The best traffic-free bike rides around Geer

This fortified dovecote, built in 1625 by the Mollin-Monjoye couple, served as a small fort intended to protect the local population during the passage of troops. Source: Information board on site.

dates from 1754

The eighteenth-century church is a typical example of Hesbaye architecture. It contains a stained-glass window depicting the family coat of arms (1938) by Louis Struys.

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A long time ago, almost 1000 years ago, there was a Romanesque chapel with a fairly wide tower, very characteristic of the type of elongated tower that we still see in Aineffe. In 1672, during the Franco-Dutch War, the chapel and the seventeen houses of the hamlet were destroyed by fire. The warlike fury had destroyed the building. In 1754, 82 years after the destruction, the chapel was rebuilt. Previously, bricks were used in the region, but here the stones of the old church were used for the foundations. Since 1980, the chapel has been the property of the municipality of Faimes, after it had bought it for the symbolic franc from Count Guy van den Steen de Jehay. In 1987, the municipality began the restoration of the chapel, with the help of the French Community, the Province of Liège and the King Baudouin Foundation, in collaboration with the National Lottery. In the nave, the six 'grisaille' paintings on wood were restored in the restoration studio of the National École des Arts Visuels de La Cambre, in collaboration with the Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage. These six paintings represent Saint Lambert, Saint James, Saint Roch, Saint Hubert, Saint Denis and Saint Madelebert (patron saint of the parish of Celles). Unfortunately, the chapel is not freely accessible. Source: faimes.be

The church of Celles is probably the only church in Belgium dedicated to Saint Madelberta. To be honest: I had never heard of this saint before. Saint Madelberta was a Merovingian noblewoman who succeeded her deceased sister Aldetrudis as abbess of Maubeuge in 696. Madelberta was venerated quite soon after her death. It is not impossible that the convoy that brought her relics to Liège at the beginning of the 8th century stopped in Celles; after all, Celles was close to the Roman road that led from Bavay to Cologne. I was lucky enough to have a look inside the church. The friendly lady who let me in proudly pointed out the glass cabinet at the front right of the church; it contained relics of various saints (but not of Saint Madelberta?)

The history of Waleffe Castle begins with Jean Curtius (1551-1628) (also known as Jean de Cortes). After monopolizing the gunpowder trade to the Spanish armies of King Philip II, he became a wealthy industrialist. In addition to the gunpowder he brought back on his many voyages from Asia, Curtius also filled his boats with a great deal of Asian art, such as miniature Chinese porcelain vases and rice paper paintings, which can still be seen throughout the castle today. It was Jean Curtius' grandson who had the castle built in 1706 as an extension to a 16th century farm. Today, the castle is still inhabited by the Barons de Potesta de Waleffe, who have cared for the estate for 13 generations and are direct descendants of the great Curtius. Source: waleffe.com

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.