Fallait

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The village stands on the north-east side of the river.
Fallais takes the form of a large rectangle that stands almost entirely on the left-hand bank of the Méhaigne, exposed to the south. You can make a distinction between the "top" of the village, which consists only of houses, and the "bottom" of the villages, where you will find the church and old cemetery and buildings dating from the last century that used to house the school and municipal hall.
The area where the old station is located, where the old square is being converted into a relaxation area, looks like an extension of the old village; it is here that you will find the municipal school, the adjoining sports hall, which dates from the 1980s, and the village hall, which was built only recently.
It is also worth pointing out the existence of an impressive castle. At the other end of the Route de Huy-Hannut, recent buildings have begun to arise among the few houses from the last century.
The Hamlet of Pitet is connected to Fallais by a path that runs along the RAVeL. The built area stretches right to the main road.
In 2001, LINSMEAU HOUSE, which provides temporary housing for persons in need, was opened.
Le Chardon
The house dates back to 1692. Above the entrance is a stone with a coat of arms bearing the inscription "A. Gilkinet de Chardon et C. Marchal de Fumal".
On the slope above the Rue du Chardon, you can see an ancient stone cross that dates from the 17th century.

Eglise Notre-Dame (Church of Our Lady)
This parish was already in existence in the 12th century.
The old Roman building, which was in extremely poor condition, was demolished in 1854.
Some of the tombstones were saved but others were demolished or used as doorsteps or for stairs.
The new brick and stone church was based on plans by Dejardin, a Braives architect.
You can see gravestones dating from the 16th, 17th, and 18th century, extremely interesting stone baptismal fonts from the 15th century (with the coat of arms of Burgundy, a beautiful Malinois representation of a virgin and child in polychromed oak, dating from the end of the 16th century, the martyrdom of a virgin, and a depiction of Saint Barbara from the first half of the 16th century.
There is also a beautiful jube screen with a balustrade that dates from 1746 and a pipe organ from around 1720.

"Li Stwerdu" Mill
When it was originally built in 1620, this mill operated as an oil mill; however, in the 19th century it was converted into a chalk mill.
The white loam extracted from the high ground was crushed there in order to produce tempera paints, putty, and dyes.
Durbuy mentioned this mill in his work "Li fabrique al’croye".
The mill was classified as a monument in 1982.

Chapelle Saint-Roch (Chapel of Saint Rocco)
Dating from 1764, this religious marker has a Gothic column foot and base that date from the 16th century.

Château de Fallais
The history of this castle is fascinating and its heirlooms are sure to arouse your interest.
The history of this castle contains the names of the Dukes of Beaufort, Charles the Bold, Louis XI, Louis XIV, and many other famous persons who stayed there.
In 1465, the people of Liège - allies of Louis XI, King of France in the fight against the Duke of Burgundy - seized the castle. However, in December they were forced to return it: Charles the Bold revoked the privileges of Liège and decided to suppress the people of Liège. Fallais was to be the stage on which his plans were to be played out.
 
During his stay from the 3rd to the 9th of June 1675, Louis XIV ordered the destruction of the tower known as the Bourgogne Tower and the Grignard Tower.
A massive quadrilateral structure flanked with circular towers at its corners, the castle is an ideal example of a mediaeval plain fortress. It was built mainly during the course of the 14th, 16th, and 18th centuries.
In 1937, a fire damaged the north wing, which has since been restored.

Chapelle Notre-Dame de la Bonne Délivrance (Chapel of Our Lady of Good Deliverance)
This small religious marker takes the form of a pyramid-shaped pillar and was erected in 1819 by Pierre on the corner of Rue Macabioul. A pleasant walk will take you to Bossiau Farm.

Hamlet of Pitet
Butte du Mont Saint-Sauveur
The old chapel, subject to the jurisdiction of Flône since the 13th century, was rebuilt in the 16th century and then destroyed in the 19th century.
Nothing remains except for a few sections of the wall and the door, the frame of which stands on a mitred lintel, engraved with a medallion design portraying the Mystic Lamb. It dates from the 13th century.
This is where, every year, the "jet de la poire" (Throwing of the Pear), a custom which continued until 1793, used to take place. A young man, chosen from the best of the stock of Fallais, would throw a pear from the top of Saint-Sauveur hill in the direction of Robert's Wood and another in the direction of Dreye Brook.
The spots where the pears fell marked the boundaries of the seigneury of Fallais.
A volcanic rock can also be seen here - an exceptional phenomenon that the geologist Dumont baptised the "Typhon de Pitet" ("Typhoon of Pitet").

Château de Pitet
The castle consists of constructions dating from the 17th and 18th centuries and of a Meuse Renaissance courtyard farm renovated during the 19th century. The castle is situated in a beautiful park with a particularly noteworthy arbour.

The ancient forge
The ancient forge is a listed building that dates from the 18th century, as is confirmed by the dedication from 1749 which is carved into the lintel at the entrance.
Built of local stone and with a slate roof, this little building is practically intact and bears witness to times gone by.

Jardin des Plantes de Pitet (Pitet Plant Garden)
The Jardin des Plantes de Pitet à Fallais (Municipality of Braives) aims to present a glimpse of the region's plant life. More than 250 plants are cultivated in this old kitchen garden which is enclosed by walls that form part of Pitet castle farm.
Various leaflets and guides are available at the garden.
The garden is open every Sunday and on holidays from May to September, from 2pm to 6pm.

Entrance fee:
  • EUR 2 for adults
  • EUR 1.50 for groups and pensioners
  • Free for children (< 14 years and accompanied by their parents)
Guided tours for groups can be arranged by appointment from April to October.

Address: Rue A. de Donnée, Pitet-Fallais. The entry to the garden is signposted.