Point of interest Chimay - La pierre qui tourne (The Turning Stone) - Photo

La pierre qui tourne (The Turning Stone)

Description

At the boundary between Boutonville and Gonrieux stands “La Pierre qui Tourne” (“The Turning Stone”), a monolith that may once have served as a receptacle for the blood of human or animal victims sacrificed to the gods of the people who once lived here. It could therefore be a sacrificial stone, a Gaulish cairn. A whole series of stories about ghosts, devilry, witches, etc. are attached to it… People are afraid to pass by the monolith at night (some say it should especially be avoided on Christmas Eve…). There is no precise legend about this stone in the village, just a few vague ideas about superstition, antiquity and mystery.



Some people believe the stone was used to polish and shape weapons, hence the name of turning stone. This stone lay flat on the ground for a long time, but was raised

a few years ago; its stands 3m10 tall and 1m30 wide. It weighs around 40,000 kilos. This stone still acts as a boundary between the two provinces of Hainaut

and Namur.



Not far from there is the spot known as Le Pendart, the site of the old pillory, where criminals were hanged.



As you leave “La Pierre qui Tourne”, take a look at the markers along the path that separate the two provinces: they used to indicate the boundary between the Principality of Liège and the Principality of Chimay.

Photos

La pierre qui tourne (The Turning Stone) can be discovered in the following trails...
Trail Walking Chimay - Chimay (10) - La Pierre qui Tourne (Turning Stone) Walk - Photo
Walking
GUIDE+

Walking

Very easy
(2)
Chimay, Wallonia, Hainaut, Belgium
7.6 km | 9.5 km-effort
1h 48min
Yes
© OpenStreetMap contributors

Positioning

Country:
Belgium
Region :
Wallonia
Department/Province :
Hainaut
Municipality :
Chimay
Location:
Baileux
Creation date :
2019-04-26 13:45:42.046
Updated on
2019-04-26 13:45:42.046

(0 Reviews)


Points of interest nearby

Point of interest Chimay - La pierre qui tourne (The Turning Stone) - Photo
La Forêt du Pays de Chimay
Point of interest Chimay - Church of Notre-Dame (Our Lady) - Photo
foret_pays_chimay
Point of interest Chimay - Church of Notre-Dame (Our Lady) - Photo
La Forêt du Pays de Chimay
Point of interest Chimay - Nature reserve - Photo
foret_pays_chimay
Point of interest Chimay - Nature reserve - Photo
La Forêt du Pays de Chimay
Point of interest Couvin - 03' - Photo
melilalo
COUVIN 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Close
My subscriptions