Top Things to do in Walloon Brabant Province
Top Restaurants in Walloon Brabant Province
What to do and see in Walloon Brabant Province, Belgium: The Best Places and Tips
Discover the best top things to do in Walloon Brabant Province, Belgium including Foundation Folon, Abbaye de Villers, Chateau de la Hulpe, Aventure Parc, Memorial 1815, Herge Museum, Collegiate Church of Saint Gertrude, Maison du Tourisme de Waterloo, The Wellington Museum, Walibi Belgium.
Restaurants in Walloon Brabant Province
1. Foundation Folon
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 235 reviews
Reviewed By Normadroaming - London, United Kingdom
This place is a gem of Brussels suburb.
Without cars, it is bit difficult to reach, however, as long as the weather is good, this is a nice place to walk and enjoy the air, scenery and some arts.
They have a good cafe with Terrace.
Great place fro picnic even for non art lovers.
2. Abbaye de Villers
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 310 reviews
Villers Abbey (abbaye de Villers) is an ancient Cistercian abbey located near the town of Villers-la-ville, 50 minutes from Brussels. Founded in 1146, the abbey was abandoned in 1796. Most of the site has since fallen into ruins.
Reviewed By Iweinvanaalst - Herentals, Antwerpen, Belgium
The Cistercian abbey of Villers was founded in 1146 and flourished particularly in the thirteenth (first golden age) and eighteenth (second golden age) century. The complex was sacked in 1789 and 1794 before permanent abandonment in 1796.
The visit starts with a small museum with touch screens and a scale model. Next up you can discover the ruins with the help of information panels and reconstruction drawings. The latter are most useful since the topography of the area has changed (construction of streets and a railroad) and several buildings have been altered or demolished (home and infirmary of the converts, dormitory of the monks).
An audio guide is available for people with a deeper interest in the history of the abbey and the life of the monks.
Three reasons to visit the site :
Villers is a fine example of a Cistercian abbey. The typical layout is easily recognizable and numerous thirteenth century structures have been preserved. Highlights include the home of the guests, the church, the refectory of the monks, the cloister and the prison.
The atmosphere is serene and peaceful despite the vicinity of a railroad and streets. You can relax in the sun with a book or enjoy a family pick nick.
The ruins are very picturesque. A lot of people seem to come here to take photos. We noticed several marriage couples, Goths and even some fashion models !
PS :
Honor and praise to management and staff for their efforts to make the site accessible for disabled people (installation of lifts) and for their language skills (multilingual audio guide, shopkeeper fluent in dutch) !
3. Chateau de la Hulpe
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 286 reviews
Reviewed By guenthpw - Houston, Texas
A modern, well appointed facility nestled in a park of mature, mostly beech trees near La Hulpe and Hoeilaart.
Service was pleasant and professional from the manager to the chamber maids.
If you are a natural English speaker you may encounter occasional communications issues as the personnel hail from countries where English is little known. French seems the main language of business with Dutch/Flemish being a close second.
Where language might be an issue for you, the friendly attitude of the people will make up for that.
4. Aventure Parc
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 131 reviews
Reviewed By pgb2pgb - Brussels, Belgium
My wife originally found this Park, it's set about 20 minutes drive outside of Brussels in a lovely forest area. It's an activity park where you can climb amongst the trees, using specially designed courses to suit your abilities (yellow, green, red, black). The climbing courses are for all ages from 5 years upwards. You start off on the easy courses before building up to the more adventurous ones (which get higher and more active). Safety is 100% assured, you are supplied with a set of overalls (to keep your clothes clean), gloves (if required), a climbing harness (fitted by the staff), plus a safety line that allows you to go round each course (keeping you from falling if you slip).
The safety line hooks onto the start of each course, then as you move around it follows you (you also have to slide it past catch points on the sections in the course to ensure you don't get stuck). Even if you loose your footing all is okay as you are held in place by the safety line. Most courses are a mix of tunnels, zip wires, climbing nets and walkways... all suspended high up above the ground in the trees. the park has been built ecologically with flexible fittings to the trees so that they are not damaged and the courses can be adapted as the trees grow (no nails or bolts hammered into the trees).
We started off in the sun and then it rained, but being under the trees it didn't matter that much. The thrill of climbing around was great, plus the variety of different challenges made it exciting. The courses are open to both adults and kids, with the red/black courses limited to children above a certain height (but both our children aged 7 & 12 really enjoyed the green, red and black courses). Kids can climb without adults (if you don't feel adventurous enough to join them), but you do have to follow them on the ground level. Staff are all around on the ground to advise and help if anyone gets stuck.
They have their own car park (free), which can take all types of vehicles (cars, buses, vans etc). You have changing rooms to get into your overalls, plus lockers (1€ returnable with key). The staff are very friendly and speak different languages, so english is no problem. There's a cafe which offers standard food like burgers, hotdogs and sandwiches, etc plus coffees, chilled drinks and ice creams (you can sit inside or out as per the weather). If you want something more then you can also try the restaurant nearby outside of the park.
It was great value compared to other adventure parks, costing 27€ per adult and 23€ per child (above 7), plus kids from 5-6 years are 19€. You can spend as long as you like at the park, we went at 10.30am and didn't leave till 4.30pm, so it was a full on day out. We only left as everyone was getting really tired due to the climbing and walking around.
Overall I'd recommend it as an 'active' day out, wear good shoes (with grips), plus loose clothing for under your overalls so you can flex easily. We also took our own gloves (as they fitted well), but sun glasses are not recommended as the can fall plus you are amongst the trees so not really needed (if you wear glasses then take a neck line). Also get a good nights sleep beforehand as you will need all your energy for the climbing. Dogs are not allowed, but there is a public park opposite the entrance where you can walk your dog, etc.
Our favorite bits were the zip wires which are great fun... we will be going again... hopefully to try the evening climbs at night which also look great fun...
5. Memorial 1815
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1 reviews
Buried at the foot of the Lion's Mound, the Memorial 1815 enables you to to experience one of the most turbulent times in our History... as if you were there. Dive into the heart of the battle, in a multi-sensory experience, full of special effects, the only one of its kind in Europe! 1815 m² of immersive journeying in a narrative set design which focuses on the experience of the battle! The Panorama is an impressive fresco with a circumference of 110 m and a height of 12 m, made in 1912. The painting puts you at the heart of the battle thanks to an impressive sound system. The Lion's Mound offers a unique view of the battlefield after a memorable ascent of 226 steps! As last authentic witness of the battle, the Barn of Hougoumont features a brand-new scenography made of 4 exhibition rooms as well as an impressive multimedia show.
Reviewed By SteveAussie - Surfers Paradise, Australia
Last minute European side trip where we flew here enroute from Italy to Poland for one night just to see the museum and surrounding attractions relating to Waterloo. Expense aside, so glad we did.
This museum and the Lion hill behind are very interesting to visit as is walking around the field at dusk and visiting the farm down the road and the house where Napoleon stayed the night before the battle. We didn't have time to visit Wellington's musuem back in town unfortunately.
The interactive display here and down at Chateau d'Hougoumont are very well made and interesting. The displays at the museum well thought out. The museum isn't too big that you need hours to consume and therefore kids will enjoy it. The view of the battlefield from the Lion hill is awesome. Up there you can rent virtual-reality glasses so you can get into the mood of what happened there back in 1815.
We made a special trip to the area, a 24 hour stopover and as I said so glad we did. What they have on display in this area celebrating what went on there is a credit to those who thought it all up and keep it all going. Outstanding effort and world class. And I do feel it necessary to say, I am no war tragic, someone into military attractions. But this was very cool. Again well done.
6. Herge Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 614 reviews
Just outside of Brusells, continue the celebration of cartoons at the Herge Musee (Herge Museum). The museum is dedicated to the creator of Tintin, following him and his life, including his personal experiences.
Reviewed By Steeve P
Tintin is undoubtedly the most famous Belgian in the world. In Louvain-la-Neuve, a student town less than one hour by train from Brussels, there is a Tintin Museum (called "Hergé Museum"). It's only a seven or eight-minute walk from the train station. It isn't the best museum on the planet, but it's new, well-designed, and there is a lot to discover about the different albums of Tintin and his creator, the Belgian Hergé. The souvenir shop at the ground-floor is great too. If you are a fan of Tintin, you shouldn't wait to pay a visit to this museum!
7. Collegiate Church of Saint Gertrude
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 115 reviews
Reviewed By Elwing - Antwerp, Belgium
I was really looking forward to visiting this impressive Romanesque church, but I walked around it and could not find any way in. Maybe it is just closed on Tuesdays, there were signs but I could not read them as they were only in French. I tried to ask for help at the city hall, which is attached to the building, but I could not find any person who was willing to speak to me or even look at me. So I peeked trough the windows and caught a few glimpses of what looked like a wonderful old cloister.
And then I left Nivelles disappointed, musing about the pettiness of the Belgian language struggle. Tourist go home!
8. Maison du Tourisme de Waterloo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 71 reviews
9. The Wellington Museum
Overall Ratings
4 based on 303 reviews
This museum is situated in the former stagecoach station where the Duke of Wellington stayed on the nights of 17 and 18 June 1815. You can still visit the Duke's bedroom, the office where he wrote his victory report, and his aide-de-camp's bedroom. Various other rooms have been dedicated, each to an army, including authentic documents, etchings, weapons and souvenirs of the various nations that took part in the combat. There is also an impressive collection of rare weapons, such as "la Suffisante", a cannon manufactured in Douai, France in 1813 and abandoned on the battlefield. Each round weight 6 lbs. Your individual ticket for entry into the museum entitles you to an audio guide available in various languages. Duration of the visit: 50 minutes.
Reviewed By Alice Man Kwan C - Brussels, Belgium
Duke of Wellington wrote his report to the British Government from here after the Battle of Waterloo. Here you will learn so much about this important battle and people involved in it. However, this place is comparatively speaking less spectacular than other monuments in Waterloo.
10. Walibi Belgium
Overall Ratings
4 based on 1 reviews
Reviewed By Kouider_milan - Milan, Italy
If you are in Brussels you can spend the day with the family there.
Price are quite expensive for day ticket in case you are planning to go with family go for family pass so you can enter anytime with the entire family.
When you buy tour ticket pay already for your parking to avoid big line.
Make sure that you have some sun because if it will be raining you will not enjoy that much.
You have several choice of restaurant but i suggest you to bring with you fresh sandwiches
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