Discover Braine-Le-Comte

Braine-le-Comte combines protected landscapes with distinctive architecture. The town’s character is shaped by the Bois de la Houssière massif, the Ronquières State Nature Reserve and the Gothic Saint-Géry Church. The town also features Art Nouveau façades and a carillon with 48 bells. Different themes come together here: nature, architecture and a specific detail that draws attention to the church.

Nature and trails

Almost the entire Bois de la Houssière massif is designated as a Natura 2000 site. This draws attention to a broad landscape area. By contrast, the Ronquières Reserve is clearly defined by its location along the canal, the Samme valley and its designated area. If you would like to spread nature and urban architecture across different days of your holiday, this contrast offers a clear theme to follow.

The Ronquières State Nature Reserve stretches along the old Charleroi–Brussels Canal in the Samme valley. It covers 11 hectares and lies within the territories of Braine-le-Comte, Seneffe and Nivelles. The three municipal territories place the reserve in a wider context beyond Braine-le-Comte. Alongside the canal and the valley, its location across several municipalities is one of its defining features.

Two trails in the reserve are part of the RAVeL network, Route 3. This adds a specific route connection to the description of the landscape and may interest travellers who want to include physical activity in their nature plans. As the route network’s name may be updated, check the latest information before travelling if the route is important to your plans.

Church and Art Nouveau

Saint-Géry Church is a Gothic building from Hainaut and is considered one of the town’s finest structures. Its bell tower houses a carillon with 48 bells. The church thus combines an architectural distinction with a striking detail: the number of bells gives the building a distinctive touch beyond its Gothic style.

The Art Nouveau façades can also be located precisely: they are concentrated mainly in the streets between the railway station and the town centre. Anyone interested in this architectural style can use this location as a guide when exploring the town. It is also a useful point of reference if you are considering the area between the station and the centre when looking for a holiday rental.

Choose the right focus

Braine-le-Comte station has a covered bicycle parking area with access control and cameras. Bicycle parking information may change, so check the details before you arrive. When looking for a holiday rental, you can then consider whether you would like your stay to focus more on urban architecture or on nature and trails. This lets you choose a location based on the interests that matter to you on your trip.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Aiseau, Fayt-Lez-Manage, Hensies, Ellezelles, Frameries, Boussu, Honnelles, Lobbes

Return to the main travel overview: Hainaut.