Walloon Brabant is known for its divine tarts, in fact the region is commonly called the "province of tarts".
The most popular one is "Tarte al Djote" from Nivelles which is a savory pie prepared with a combination of cow's milk cheese, chard, butter, onions, eggs, parsley, and pepper. The dough is made with flour, butter, eggs, milk, yeast, and salt. It is believed this pie dates back at least to the 13th century. It is a gourmet savory tart made of local cheese bètchèye and chard, with parsley and green onion lending it a beautiful green colour.
Less well known is the double de Nivelles, which is the city’s second gastronomic speciality and consists of two buckwheat flour pancakes wrapped around a filling of bètchéye. This has to be tried!
There are also quite a few speciality tarts in the smaller towns and villages such as the Tarte au Crastofé from Ittre, a full-fat cream cheese tart which is eaten warm covered in salted butter. Also, the Tarte au Sucre Brun is a speciality of the Waterloo Region which has a leavened dough base, brown sugar, eggs, milk and butter and is a real treat to be enjoyed hot or cold.
Tartes de Chaumont-Gistoux
A speciality of Genappe, the Tarte du Lothier, consists of a base of leavened dough, eggs, sugar, rice semolina flavoured with crushed bitter almonds, all laid over a layer of raw apricot marmalade. A tangy delicacy to be enjoyed with the inevitable Lothier beer.
The reputation of Tartes de Chaumont-Gistoux is already well established - in 1945, the idea of opening a pastry shop with a tea room in Chaumont-Gistoux was born. Indeed, the village was at the time a holiday resort for the people of Brussels. Today, after 2 takeovers, the pastry shop is still very successful and offers more than 40 varieties of pies. All their products are made by hand in the only workshop in Chaumont-Gistoux.
Discover much more about the specialities of Walloon Brabant here
Villers Abbey
Beers of Walloon Brabant
Walloon beers, part of the UNESCO’s cultural and intangible heritage, are our top ambassadors worldwide.
There are many craft breweries in Walloon Brabant, such as the micro-brewery of Mont-St-Jean in Waterloo. A micro-brewery has been opened at Mont-Saint-Jean Farm, which was where the Duke of Wellington set up the English hospital during the battle in 1815. You can book a visit the brewery here.
Located in Rebecq in Senne Valley, La Gueuzerie Tilquin is Wallonia's only Gueuze beer brewer. The brewed and filtered worts are purchased from various regional producers, then placed in oak barrels and fermented for 1, 2 or 3 years. The resulting lambics are assembled and bottled then re-fermented for 6 months to offer up genuine, old-fashioned Gueuze Tilquin beer.
The term “hostieux” derives its meaning from one of the many functions of monks: the reception of pilgrims and travelers in a “hostellerie”. The Confreriye des Hostieux Monks of the Abbey of Villers en Brabant saved a ruined building from Villers la Ville Abbey where, after 220 years, they brew 6 beers and also have the Bâton St Bernard (a sausage) and finally the brewery spent grain bread.
Find out more here about the authentic beers of Walloon Brabant
Chateau de Bousval
Wines of Walloon Brabant
In Belgium, there are roughly 230 vineyards, with Wallonia accounting for more than half of them. The regions blossoming wine culture is causing quite a fuss and has attracted a growing number of wine enthusiasts and professionals.
Why not discover the vineyards developing there, get to know passionate wine growers and taste their exceptional wines. Walloon Brabant is also producing some sparkling wines and spirits; such as whisky and gin.
The Château de Bousval vineyard was born of Michel’s ambition to create a high-quality local wine. After several years of work, the vineyard produced its first harvest in October 2016. This means it won’t be long before the Château de Bousval has its own wine for you to taste!
The Domaine-W vineyard in Saintes, in the west of Walloon Brabant, is more than just organic. The site offers a Brabant farm, 17,000 organic vines, a unique terroir, 200 trees and bushes, flower meadows, hives and more. Their aim is to come together, share and savour, while developing a high-end, traditional and environmentally friendly method. The first bottles are maturing in the cellar and will be available exclusively for members at the end of 2020.
Find out more here about the vineyards in Walloon Brabant
Piétrain Noix
Local produce
Don't forget that tourism in Walloon Brabant is also on your plate whether you’re looking for fruit and vegetables, honey or cheese, you’ll find a dazzling selection of producers, farms, craftsmen, beekeepers and more.
Discover the know-how of the local craftsmen and taste the local products “made in” Walloon Brabant - find out more here.
Promoted by Walloon Brabant Tourist Office
