Lessines: Hospital History and Good Friday Tradition

The history of Lessines can be seen in many forms: at the Hôpital Notre-Dame à la Rose, in the Église Saint-Pierre and in the customs surrounding Good Friday. There is also the industrial heritage of the quarries, a dive site and trails that offer different ways to explore the town. If you are looking for a holiday apartment, you can plan your stay around the topics that interest you most.

Hospital History, Museum and Garden

The Hôpital Notre-Dame à la Rose was founded in 1242 by Alix de Rosoit and is one of the oldest hospitals in Europe. The complex includes a Baroque chapel, a cloister, gardens, a ward and a convent. This offers a glimpse beyond its founding year into the various parts of the site.

The museum preserves several thousand works of art. These include Gothic, Renaissance and Namur furniture, as well as Régence or Baroque woodwork. It also houses a collection of medical and pharmaceutical objects. Furniture and medical history thus offer different ways to explore the collections.

The botanical garden complements a museum visit with medicinal plants and information panels. An audio guide provides 1 hour and 30 minutes of commentary for the tour. This refers to the duration of the commentary; the gardens are accessible as part of a visit to the Hôpital. As visiting hours may change, check the latest information for your chosen date. Groups are welcomed year-round by prior reservation.

Church and Good Friday Tradition

The Église Saint-Pierre de Lessines has a Romanesque core and a Gothic appearance shaped mainly by extensions made between the 14th and 16th centuries. Its building history therefore encompasses an older core and later extensions that give it its Gothic character.

The Good Friday customs also have a long history: the tradition of the Mise au Tombeau du Christ in Lessines is generally traced back to an archival document from around 1475. Every year, the penitents’ procession takes place on the night before Good Friday. Some penitents beat drums, while others carry wax torches. The procession then returns to the church, where the rite of Christ’s burial takes place. As the date of Good Friday varies from year to year, check the dates for the relevant year if you would like to see the procession.

Quarry History, Dive Site and Trails

The Chargeur à bateaux is a preserved testament to Lessines’ former quarry industry and an example of industrial archaeology. Alongside religious and hospital history, the town’s industrial heritage is also worth exploring.

LIFRAS lists the Site de Raph in Lessines as a designated centre. To arrange a dive, contact the club and confirm the arrangements before your visit. This lets you plan this activity specifically, separately from the attractions associated with the Hôpital or the Good Friday procession.

The starting point of Les venelles de la cité de Magritte et du porphyre can be reached by train and bus. The SNCB railway station is 400 metres from the starting point. In wet weather, some sections may be muddy or slippery; take these surface conditions into account when planning your walk. The Wapitour follows the Dendre to Lessines and offers another route connecting to the town.

More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Châtelet, Les Bons Villers, Aiseau-Presles, Fayt-Lez-Manage, Saint-Ghislain, Froidchapelle, Macon, Chimay.

For the broader travel overview: Hainaut.