Just a few kilometers from Brussels, a small hamlet in Walloon Brabant seems to have stopped in time. The village of l’Ermite, nestled in Braine-l’Alleud, is home to a listed Gothic chapel and the remains of a former Augustinian priory, hidden between fields and paths.
Every year, for two weekends only, the doors of this mystical site are opened to the public. The perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in over 600 years of history, between legends, spirituality and peaceful nature – a timeless getaway to (re)discover less than 30 minutes from the capital.
Immerse yourself in the history of the Ermite priory
Located in Braine-l’Alleud, in the hamlet of L’Ermite, the former priory of Notre-Dame de Jéricho – also known as the prieuré de l’Ermite – bears witness to a rich religious past. The site’s origins date back to the XIIᵉ century, but the priory as we know it today came into being at the end of the XIVᵉ century, when Jeanne, Duchess of Brabant, donated the Dudinsart estate to pious women in order to establish a community of Augustinian nuns.
The history of the site was eventful, with fires, relocations and the abolition of the priory in 1783 by Emperor Joseph II as part of his religious reforms. Only the Gothic chapel, built of stone in the 15th century and remodeled in the 18th, remains today. Restored from 1935 by Abbé Maurice Thibaut de Maisières, it was listed as a historic monument in 1936, then the site was classified in 1953.
The chapel retains a wealth of furnishings: statues from the XVIᵉ to XVIIIᵉ centuries, tombstones, reliquaries and Baroque elements. Its current portal, built in 1937, bears witness to the restorations undertaken in the XXᵉ century. Guided tours are organized twice a year – on the last Sunday in May and the last Sunday in August – enabling visitors to discover the interior of the chapel and the treasures it contains.
The village of l’Ermite, a natural and heritage site in the heart of Walloon Brabant
Nestled in a verdant setting, the village of l’Ermite offers a peaceful atmosphere, perfect for a stroll. In addition to the chapel, visitors can admire the Sacré-Coeur de l’Ermite church, erected in the XXᵉ century, and the Ermite water tower, built in 1904 and dominating the surrounding area. These buildings give the place a singular charm, blending Gothic, Baroque and rural architecture.
The village of l’Ermite, an unassuming but essential site for understanding the spiritual and architectural wealth of Walloon Brabant!