Braives

"Le Carcan" is the centre point of the village and occupies the site of the original settlement. The "Saint-Pierre" district, which was once called the "Baugnée" district ("Cattle Pasture") and which leads from the church to the Roman road, lies next to it. It is home to the castle, the old buildings of the free house, and the lord's mill. The access road to the main road leads, to the north, to "Trou Potier", a self-proclaimed republic since 1973, and then to Cornuchamp.

 

At the junction of the Route de Moxhe-Lens-Saint-Remy with the Route de Hannut, an interesting small stone building that dates from the end of the 18th century (1790) sits among a group of trees. It is said that is was built thanks to a blacksmith called Louis Detienne, whose daughter was saved from being attacked by two Austrians when lightning struck them down. Saint Donatus, Saint Eligius, and the Virgin Mary are portrayed on the sides of the little building.
Detienne was in fact a farmer who lived in the Notre-Dame Valley. This religious monument contains effigies of Our Lady of Hal, Saint Donatus, and Saint Eligius.

This 19th century religious monument sits on a column.

It bears witness to the religious ardour of the people in these regions for the Virgin of Montaigu, the object of worship of various pilgrimages leaving from the Hesbaye Plateau.

This church is an impressive Neo-Roman building that dates from 1920 and was built from limestone.

Inside, you can see beautiful pews dating from the 18th century, still bearing the name of their original occupants (for example, the pew used by Bailiff Dejardin).

This farm was the old seigneurial free house.

The main dwelling area dates back tot he 17th and 18th centuries.

The inscription 1759 on the keystone tells us that this lord's mill was either reconstructed or restored then.

Unfortunately, the wheel was recently removed.

This castle is private property; you can only approach the railings at the entrance.

Situated in the heart of a wooded park through which the Méhaigne passes, this Hesbaye mansion was built around 1720 - 1750 on the site of an old fort which records show was already around in the 14th century.

Railings close off the central courtyard, which is flanked by outbuildings consisting of four wings built during the second half of the 19th century.

In 1763, following the death of his first wife, Jean-Philippe-Joseph, Baron of Woot de Tinlot, married Anne-Maried de Nassau-Corroy and set about renovating the castle. The coat of arms of the newly married couple are displayed on the triangular pediment of the building, made from Meuse stone and brick. Inside, you can admire traditional Liège woodwork and stucco marked with tempered stones. There is a formal French-style garden behind the castle.

This small building was rebuilt in 1859 by the mayor at the time.

On the 29th of June, a procession that dates back to the times when epidemics were still ravaging the region passes by this chapel and snakes through the district to reach the castle.