Xhoris: Chapel Circuit and Architectural History

Xhoris combines a walking route through the village and surrounding woods with striking traces of local history. The Promenade des Croix et des Chapelles passes five chapels, alongside the centuries-old Tilleul des Lognards, the Romanesque Eglise Saint-Martin and the Chapelle Saint-Roch. This lets you get to know the area from different perspectives: outdoors on a continuous circuit, or through individual buildings and their history. When choosing a holiday rental, you can consider which of these themes you would like to shape your stay most.

A walking route with five chapels

The Promenade des Croix et des Chapelles begins in Xhoris next to the Musée de la Vie rurale and follows a circular route through the village and surrounding woods. The five chapels give the route a clear theme; the village and woods provide the setting. If you enjoy spending time outdoors and are also interested in buildings, this route brings both interests together in one outing.

When planning together with children, the number five can provide an easy-to-follow thread: several chapels take centre stage along the way, rather than just one building. The route is therefore one way to experience landscape and culture together. The description does not specify a walking time or difficulty level; for planning, the main point is that it is a circular route through the village and woods.

A tree and a local tradition

The Tilleul des Lognards is a centuries-old tree, classified by royal decree on 5 November 1965. It is also associated with the local idea of a nail tree. Two different perspectives come together here: the tree’s formal classification and a local tradition linked to it.

This can offer a different way to explore the area than the chapel circuit. Rather than several buildings along a route, the focus at the Tilleul is on a single tree and its own history and tradition. For families who enjoy talking about remarkable details of a place, this offers a concrete starting point: what does a classification tell us, and how does it differ from a traditional belief?

Romanesque forms and a contrast on the façade

The Eglise Saint-Martin de Xhoris is a Romanesque church and was rebuilt in 1971. Its visible architectural features include very thick walls and round arches on the windows and vaults. The round arches can be recognised in two parts of the church building, while the walls are another striking feature. These concrete forms make its Romanesque classification easier to understand.

The Chapelle Saint-Roch offers a different emphasis: its façade is decorated with two false loopholes featuring broad stone surrounds. The chapel was built in 1886 during the cholera epidemic that struck the province of Liège. The contrast highlights different details: the round arches and thick walls at Saint-Martin, and the striking façade design at Saint-Roch. The dates also have different significance: 1886 marks the construction of the Chapelle Saint-Roch, while 1971 marks the rebuilding of the Eglise Saint-Martin.

The Musée de la Vie rurale and planning your visit

The Musée de la Vie rurale de Xhoris opened on 21 December 1975 in the former Xhoris municipal administration building. The location of the opening connects the museum’s history with a specific part of local history. Along with the chapel circuit and the buildings, the museum offers another way to explore the area, this time through rural life and local history.

From 1 September 2023, weekly opening hours were scheduled for Wednesday afternoons from 14:00 to 17:00, Fridays from 9:30 to 12:30, and Saturdays from 14:00 to 17:00. Visits were also to be available on the first Sunday of each month from 14:00 to 17:00, as well as outside these hours by appointment. If you plan to visit the museum, please check the current schedule before you travel.

For the wider travel overview: Ferrières.