Ville-en-hesbaye

Ville-en-Hesbaye stands entirely on the right-hand bank of the Méhaigne.

Spread out among the folds of the gently undulating plateau and curled up around the stream which runs through it, the village consists of a group of districts which are separated by abundant vegetation.

The village has a triangular shape, with one side made up of what was the original nucleus of the settlement. There, dominating the Bolland Valley and surrounded by the ancient cemetery, the church towers up on the side of the hill, facing two mediaeval mottes separated by the road which runs between them. An old path snakes between the meadows. The U-shaped Rue du Bolland makes up the other two sides of the triangle. On one side, the old administrative centre and village school can be seen. One of these buildings now houses the "L'Amitié Villoise" hall, which belongs to the company of the same name.

There are several farms here, one of which was actually built quite recently. Within this inhabited zone, you can make out the springs of the Bolland Stream, which runs towards the north after forming a little pond; it terminates in the Méhaigne near to "Velupont", passing by "Les Basses".

Eglise de l’Annonciation (Church of the Annunciation)

The tower and nave were rebuilt in 1760 and the chancel and transept in 1858. Brick was used on a foundation of limestone.

The inside of the church boasts pilasters with Ionic capitals and houses extremely beautiful fittings from the 18th century: In particular, you will notice the high altar, which is decorated by a depiction of the Assumption, two worshipping angels, and confessionals, all dating from the second half of the 18th century.

In the porch, you can see a funerary slab marking the resting place of Jean Coppin, who died in 1610, and Anne Goderchal, who died in 1622.

Chapelle Notre-Dame de Bon Secours (Chapel of Our Lady of Perpetual Help)

At the junction leading towards Braives, there is a religious monument on a stone pedestal, dating from 1816.

Restored in 1938, it stands beneath an old lime tree (St. Antoine).

Rose Farm

At the centre of the village you will find the imposing buildings of Rose Farm, an ancient dependency of Salzinne Abbey.

The main dwelling, which was extended at the start of the 19th century, dates from 1685, as is indicated by the facade anchorings. The barn was constructed in 1763 on the instruction of Blanche Rosard, Abbess of Salzinne, whose coat of arms are displayed on a stone embedded in the masonry.

Four tall lime trees stand in front of the dwelling.

Velupont Mill

The building dates from the end of the 18th century and is situated next to the Méhaigne in particularly green surroundings.

During the 15th century, a tavern was situated here at the intersection of Ville-en-Hesbaye, Braives, and Avennes.

In Ville-en-Hesbaye, you can also see lots of old farms and a well as well as the Saint-Antoine lime tree, a hundred-year-old tree.

In Rue Joseph Wauters, there is an old farm with buildings dating from the 16th century.

There are two feudal mounds, of which one is still visible from a meadow next to the church. Archeological digs have turned up objects from the 18th and 19th century.