Braine-l'Alleud facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Braine-l'Alleud
Brinne-l'-Alou (Walloon)
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 Braine-l'Alleud
Location in Belgium
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| Country | Belgium | ||
| Community | French Community | ||
| Region | Wallonia | ||
| Province | Walloon Brabant | ||
| Arrondissement | Nivelles | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 52.12 km2 (20.12 sq mi) | ||
| Population
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| • Total | Lua error in Module:Wd at line 1,575: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | ||
| Postal codes |
1420, 1421, 1428
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| Area codes | 02 | ||
| Website | www.braine-lalleud.be | ||
Braine-l'Alleud is a town in Belgium. It's located in the Walloon Brabant province, about 20 kilometers (12 miles) south of Brussels. The town's name comes from "Braine," an old name for a local stream, and "alleu(d)," a medieval word for land that was free from certain taxes.
This municipality includes the main town of Braine-l'Alleud, plus smaller areas like Sart-Moulin, Lillois-Witterzée, and Ophain-Bois-Seigneur-Isaac. Because it's close to Flanders, a part of Belgium where Dutch is spoken, some people in Braine-l'Alleud also speak Dutch.
A very famous landmark, the Lion's Mound at Waterloo, is actually located within Braine-l'Alleud. This is where the famous Battle of Waterloo took place.
Contents
History of Braine-l'Alleud
People have lived in the area of Braine-l'Alleud for a very long time. Old tools and other items found here show that there were settlements even in prehistoric times.
Early Beginnings of the Town
The first time Braine-l'Alleud was mentioned in official records was in 1131. Back then, it was called Dudinsart. A powerful leader named Godfrey I, Duke of Brabant gave this land to the Abbey of Gembloux.
Even after this, the Duke still owned some special land in the area. This land was called "franchise" or "alleu(d)," meaning it had certain freedoms or was exempt from some rules. This is how the town got its current name, "Braine-l'Alleud." It helped tell it apart from other nearby towns also called Braine.
At first, the "franchise" might have just meant the right to manage local affairs. But by 1489, the local lord had full legal power over the area.
Braine-l'Alleud and the Battle of Waterloo
In 1815, a big part of the famous Battle of Waterloo happened right here in Braine-l'Alleud. During the battle, the town's church, Saint-Étienne, was used as a hospital for injured soldiers. This battle was a major event where Napoleon was defeated.
Places to Visit in Braine-l'Alleud
Braine-l'Alleud has several interesting places that attract visitors.
The Lion's Mound
The Lion's Mound is a huge hill with a lion statue on top. It was built on the site of the Battle of Waterloo. Thousands of people visit it every year. Nearby, you can find a visitor center, a wax museum, and a large painted Waterloo Panorama. These places help tell the story of Napoleon's defeat in 1815.
Other Local Sights
- The old house of Cardinal Désiré-Joseph Mercier has been turned into a tourist information center. It's a great place to start exploring the town.
- Braine-l'Alleud also has its own, slightly smaller, version of the famous Manneken Pis statue from Brussels. It's called El Gamin qui piche, which means "The Peeing Kid" in the local Walloon language.
- The small area of Sart-Moulin is famous because its name, when reversed, inspired Hergé to create the fictional Moulinsart castle in the Tintin comics!
Sports in Braine-l'Alleud
Braine-l'Alleud is home to some sports clubs.
- The RCS Braine football (soccer) club was started in 1913. It's one of the oldest continuously running clubs in Belgium.
- The city also has a very successful women's basketball team called BC Castors Braine.
- If you like outdoor sports, there's a free 18-hole disc golf course called Parc du Bourdon. It's about 1 kilometer from the Braine-l'Alleud train station.
Local Traditions and Festivals
Both Ophain and Braine-l'Alleud have yearly carnivals. These festivals often feature giant puppets, just like in many other towns across Belgium.
Famous People from Braine-l'Alleud
Many notable people have connections to Braine-l'Alleud:
- Johannes Tinctoris (around 1435–1511) was a famous music expert and composer from the Franco-Flemish School.
- Désiré-Joseph Mercier (1851–1926) was a cardinal in the Roman Catholic Church and a national hero.
- Paul-Henri Spaak (1899–1972) was an important politician and statesman.
- Gaston Reiff (1921–1992) was a well-known track-and-field athlete.
- Amaury Bonduel (born 1999) is a racing driver.
Getting Around Braine-l'Alleud
Braine-l'Alleud has good transportation options.
Train Service
Braine-l'Alleud has its own railway station. It's part of the SNCB/NMBS network, which is Belgium's national railway company. The station is served by line number 124. You can find more details at Braine-l'Alleud railway station.
Bus Service
The local bus service is run by the "TEC Brabant Wallon," which is part of the Walloon Regional Transport Company. There are 10 bus lines that serve Braine-l'Alleud, connecting it to nearby towns and cities.
- Line 36: Braine-l'Alleud to Wavre
- Line 40: Uccle to Braine-l'Alleud
- Line 65: Braine-le-Comte to Braine-l'Alleud/Nivelles
- Line 66: Braine-l'Alleud to Nivelles
- Line 67: Braine-l'Alleud Barrière to Braine-l'Alleud Railway Station
- Line 75: Braine-l'Alleud to Waterloo
- Line 114: Braine-l'Alleud to Halle
- Line 115: Braine-l'Alleud to Tubize
- Line 3 Rapido Bus: Waterloo to Louvain-de-Neuve (LLN) via Braine-l'Alleud and Ottignies
- Line W: Brussels to Braine-l'Alleud via Waterloo
Other Transport
- Taxi: You can find several taxi services in and around the town.
- Bicycle: There are special paths for bicycles in the areas surrounding Braine-l'Alleud, making it easy to cycle around.
Sister Cities
Braine-l'Alleud has "twin town" or "sister city" relationships with several other towns around the world. This means they share cultural exchanges and friendly ties.
Basingstoke, England, United Kingdom
Drummondville, Québec, Canada
Menden, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Ouistreham, Calvados, Normandy, France
Šlapanice, Czech Republic
Images for kids
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Church of St. Étienne
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View of the town from the west
