The Tour Sainte-Gertrude: where sport and tradition meet

The Tour Sainte-Gertrude is not presented as a sporting event. However, covering its 14 kilometers still requires some energy.

The departure takes place early. In 2026, walkers will set off at 6:45 am from the Grand-Place of Nivelles, behind the float carrying the relics of Saint Gertrude.

Throughout the route, streets, paths, and rural landscapes follow one another. No stopwatch: everyone moves at the pace of the procession and enjoys this unusual way of discovering Nivelles and its countryside.

It is precisely this combination that makes the Tour interesting for a visitor. Physical activity is not separate from tourism: it becomes the means to discover the destination.

Participating in the 2026 edition will be something historical and unique. This year, the Tour reaches its 750th edition, a longevity record! Nivelles also celebrates the 1,400th anniversary of the birth of Saint Gertrude and the 980th anniversary of the consecration of its Collegiate Church.

The tradition dates back at least to 1276, the year of the first known mention of a procession in honor of the saint. It has survived the centuries and has been listed since 2004 as part of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation.

The Tour is therefore as much a walk as an immersion in local history.

Once the 14 kilometers are completed, take the time to visit Nivelles. The Collegiate Church of Saint Gertrude is obviously a must-see. Around it, the Grand-Place and the streets of the center invite you to extend the visit with a lunch or a drink.

At 3:30 pm, the 2026 edition also includes the Historic and Religious Re-entry, which allows you to discover another aspect of the Tour through a procession inspired by the Nivelles of yesteryear.

You get a particularly complete day: hiking in the morning, heritage and gastronomy at noon, then folklore and history in the afternoon.

And since the hiking shoes are already out, why stop there? Waterloo also offers several ways to combine physical activity with historical discovery. Around the 1815 battlefield, Waterloo Tourism notably offers a 14-kilometer walking loop as well as two cycling routes of 31 and 37 kilometers.

The parallel is amusing: after the 14 kilometers of the Tour Sainte-Gertrude, you can discover another facet of Brabant wallon's history through a second 14-kilometer walk.

Prefer to take it easy? Head to the Battlefield of Waterloo 1815 Domain, which includes the Memorial, the Panorama, the Lion's Mound, and the Hougoumont Farm.

And to still add a small dose of sport, there are 226 steps of the Lion's Mound to enjoy the panorama over the battlefield.

The Van der Valk Hotel Waterloo makes a pleasant base for this stay between Nivelles and Waterloo. After your day at the Tour Sainte-Gertrude, enjoy the warm ambiance of the hotel and its restaurant located in a former sugar refinery dating from 1836. The cuisine particularly favors local and seasonal products.

Enough to regain strength before a second day dedicated to the landscapes and history of Waterloo.

The Tour Sainte-Gertrude ultimately illustrates another way of doing tourism. No need to rush through visits or cover hundreds of kilometers. Sometimes, a good pair of shoes is enough to understand a territory, meet those who bring it to life, and discover its heritage differently.

By combining Nivelles and its Tour Sainte-Gertrude with Waterloo and its battlefield, the weekend then takes on a sporty, cultural, and historical dimension.