Heritage Days: Wallonia opens up its treasures
There are weekends when doors that are usually closed are thrown open. On September 12 and 13, 2026, Wallonia will host the 38th edition of its Heritage Days: two days during which castles, churches, private homes, workshops, and gardens—normally closed to the public—welcome curious visitors free of charge. It is an invitation to step through the doors—literally—into a thousand years of history.
This 2026 edition holds special significance: it marks the grand finale of “Patrimoine en spectacle” (Heritage in the Spotlight), a summer-long heritage celebration that began on June 12 with the European Archaeology Days and featured events at key Walloon sites throughout the season. It is the highlight of the summer, placing special emphasis on sites opened exclusively for the occasion and locations of exceptional character.
If there is one region where heritage spans the centuries, it is the Meuse Valley surrounding your bungalow: Romanesque abbey churches, medieval towns, Renaissance castles, citadels, and more. Here is how to plan your best heritage-themed weekend of the year, starting from the Domaine du Bonsoy.
A simple rule: everything is free
The concept behind Heritage Days can be summed up in a single sentence: over the course of the weekend, all activities listed in the official program are free. Whether it involves guided tours, special openings, itineraries, or events, the only requirement is that some activities call for advance booking with the organizers—whose contact details appear at the bottom of each program entry.
The full program is available online and updated in real time at public.journeesdupatrimoine.be. A helpful tip from the organizers: rather than browsing the map, search directly for a specific location (Hastière, Dinant, Namur, etc.) to view all scheduled activities nearby—as some map pins actually represent multiple events.
Our tip: check the program now and book any tours that require reservations. Special openings—sites accessible for only one weekend a year—often fill up days in advance.
Around Hastière: Romanesque architecture in a stunning setting
Just five minutes from Le Bonsoy, Hastière is home to one of Belgium’s Romanesque gems: its 11th-century abbey church, featuring a crypt, Merovingian sarcophagi, and carved choir stalls. Heritage Days offer the perfect opportunity to (re)discover it from a new perspective; check the official program for scheduled guided tours in the area—the nearby Mosan churches, stretching from Waulsort to Hermeton, often hold delightful surprises that weekend.
The Meuse of Castles
As you travel upriver, Freÿr Castle—classified as Exceptional Heritage of Wallonia—unveils its French-style gardens facing the cliffs; further along, the medieval town of Bouvignes and its Museum of Medieval Mosan Heritage tell the story of the Meuse as a hub of trade and warfare. These are two ideal stops for a heritage tour by car—or, even more elegantly, by bicycle via the EuroVelo 19 route that runs alongside the river.
Dinant and Namur: two cities, two thousand years
Just fifteen minutes from Le Bonsoy, Dinant layers different eras: a Gothic collegiate church, a clifftop citadel, the birthplace of Adolphe Sax… Heritage Days regularly offer access to unexpected locations—check the local program, as the sites that open to the public change every year.
Namur, just 45 minutes away, is worth a full day’s visit: its citadel—one of Europe’s largest fortresses—and its old town are packed with courtyards, private mansions, and chapels that are rarely open to the public. And if you extend your stay for the weekend, the Fêtes de Wallonie will be in full swing in Namur from September 11 to 21—featuring heritage celebrations on Saturday and stilt-walkers on Sunday. September is truly the best month to visit the Meuse Valley.
Villages that are monuments in their own right
Wallonia’s heritage is not limited to listed monuments; it lives on in entire villages. Less than 40 minutes from Bonsoy, villages such as Celles, Crupet, Falaën, and Sosoye—ranked among the “Most Beautiful Villages of Wallonia”—can be explored like open-air museums, and unlike traditional museums, they are free to visit all year round. Heritage Weekend often brings guided tours and local events to these spots; here too, searching by location on the official program will reveal the highlights of the moment.
Your ideal heritage day
Morning: Breakfast on the bungalow terrace, then head to the Abbey Church of Hastière and the banks of the Meuse—the September light on the river is a heritage treasure in its own right.
Midday: Lunch on a riverside terrace in Dinant or Bouvignes, between sightseeing stops.
Afternoon: One or two special visits booked in advance—a castle, private residence, or workshop, depending on the year’s program.
Evening: Return to Bonsoy via the ridge road, dinner at the bungalow, and—for the energetic—a night-time stroll through the estate to digest ten centuries of history.
Practical information
- European Heritage Days in Wallonia — 38th edition
- Dates: Saturday, September 12 and Sunday, September 13, 2026
- Cost: all program activities are free (some require advance booking)
- Online program: public.journeesdupatrimoine.be (updated in real time; please also check the erratum at journeesdupatrimoine.be)
- Information: Heritage Days Secretariat (AWaP), Rue de la Brigade Piron 3, 5100 Jambes · 081 33 49 00 · journeesdupatrimoine@awap.be
- From Le Bonsoy: Hastière 5 min, Dinant 15 min, Bouvignes 20 min, Namur 45 min
Stay in the valley you’re visiting
What could be more fitting for a weekend dedicated to Meuse Valley heritage than staying right in its heart? From the Woody Lodge—a cozy chalet nestled within the Domaine du Bonsoy—the weekend’s finest sites are all less than 45 minutes away, while the silence of the Ardennes awaits your return each evening.
The weekend of September 12–13 is fast approaching: book your bungalow today and turn the 2026 Heritage Days into a true journey back in time—complete with a forest view.
