Écaussinnes: Château fort, kitchen garden and living traditions

Écaussinnes is a destination for anyone wishing to combine culture, historic buildings and distinctive townscapes. Highlights include the Château fort d'Écaussinnes-Lalaing with its varied museum collections, an exceptional kitchen garden and Sainte-Aldegonde Church. There are also traditional festivals and the upper section of a former railway bridge, which can now be used on foot or by bicycle. Those looking for a holiday apartment can therefore base their choice of accommodation on whether cultural discoveries, a scenic walk or a local festival should be the focus of their trip.

Discover the Château fort and kitchen garden

The Château fort d'Écaussinnes-Lalaing presents a wide range of collections as a museum. A visit therefore combines an encounter with a historic castle complex and a view of various exhibits, without limiting the trip to a single subject. The opening hours provide a practical reference: the Château fort is open on Sundays from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. from 1 April to 1 October. This information can be taken into account when planning a Sunday outing.

The Château fort's walled kitchen garden is particularly distinctive. It was laid out in the style of the 18th century, has been in bloom for several centuries and benefits from a microclimate created by the walls. The garden is also included on the list of Wallonia's exceptional cultural heritage. This gives the tour its own focus: alongside the museum collections, you can experience the connection between garden art, history and a unique garden space here.

Sainte-Aldegonde Church is also part of the cultural character of Écaussinnes-Lalaing. It is a 16th-century Gothic church in Hainaut. For travellers interested in culture, this creates an itinerary with several different perspectives on the area's past: the museum, garden and church architecture each represent a different form of cultural experience.

Traditions and distinctive townscapes

The Goûter matrimonial takes place every year on Whit Monday. Its history reaches back to its beginnings on Place Georges Wargnies, where the first Goûter Matrimonial d'Écaussinnes was held. At a traditional festival in Écaussinnes-Lalaing, a maypole decorated with ribbons and colourful ornaments was also erected; afterwards, people danced and sang around it. Alongside the buildings, such traditional festival scenes give the trip a communal and cultural dimension.

Getting around on foot or by bicycle

The Pont des « Douces Arcades » offers another perspective. From the bridge, there is a very beautiful view of the Château fort and the village of Lalaing. The upper section of the former railway bridge can be used on foot or by bicycle. This makes it a destination in its own right for travellers who want to experience the historic character of the surroundings not only indoors, but also from an elevated viewpoint.

For families with different interests, this mix can be helpful when choosing a holiday apartment: one day can be devoted to culture with a museum, garden and church, and another to a route across the Pont des « Douces Arcades » or to a traditional event. What matters is less having a fixed programme than the opportunity to choose between different ways of exploring.

Discover more places

If you would like to compare other destinations in addition to Écaussinnes, you can also look at Ath, Frasnes-Lez-Anvaing, Thuin, Mouscron, Mons, Celles and Seloignes. For a direct view of the subordinate destination area, Écaussinnes-Lalaing is also available.

For the overview of the higher-level destination: Hainaut.