Discover Glabais: History, Trails and Village Character

Glabais combines village history with varied trails and remarkable traces of regional culture. At its heart is the Church of Saint-Pierre, whose origins date back to the Middle Ages. At the same time, several circular walks invite you to discover the landscape, farms, traditional houses and chapels along routes of varying lengths. Those looking for a holiday apartment in Glabais will find a place where historical discoveries and active days can easily be combined.

Saint-Pierre and the History of Glabais

The present-day Church of Saint-Pierre mainly dates from work carried out between the 17th and 19th centuries. The church is surrounded by its former cemetery and integrated into the village landscape. Behind the choir is a chapel that imitates the Grotto of Massabielle in Lourdes. It was built in 1932 from bricks and cemented rubble stone and contains a statue of Our Lady and an altar.

The furnishings and small structures around Saint-Pierre also tell stories of their own. The organ was built in 1845 and attributed to Pierre-Fidèle Delmotte of Saint-Léger. On 25 November 1971, it was protected as a historic monument. At the corner of Rue des Croix du Feu and Rue Cala, there is also a chapel dedicated to Saint Roch. The whitewashed brick building was constructed in the mid-19th century. The Saint-Pierre spring is considered one of the five “miraculous” springs of Grand Genappe.

Circular Walks for Different Day Plans

Several trails start directly from different points in Glabais. An 8.7-kilometre circular walk starts at the church. The Tour de Glabjou begins on Avenue Eugène Philippe and is 6 or 11 kilometres long. A separate 2.5-kilometre circular walk starts at the Eglise de Glabais, while a 9.5-kilometre route begins at the Etangs du Moulin on Haute rue. This information helps you take your preferred route length into account when planning your trip.

The Les Bruyères walk also starts at the Church of Saint-Pierre and passes through the Glabais countryside, with its farms and traditional houses. Along the way, it leads to the former Ferme de Glabjoux and numerous chapels. For families with different interests, it may be useful to choose between a short loop and a longer countryside tour first, rather than trying to fit every experience into a single day.

Farms, Winegrowing and Local Highlights

Ferme Saint Pierre is a farm in the Brabant style. Its oldest traces date back at least to the 16th century. The farm offers four rooms and three bedrooms for rent. Another historic stop is the Maison de l’Histoire et du Patrimoine in Glabais’s former village school, which closed in 1975. The restored 1867 building has a brick and blue-stone façade typical of mid-19th-century school architecture.

The Domaine de Glabais winery is also part of the area’s present-day local character. The site was planted in 2016 with around 15,000 vines on a three-hectare, south-facing plot. The winery is surrounded by fields and walking paths. Alongside it, Ferme Bio de Glabais represents a regenerative microfarm. Glabais therefore encompasses everything from sacred history and architectural heritage to agriculture and winegrowing.

Glabais as a Starting Point for Your Accommodation Search

If you are looking for accommodation for cultural discoveries and walks, Glabais offers several concrete points of interest: the church with its historic features, trails of varying lengths, and farms, vineyards and local architectural heritage. A holiday apartment or holiday home in Glabais is therefore particularly well suited to a trip where you want to vary your daily plans between village history, landscapes and regional themes. For further options, you can also visit the pages on Bousval and Baisy-Thy.

For the overarching travel overview: Genappe.