Montignies-Sur-Sambre: Chapel, Steel History and Street Art

Montignies-Sur-Sambre tells its story in very different places: a chapel with an unusual design, traces of the steel industry, religious art and the beginnings of street art each offer their own perspective. The Terril de l'Épine is another destination for a hike. You can therefore choose the focus of your trip according to your interests—whether architecture and local history or time outdoors.

The Chapel and Traces of Industry

The Chapelle du Calvaire may have been built in the 18th century on the foundations of an older sanctuary. Its unusual form is easy to describe: it consists of two chapels, one above the other. This design combines a specific architectural feature with a possible older history of the site.

The former offices of Sambre et Moselle at 51 Rue du Marais represent another period in time. They date from 1836 and are the last surviving evidence of an important Walloon steel industry company. Its facilities disappeared in 1992 when the site was redeveloped. The offices and the now-vanished facilities therefore tell different chapters: evidence of the company remains here, while its industrial facilities no longer exist at the site.

The Porte de Waterloo is another distinctive historical detail: it was relocated and incorporated into the façade of the house at 33 Rue Petite Aise. Together with the former offices, it broadens the view beyond religious buildings to include industrial and military traces.

Relics and Stained Glass at Saint-Remy

The official relics of Saint Valentine are housed in a reliquary in the church of Saint-Remy in Montignies-Sur-Sambre. The church is also associated with glass artist Bernard Tirtiaux, who created stained-glass windows for Saint-Rémy. These two details give the place different cultural points of reference: a reliquary containing officially attributed relics, and an artwork created specifically for the church. Visitors interested in religious history or glass design will find a different focus here than among the industrial remains.

Street Art: A Look Back

Charleroi’s street art history dates back to the late 1980s. At the time, some locals from Charleroi painted the walls of the abandoned metro in Montignies-Sur-Sambre, and the site became a favourite playground for local street artists. This story places the movement’s beginnings in a specific chapter of the past.

Hiking and Cycling

For a hike, the GR 412 leads to the summit of the Terril de l'Épine. The spoil tip is privately owned; access must be requested in advance by email. Bear this condition in mind when planning and request access in good time rather than assuming you can enter spontaneously. Another activity is the Charleroi Est–Château Mondron cycling route, available through the free RouteYou app. Check the route information in the app before planning your trip.

The two options offer different experiences: the GR 412 leads to the summit of the spoil tip, while the cycling route is offered as a separate tour through RouteYou. This lets you focus your trip more on cultural history, walking or cycling, rather than combining all the themes into a single itinerary.

Choosing the Right Holiday Rental

Which holiday rental is right for your trip depends on which of these themes matters most to you. If you mainly want to explore the chapel, church and historical sites, your priorities will differ from those of someone planning to spend time at the spoil tip or on a cycling route. This makes choosing accommodation part of your trip planning, without letting one particular focus define your entire stay.

For the wider travel overview: Châtelet.