stage. Those who prefer outdoor activities can include the 13 km hike, the RAVeL des Collines or one of the themed trails in their plans.

Ellezelles offers a clearly recognisable blend of art, tradition, flavour and movement.

If you would then like to compare other destinations in the same broader area, here is a concise selection: Hensies, La Louvière, Boussu, Fayt-Lez-Manage, Braine-Le-Comte, Le Roeulx, Courcelles and Enghien.

For the broader travel overview: Hainaut.