Discover Piétrebais: Trails, History and Holiday Rentals

Piétrebais lies in the valley of the Ruisseau de Piétrebais of the same name and combines woodland scenery, historic buildings and vibrant local traditions. Those planning a stay with walks, culture and regional impressions will find a variety of ways to plan their days. For families, it can also be interesting to combine experiences in nature, short sightseeing stops and special details of the village’s history.

Woodland trails and scenery around Piétrebais

A notable starting point is the Site des Grosses Pierres. There, large, rounded quartz sandstone rocks shape the landscape in the woodland. The Promenade des Grosses Pierres passes through Piétrebais and the hamlet of Chapelle-Saint-Laurent and begins at this site. An uphill section of the route reaches an elevation of 130 metres and offers a panorama over the region. This allows you to tailor the tour to your personal interest in woodland, trails and views, without separating the individual impressions from one another.

The Bois de la Chise is also part of the route’s character. The woodland already existed in the 18th century, and the route runs alongside it. When planning your day, you can consider the woodland at the Bois de la Chise and the panorama at the Grosses Pierres as distinct highlights of the route described.

Historic buildings and places with a history of their own

The Ferme des Deux Chises consists of two former farm buildings belonging to Waulsort-Hastière Abbey. They were rebuilt in 1735 and 1785 respectively. The farm is listed as both a protected monument and a historic site. Another architectural landmark is the main residential building of the Ferme du Grand Haquedeau, which illustrates 17th-century architecture. The elongated barn on this farm bears the date 1752 on its wall anchors and was used to store grain.

The Piétrebais village school is an elegant brick building dating from 1904. It was formerly a girls’ school run by nuns. Next to the Site des Grosses Pierres there is also a war memorial erected in 1924 for the victims of the First World War and, later, the Second World War. Piétrebais also has a Lourdes grotto dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes. In Saint-Denis, Mass is scheduled for Sundays at 11 a.m., except when there is a family Mass.

Cycling, fruit-growing heritage and local traditions

Piétrebais is also crossed by Stage 2 of W2 La Véloroute de la Bière, which is 26 kilometres long. The stage runs from Wavre to Jodoigne.

The Verger de la Chise at the Ferme des Deux Chises adds a distinctive local touch. Various apple and pear varieties grow there; traditional jams, jellies and different apple juices are also produced. Visitors can press their own juice. Every August, the tradition of the Fête des épouvantails is celebrated jointly with Chapelle-Saint-Laurent and Roux-Miroir. Chorale Laudemar provides music for celebrations in the parishes of Piétrebais, Chapelle and Roux-Miroir, and also performs at weddings and other events such as concerts.

The right base for planning your trip

Stage 2 of W2 La Véloroute de la Bière, which is 26 kilometres long, can provide a concrete reason for choosing Piétrebais as a destination when searching for a holiday rental.

For your further search, you can also visit the pages on Herne, Linter, Bomal, Grez-Doiceau, Keerbergen, Jodoigne, Lubbeek and La Hulpe.

For the higher-level travel overview: Brabant.