A library, games library, cultural centre and a petanque area awaits you in the magnificent backdrop of this farm. Modern recreation goes side-by-side with architecture from the past. It's pleasant to take advantage of the quietness of the courtyard during your lunch break, or the atmosphere in the barn now and again! It was in the 16th century that the farm was mentioned for the first time as being owned by Paul d'Ursel, lord of the manor of Limelette. Nothing remains today of the original agricultural buildings. Full restoration work in fact started in 1985. The work lasted 10 years and the result is magnificent.
If you are curious about the history of the farm and the meaning of the word “douaire”, push the doors of my library and the books there will tell you all about it.
Date created
16th century, mentioned for the first time in 1529.
Cultural and recreational function:
- Library in the farmhouse
- Games library in the sheds.
- History, Archaeology and Genealogy Circle of Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve in the farmhouse.
- Cultural space in the barn, which holds a number of artistic and cultural events: exhibitions, concerts, shows, meetings, conferences, etc.
Characteristics
- Typical Brabant building of the 18th century (square-shaped farm around an interior courtyard)
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The farm is made up of an L-shaped farmhouse, a long barn dating from the 18th century, cowsheds and stables with a tiled saddleback roof.
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Buildings opened in 1989 by Mr Valmy Féaux, Mayor of Ottignies - Louvain-la-Neuve.
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The farm was restored between 1985 and 1995 at a cost of 60 million euros.
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The facades, roofs and arches have been listed.
To begin with
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The word “douaire” refers to the inheritance passed on to a wife should she survive her husband.
- The Goies family stopped working the farm in 1962
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.The building was left abandoned until it was bought by the town council in 1971.
To see
- “1628” engraved on the third step of the stairs giving access to the “master's quarters”.
- “1633” engraved on lintel over the entrance door to the cellar
- “1638” engraved on a beam in the farmhouse.
- The farm's facades have a large number of frontage anchors in very varied shapes: vertical anchors, X-shaped, Y-shaped, hook-shaped, horseshoe, diamond and even in the shape of “moustaches” (over the entrance to the barn).
Artists' corner
- To the east of the barn, facing the shopping centre stands a statue entitled “A Stone for my Town” made in 1993 by the artist Véronique Choppinet.
- Stained-glass window by Josse Derbaix which represents the world of arts and culture. You can see dancing and musical scenes and three cats have also been drawn because the artist who created these stained-glass window loved these animals.
- To the south-east, 6 terracotta totems made by six young people, with the help of the sculptor Gigi Warny. They were installed first on a roundabout on the Boulevard du Sud in Louvain-la-Neuve in 2010, but they were vandalised. The young people rebuilt them more sturdily and they were installed at the Douaire farm in 2012.
