Travel Guide Nivelles

This small town of 30,000 souls on the borders of Brabant and Hainaut has its origins in the 7th century, with the creation of an abbey. The abbey was headed by a woman. The town has preserved its maze of medieval streets around the main square, dominated by the collegiate church of Sainte-Gertrude. In addition to the Romanesque collegiate church, lovers of architectural curiosities will appreciate the many listed churches, the old town center and the houses with centuries-old facades. The town, like many others in northern France, was particularly hard hit by German air raids in May 1940. On May 19, almost everything was destroyed within a 300-meter radius of the collegiate church, of which only the walls remained. Since then, the church has become a parish church: the conventual buildings disappeared in the bombardments, and its bell tower, previously topped by a Gothic spire, was replaced by a late-Romanesque octagonal tower. Nivellois are sometimes nicknamed the Aclots when they are born within the city walls. Among other traditions, the town boasts a renowned carnival. It begins on the first Saturday of Lent and ends on the following Tuesday. Nivelles is still famous for its tarte al d'jote, whose labels are awarded each year by a brotherhood. It is served with Djan d'Nivèle beer, a blond brewed by Jandrain-Jandrenouille, and is made with chard, low-fat farmhouse white cheese and butter. For the curious!