The names of these 10 Belgian towns are sometimes amusing
The imagination of our compatriots never ceases to amaze
Bruxelles Secrète has unearthed 10 places in Belgium with unusual names that will either surprise you
Here’s a funny little guide that will take you on a different journey through our country
The Commune of Profondeville was formed by the merger of several villages
There’s also a ” Chemin philosophique” (philosophical path ) in the Commune de Profondeville
is a walk punctuated by philosophical quotations from authors such as André Comte-Sponville
Explore the depths of human thought at Profondeville
Grognon is the historic heart of the city of Namur
The origin of this strange toponym is still debated
Some believe it may come from the vague resemblance of the site
a spit of land jutting out from the confluence of the Sambre and Meuse rivers
But far from looking grumpy, this little corner of Wallonia is charming, and the site’s occupation dates back to prehistoric times. Namur Intelligente et Durable (the NID) even invites you to explore its 5,000 years of history through an immersive experience
which will show you what the Grognon looked like from the Neolithic to the Middle Ages
It was in fact Saint Trudon (not a trunk!) who gave his name to this Flemish town in the province of Limburg
founded the town after studying and being ordained a priest in Metz
Saint-Trond boasts two UNESCO World Heritage sites
Don’t delay in discovering this historic Flanders gem
This quiet rural commune is located in the province of Namur
Its rural landscape is a succession of hills and small treasures
These include Gallo-Roman remains and a fortified farmhouse…
In addition, Ohey offers visitors a number of walks and is criss-crossed by the Sentiers d’Art (Art Trails), which offer a different kind of hike, filled with works of Land Art
is home to the Presidency of the Walloon Government
is said to come from the Latin “jameda”
which was later transcribed into French as “jambes”
You can certainly cross the Meuse on the Jambes bridge…
Houte-Si-Plou is far from the only hamlet to bear this strange name
Wallonia boasts a number of places with similar names
They all derive from the Walloon phrase “schoûte s’i plout”
which literally means “listen if it rains”
The name then became synonymous with a remote
Who hasn’t heard the expression “à Houte-si-Plou”
meaning “in the middle of nowhere”
Couillet is a former commune that is now a section of the city of Charleroi
This rather comical name is of rather innocent origin
It actually comes from the Latin name “Culiacum”
it’s worth mentioning that Couillet is divided into several neighborhoods
This village seems to utter a continuous exclamation of pain: aye
the locality owes its comical name to a geological formation
Poilvache is a medieval fortress (in ruins) 5km from Dinant
the estate was known by the more princely name of “Château d’Emeraude”
and why it later became known as “Poilvache” is debated
the château occupied a strategic position during the “Cow War”
a medieval conflict that began with a stolen cow
and ended with thousands of victims… The cow
although the name Prée isn’t particularly funny
the fact that this hamlet in the Belgian commune of Mettet has given all its streets the same name
The letter carrier must have one hell of a sense of direction