Nivelles, a most interesting visit & AGM

A brief report by Ginny & Jon Caldwell

A big “Thank You” to André & Carole for organizing such a surprising visit to Nivelles.

We live “next door” but I’m ashamed to say we have only visited briefly a couple of times! We were bowled over by the Collegiate Church of Saint Gertrude, its limestone now gleaming inside & out following restoration. And which turned out to be far more interesting than we thought, our guide explaining its 1000 year old history of the Canons & Canonesses & St Gertrude & her family connections to Charlemagne. We especially loved the foundations of Gertrude’s original church. 

And what a relief to discover the torrential rain had stopped for our walking tour of the old area – the only quartier to survive the May 1940 bombing. Beautiful 17th century houses, from Bourgeois villas down to tiny narrow, 1-up, 1-down worker’s houses. And the public park with its huge 1970’s open swimming pool – and Greek Goddesses which once adorned the Brussels Post Office, carrying post bags & a Telegraph machine! 

A most interesting National Trust day out – Thank you again, André & Carole