Lessive: Satellite Station, Stilts and Calestienne

Lessive brings together three unusual points of interest for a trip: the history of a satellite station, a stilt tradition that continues to this day, and the landscape of the Calestienne. The history of technology, village culture and nature each offer a different focus. You can decide which themes you would like to shape your holiday.

The former satellite station and the Jardin des Paraboles

Lessive’s former ground-based space communications station began operating in 1972. It was used to send and receive telephone communications, images and computer data worldwide via satellites. Five large satellite dishes stand on the grounds of the Jardin des Paraboles. They have been permanently switched off, but preserved: their technical function belongs to the past, while the installations are protected as cultural heritage.

The Jardin des Paraboles covers 50 hectares of nature and cultural heritage. This includes a 21-hectare forest classified as a Natura 2000 site. The former satellite technology and an extensive natural area thus stand side by side on the same grounds as different aspects of Lessive. Those interested in the history of technology will find a different subject here from travellers who would rather focus on the landscape and forest.

Stilts as a village tradition

Lessive’s stilt tradition is linked to a specific situation in everyday life in the past. During floods, residents used stilts to graze their herds in the meadows. The folk group “Les Skassis de Lessive” continues this village tradition. In 1958, Les Skassis gave a demonstration at the World’s Fair in Brussels—a historic appearance that stands on its own and does not establish a recurring event.

A striking motif can be found on Rue de l’Antenne: an unusual sculpture of a man with a fish’s head on stilts stands there. It was created by local artist Vinciane Renard. The figure picks up on the stilt theme, but in a surprising, imaginative form. Alongside the story of grazing on stilts, it shows how differently a local custom can be represented: as part of a way of life and as a distinctive artistic motif.

The Calestienne landscape and walking

The Tiennes are small hills in a flat landscape, characteristic of the Calestienne. This landscape provides a different focus from the history of the former communications station or the stilt tradition. When planning your trip, you can therefore consider whether you are more interested in cultural history, local traditions, or nature and outdoor activities.

The “Lessive - Promenade Pics Epeiches” walking route is 7.5 kilometres long. A route description updated on 18 April 2022 gives this distance; check local trail conditions before setting out. A set of directions for a route near Lessive goes along Rue de la Digue towards Eprave and to an access point to the RAVeL. It therefore names specific landmarks without indicating that the route starts in Lessive.

Choosing a holiday rental to suit your travel interests

For families, Lessive’s different themes can offer shared conversation starters: the unusual fish-headed sculpture, the history of satellite communications, and the stilt custom during floods. When looking for a holiday rental in Lessive, you can first decide whether cultural history, the landscape and walking, or a mix of these should shape the character of your holiday.

Discover more destinations: Éghezée, Floreffe, Viroinval, Furnaux, Bièvre, Temploux, La Bruyère, Purnode.

For the broader travel overview: Namur.