Watou: Village Centre, Art and Landscape

Watou combines a protected village centre with public art, an annual art event and walks through a landscape shaped by its border location. When planning your trip, you can explore the village from different perspectives: the layout of its centre, its historical and artistic features, or routes of varying lengths. This lets you shape your stay around the themes that bring you to Watou.

Village Centre and the Heidebeek

Watou’s village centre is designated as a protected village landscape; the cultural and historical grounds for this designation relate to the qualities of its layout and visual character. The centre has two market squares, Watouplein and Kleine Markt. The Heidebeek, also known as the Warandebeek, separates them; the parish church of Sint-Bavo is centrally located.

The Heidebeek follows a highly meandering, very natural course. Its features include a line of trees and shrubs and a natural bank profile. The stream also forms the national border between Belgium and France. As a landscape area, the Heidebeek valley extends from the area around Watou to the confluence of the Heidebeek and the IJzer at Haringe in Poperinge.

Art, Architecture and History

The Kunstenfestival Watou takes place in Watou every year, creating a distinctive dialogue between the village, visual art and poetry. Dates and programme vary with each edition. If the festival is central to your trip, plan around the specific dates for that year.

Individual works of art are also associated with specific places: the Claus Monument on Watouplein was designed by Roger Raveel. A Raveel painting from 1993 on Douvieweg is visible from the road. On the former castle grounds, a Renaissance-style entrance gate and the castle moats have been preserved.

Hoeve Blauwhuis was formerly the seat of the court and lordship of Watou, as well as the residence of the lords of Watou and the first Count of Watou. The surviving farmhouse includes a tall building dating from the late 16th to early 17th century, in the regional Late Renaissance style. Sint-Bavo Church contains the elaborate tombs of Karel van Ydeghem (+ 1630), Maria van Cortewyle and the mystic Karel Grimminck (1676–1728).

Walks and Landscape

Two walks can be distinguished by their length and routes. The 5 km walk around the St.Bernardus Brewery passes through Helleketelbos and along the Trappistenweg; at 10 km, the Warande Walk, which starts in Watou, is twice as long. It follows the French-Belgian border between French Flanders and the Westhoek, artificially established in 1677. Check trail conditions locally, as they can change.

The St.Bernardus Brewery Tour is an interactive visitor experience that you can enjoy at your own pace. Check booking details before your trip. Watou’s Greeters offer free, personal village tours, which may cover the village’s history, nature and daily life. Confirm arrangements before your trip.

Getting Your Bearings and Practical Information

An orientation board was installed on 30 April 2000 at Fazantenheuvel on Stoppelweg in Watou, one of Watou’s highest points at 62 m. There are quieter car parks in a natural setting near Watouplein. You can also picnic there and leave your car for longer. Parking regulations may change, so check the local situation.

Discover more destinations: Proven, Reningelst, Roesbrugge-Haringe.

Go to the main travel overview: Poperinge.