The smallest province in the country, Walloon Brabant is located south of Brussels. It is a region that deserves all the attention of the visitors. It has a beautiful heritage, such as theAbbey of Villers and the collegiate church of Saint Gertrude in Nivelles, lakes to stroll around, such as the one in Louvain-la-Neuve, as well as areas where you can connect with nature. One example is the Solvay regional domain. Walloon Brabant is also a great place to get away from it all, with its cultural attractions such as the Battle of Waterloo 1815 Memorial and its unmissable museums. Walloon Brabant has indeed welcomed many internationally renowned Belgian talents throughout its history. And the region, which is undoubtedly a land of artists, has three superb museums that should not be missed on any account during a weekend or a longer holiday in the area: the Hergé Museum, the L Museum and the Folon Foundation. A stroll through these places is a great opportunity to realise how art occupies a central place in Walloon Brabant, but also how the region is a source of inspiration for many contemporary artists.
Stopover in Louvain-la-Neuve
Louvain-la-Neuve is a unique model of a new university town in Belgium. Students can be seen at every corner, as faculties are everywhere. It is a largely pedestrian city where it is good to stroll around and discover its varied architecture, since architects of various inspirations have helped shape the city. With its maze of streets, alleys and small squares, it also has an atmosphere inspired by medieval towns. As you stroll through the city, you can go shopping, visit the cultural sites, including the two unmissable museums that we will discuss below, and then stop off at the bars and restaurants to relax and recharge your batteries. Cinema, theatre, cultural events of all kinds initiated by students, there is always a highlight to enjoy in Louvain-la-Neuve. The town of Walloon Brabant is also a city open to nature. And you can enjoy the surrounding woods, such as the Bois des Rêves, or the shores of its beautiful lake for pleasant, rejuvenating walks
Journey to the heart of Tintin's universe at the Hergé Museum
Head for Louvain-la-Neuve to experience a unique family experience at the Hergé Museum. The author of the adventures of Tintin and Snowy, one of the most popular European comic strips of the 20th century, has a museum entirely dedicated to him. The Belgian artist lived in the village of Céroux-Mousty in Walloon Brabant. The first thing you see is a building with a bold architecture, like a suspended vessel that fits elegantly into the green world of the Parc de la Source. Inside, visitors stroll through a luminous space with 8 rooms containing some 80 original plates, 800 photos, various objects and documents related to the life and work of this talented artist. The original drawings are regularly replaced, and there are also models, films and other visual experiences.
You should also take an interest in the programming of the place since the Hergé Museum organizes temporary exhibitions, conferences, guided tours and other events always related to the universe of Hergé and the comic strip. The visit can end with a meal in the restaurant Le Petit Vingtième, which also evokes the adventures of Tintin, and a visit to the shop allows children and adults to enjoy books, mythical objects and figurines bearing the image of the heroes.
See works of art from all over the world in dialogue with each other at the Musée L
The L Museum is also located in Louvain-la-Neuve. It is the first large-scale university museum in Belgium. Before entering and discovering the 20,000 or so pieces that make up the collections, one takes the time to contemplate its modern Belgian architecture, which is sure to catch the eye. Then, inside, you discover that the L Museum is not a museum like the others. It houses works of art, archaeological and ethnographic objects and scientific inventions. Unlike most museums, which tend to classify their collections according to origin or chronology, here the works interact with each other without boundaries of time or genre. One can thus see ancient works alongside typewriters! Spread over 6 floors, the collections come from 5 continents and refer to a wide period from prehistory to the 20th century.
The museum aims to be a place of discovery of the other, of his culture, while privileging experimentation and direct contact. Museum L also offers thematic tours, creative workshops for young people, lectures, concerts and temporary exhibitions. In short, this museum in Walloon Brabant is off the beaten track and offers an unusual cultural experience.
Discover the Folon Foundation and its enchanting setting
Belgian watercolourist, painter, engraver and sculptor born in Uccle, Jean-Michel Folon became internationally renowned in the 1990s. He then wanted to create a foundation, which was born in October 2000 at the farm of the castle of La Hulpe, a place where he used to go for walks during his childhood. In the 15 rooms that make up the museum, visitors discover the different facets of his art: watercolours, engravings, posters, structures, stained glass and diverted objects. The scenography is original and captivating. To plunge into the heart of Jean-Michel Folon's universe is also to enter the place through a huge book, to lose one's bearings in a room with countless mirrors, before ending the tour under a shower of stars. The Foundation is a place to discover with the family, and children appreciate the wide range of educational activities such as the intergenerational workshops and family visits. In Walloon Brabant, the museums are keen to raise public awareness from a very early age.
A stroll through this magical world can end with a moment of pleasure in the Blue Man's Tavern. Not forgetting a trip to the Artshop to take home an original object, and a moment spent in the enchanting setting of the Solvay Regional Estate, rich in remarkable flora and fauna and bordered by ponds.
