Chapel of Blan T'chfau

The chapel of Blan T'chfau stands as a modest stone structure featuring a white plastered facade with a large blue stone niche protected by wrought iron grillwork and topped with a slate roof bearing an iron cross.

Built around 1732 by farmer Martin Brion, this chapel has historical connections to the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, with local legends linking it to the Napoleonic conflicts that took place on the nearby Lauzelle plateau.

The chapel serves as the centerpiece of an annual carnival celebration since 2000, where children dress as white mares called Blancs T'chfaus and Napoleon's soldiers called Grognards, keeping alive the local Walloon folklore tradition.

Located near the Lauzelle farm in Louvain-la-Neuve, the chapel underwent restoration in 1997 and remains accessible via pedestrian paths, with informational panels explaining its heritage significance to visitors and residents.

The name Blan T'chfau means white horse in Walloon dialect, derived from a local legend about a poor girl transformed into a white mare who supposedly caught Napoleon's attention during his military campaigns.

Location: Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve

GPS coordinates: 50.68011,4.61616

Latest update: July 24, 2025 12:47