The best traffic-free bike rides around Hannut

The "Moulin du Vélupont" was a former possession of the Kornelimünster Abbey near Aachen from the 9th century until the Ancien Régime. During its long existence, the mill was destroyed and rebuilt several times. The current buildings are from the 19th century, recently restored and put into use as residences. The water wheel now works to generate green electricity.

The history of Château Snyers, also known as Château de la Valette, began in the early 16th century. In 1505, the original fortified castle, which until then had served a distinctly defensive purpose, was largely destroyed by fire. On the same site, a decision was made to erect a new building that better suited the changing living conditions and residential ideals of the Renaissance period. During the seventeenth century, the estate was repeatedly confronted with the consequences of the many wars that plagued the region. Troop movements, looting, and military occupations left their mark, causing considerable damage to the castle. This period of instability led to decay, which was only thoroughly addressed at the end of the eighteenth century. In 1791, Marquis Jean-Claude-Bernardin de la Valette (chamberlain to the Emperor of Austria) took the initiative for a major reconstruction and embellishment of the castle, giving it its current harmonious appearance. After several changes of ownership, the castle eventually came into the possession of Louis-Joseph Snyers, a notary and former mayor of Hannuit. Under his name, the estate became permanently associated with the Snyers family.

great view, nice climb

A beautiful climb. Intense! Don't be like me and save it for the end of your journey.

War memorial in memory of the military and civilian victims of the First and Second World Wars. The names of the victims are still difficult to read. They are: First World War: BEDORET Léopold Joseph, Sint-Jacobs-Kapelle 7 May 1915; STREEL Isidore, Essen 12 November 1918 Second World War: BOURGUIGNON Dieudonné, Oostnieuwkerke 25 May 1940; COLLIN Louis, Schaarbeek 10 June 1940; HUBIN Fernand, died as a prisoner of war in Frauendorf (D) 29 May 1944; MASSET Léon, died in command on 25 January 1940; PLUMIER Elie, died as a prisoner of war in Neubrandenburg (D) on 18 June 1943 CHARTIER Roger, resistance fighter executed in Huy on 18 April 1944; MOUSSET Victor, resistance fighter executed in Hasselt on 15 July 1944. The old village pump is located against the back of the monument. Source: https://www.tracesofwar.nl/

Haneffe also commemorates the two official world wars and their impact on the municipality and the people who lost their lives. The monument that was erected for this purpose, together with the names of the victims, can be found on the central square, just at the exit of the very small village park where you can relax for a while.

The Saint-Pierre church, built of sandstone and limestone rubble, was almost entirely rebuilt in the 19th century, in neo-Gothic style. Only the tower and the choir of the previous sanctuary have been preserved and are affected by the classification measure. Located to the north, the strong quadrangular tower is entirely made of limestone. On the north side, the chainage bears the date 1393. Another commemorative slab with the coat of arms of the lords of Haneffe, dated 1593, informs us of a restoration of the whole at that time. The tower is pierced, on three sides, with arched bays equipped with louvers. It is topped with a hexagonal slate spire interrupted by dormer windows. The choir, built in 1545, was raised in 1778 and then remodeled in neo-Gothic style in 1895 by the architect Edmond Jamar who added five ogival bays. The nave, from the 18th century, was restored in 1838 and then modified by Jamar who added a transept. Inside, the church is decorated with a shingle vault, entirely polychrome, made in 1896 by Benjamin Deterville and Walthère Colette. Among the preserved furniture, two funerary slabs are also protected by the classification measure. At the entrance to the nave, in the wall, the beautiful slab of the priest Moes is dated 1658. In an arm of the transept, we find the magnificent funerary slab in black limestone of Godfroid de Mirbach, known as Mirbicht, who died in 1551, and his two wives, Anne de Wihogne and Isabelle de la Falloise, the latter having died in 1552. The three figures are represented lying in bas-relief. Below, we find their coats of arms in twelve quarters. Listed as a monument (tower, choir and two funerary slabs) on 23 October 1957. Source: AWaP https://qrwallonie.be/QR/Donce003?code=Donce003&language=fra

Nice park in the village