Red, yellow or green, slim or big and round, we are spread out on our colourful tablecloths over this magnificent 10,000 m2 square every October. Do we look good enough to eat? Not as much as the impression you have of the square, apparently! Our apple festival attracts a large number of food-lovers, but they all admire the majesty of the 56 listed elm trees that surround this space that was laid out in the 18th century. At the time, the square was used as a pasture and had a 12 hectare pond used as a watering hole for the animals.
In the 18th century, the town built the Notre-Dame du Bon Secours church here. The altar and pulpit are worth a visit, as well as a school, which nowadays is a restaurant. After the pleasure for the taste buds, it's one for the eyes: go and admire the whole view of this magnificent square on one of the multi-coloured hot-air balloons that are taking off!
Date created
17th century during the Spanish period.
Function
- The square is used as a backdrop for a large number of local events, as well as a take-off area for hot-air balloons.
Characteristics
- The Place de Céroux is the largest square surrounded by trees in Belgium, which makes it a particularly suitable site for hot-air balloons to take off. From where its nickname “Place des Montgolfières” comes from.
- 56 listed elm trees (the old elms were felled in 1932).
- Area of 10,000 m2.
- The Notre-Dame du Bon Secours church's clock-tower has stood over the square since 1848. It is in a neo-gothic style. The carved wood altar and pulpit date from the same time and were made by the Goyens brothers, master cabinetmakers form Leuven.
To begin with
- In 1853, the town of Céroux-Mousty had a school built on the square, the left-hand part of which was given to the council in 1948 to become the Council House, since converted into a restaurant.
- In 1970 the square was choosen for hot-air balloon take-offs due to its suitable size. The first take-off from the square took place in April 1970 by an English hot-air balloon. Between 1978 and 1994 the take-off meeting was the essential event of the “Club des ballons de Céroux“ (Céroux Ballooning Club).
To see
- The restaurant and banquet room.
- Céroux-Mousty church.
- Hot-air balloons take off from the square for certain events.
The hidden side
From the corner of the square and the beginning of the “rue Vanderdilft” you can see a magnificent Roman style tower in the distance, the “Moriensart Tower”. It is adjacent to the square farm that is used today as a venue for receptions. The tower has 10 meter square base and a total height of 22 meters, it served as protection for the Duchy of Brabant. The structure at the top of the tower is formed by three turrets and 3 tiered dormer windows that were added in the 17th century. The name Moriensart comes from ”Moreau” (or Arnol de Morel), Knight of Limal in 1237. The tower is lived in since 1240 and is classified as a historical monument.
The little extra
“Michel Evrard, sales manager for a well-known propane gas distribution company, Pétrogaz, heard some slightly crazy English pilots talking, who took part in some notable flights in England. He decided to bring it to Belgium, and so in 1969, the first flights of a modern hot-air balloon took place in Belgium.” (Source “Club des ballons de Céroux“).
Practical information
www.ceroux-mousty.be
Hot-air balloon flights from the square of Céroux:
www.montgolfiere.be -
www.balloonflights.be
