Gerpinnes: Sainte-Rolende, cultural trails and regional discoveries

Gerpinnes is a destination for travellers who want to discover Walloon cultural heritage not only in buildings, but also through processions, trails and local stories. Sainte Rolende is at the heart of it all: her relic, the Church of Saint-Michel and a long-standing procession give the area a distinctive cultural theme. These are complemented by walks, an app-based treasure hunt and regional specialities – a varied foundation for choosing a holiday apartment or holiday home.

Sainte Rolende and the marching tradition

The Sainte-Rolende procession takes place on Whit Sunday and Whit Monday. Around 3,000 marchers accompany Sainte Rolende’s relic through ten villages. The route is approximately 35 km long and connects several villages in Gerpinnes. Anyone wishing to plan their trip around this event should take both Whit days and the procession’s wide-ranging route into account when planning.

The Church of Saint-Michel is known for the tomb and relic of Sainte Rolende. The silver repoussé bas-reliefs on the relic depict scenes from the traditional story of Sainte Rolende. One specific historical detail makes the cult’s long-lasting memory tangible: on 13 May 1599, the relics were transferred into the current reliquary. This context is explored further at the Musée des Marches Folkloriques de l’Entre-Sambre-et-Meuse. The museum was founded in 1986 to promote Wallonia’s marching folklore heritage; the folkloric marches presented there originated in the Middle Ages.

Trails between history and landscape

For an active discovery, the “Gougnies – Villers Le passé industriel” route is a good choice. It starts at Place de Gougnies 2 in Gerpinnes and leads to the “Chêne Sainte-Rolende”, the former marble quarries of Gougnies and the manor house in Villers-Poterie, which is described as the place where Sainte Rolende died. In suitable weather, the route is described as easy and accessible to pushchairs and people with reduced mobility. This makes it possible to combine a cultural trail with a more relaxed day plan.

Another perspective is offered by the circular trail “Au coeur de Gerpinnes: retour aux sources” in the centre of Gerpinnes. It focuses on fountains and local history from the Gallo-Roman period through the Middle Ages to the industrial age. Depending on your interests, you can therefore focus on a trail with specific historical stops or on a longer procession and folk tradition.

Treasure hunts and regional specialities

The Totemus activity “Retrouvez la rose de Sartia de Marie Linô la sorcière” combines a treasure hunt with elements of a search game and geocaching, as well as local cultural heritage. It is free and available seven days a week. For the walk, you need to install the app beforehand and plan for mobile data use. This format can be an interesting addition, especially for families who would rather explore a story playfully than through a conventional sightseeing visit.

Regional products can also be part of your travel programme. At Chèvrerie du Moulin d'Acoz, goat’s milk is processed into cheese, yoghurt, ice cream and creams. The farm sells these products directly, together with other regional products. The Chèvrerie also carries the Bienvenue Vélo label. Anyone wishing to combine Gerpinnes with culinary discoveries will find a clear local focus here.

The right accommodation idea for your trip

When looking for accommodation in Gerpinnes, your preferred way of organising the trip can help: the procession and museum appeal to culture enthusiasts, the historic trails combine activity with local history, and the Totemus treasure hunt focuses on discovering things together. A holiday apartment in Gerpinnes is therefore particularly suitable for trip planning that flexibly combines these different experiences. When making your choice, consider which focus is most important for your days, without treating the individual offerings as being in one shared location or along one common route.

For more travel ideas, you can also discover Mons, Honnelles, Binche, Boussu, Péruwelz, Braine-Le-Comte, Ham-Sur-Heure-Nalinnes and Châtelet.

To the broader travel overview: Hainaut.