Saint-Hubert — The Sacred Stag's Secret

Your quest begins on the Forecourt of the Saint-Hubert Basilica, a former Benedictine abbey built between 1720 and 1767 under the direction of architect Pierre Lequeu. This baroque facade, 55 meters high with two 50-meter towers, is a masterpiece classified as major heritage of the Walloon Region since 1996. Inside, the 1749 organ, restored in 2003, invites you to unravel the mysteries of the relics of Saint Hubert, Bishop of Liège (656-727), transferred here in 825. It is here that the first clues will manifest, guiding you to the historic heart of Saint-Hubert.

Continue to the Place de l'Abbaye, the beating heart of Saint-Hubert since the Middle Ages. This historic central square, surrounded by classified 17th and 18th-century buildings, has been the site of markets and gatherings since the 13th century. On this paved pedestrian area of 5,000 m², the Palais Abbatial de Saint-Hubert stands, built in 1730 as the abbots' residence. Transformed into a museum in 1953 and classified as a Historic Monument the same year, it houses the Musée Saint-Hubert and its 42 historic rooms, witnesses to 18th-century ecclesiastical councils. Your exploration of this Walloon heritage reveals unsuspected details.

In the center of the Place de l'Abbaye, the bronze equestrian Statue of Saint-Hubert, a work by sculptor Louis Rochet (1813-1876), catches your eye. Erected in 1870 and restored in 2005, this 4-meter high statue depicts the legend of the miraculous stag from the year 687, a key moment for the European Capital of Hunting. Right next to it, the Saint-Hubert Fountain, erected in 1867, with its octagonal blue stone basin 3 meters in diameter, is dedicated to the patron saint of hunters and adorned with a luminous cross motif. These monuments immerse you in the heart of Saint-Hubert's local tradition and beliefs.

Your journey then leads you to the Rue du Fourneau Saint-Hubert, a historic cobbled street in the city center dating from the 17th century. Named after the former abbatial communal oven from 1620, this 200-meter street is typical of medieval artisan quarters. It offers a glimpse into daily life of the era, before heading to the Parc à Gibier de Saint-Hubert. Opened in 1970 and located just 500 m from the Basilica Forecourt, this 60-hectare zoological park is dedicated to Ardennes game. It hosts fallow deer, red deer, and wild boars, with a 10-hectare enclosure for red deer, and was visited by 100,000 people in 2019.

Finally, the omnipresent Forêt de Saint-Hubert invites you to understand the importance of this place for Walloon heritage. This thematic circuit in Saint-Hubert with family allows you to discover the history of Saint-Hubert through its monuments and legends. Each solved enigma, each observed detail, anchors you further in this Ardennes land, where nature and history meet. You leave with a deep knowledge of Walloon monuments and an intimate understanding of the legend of the sacred stag, making this interactive visit a memorable exploration.