Soiron, when thistles dried on the facades - Plus Beaux Villages de Wallonie

The must-sees

- Saint Roch church (17th c.): Vast structure in brick and stone with a massive tower, many crosses inserted in the surrounding walls – Listed monument
- Soiron Castle: Park and castle in the Louis XIV style, in brick and limestone, rebuilt from 1723 to 1749 – Listed monument
- Thistle dryer (19^th c.): A brick structure with multiple slots for airflow, thus ensuring the drying of thistles
- Old Presbytery (18^th c.): A Louis XIV style building covered in coloured plaster, a chronogram showing the construction date of 1765 – Listed monument
- Old linen factories (18^th c.): Buildings that once housed linen factories, witnesses of the region’s textile industry

See the PDF of this village View the Heritage PDF sheet See the PDF file for Hiking

A mosan heritage

At a time when the textile industry was flourishing throughout the region, thistles were cultivated in a special way. Once dried, they were sold to textile manufacturers to create luxury “woollen” fabrics. Soiron has been able to preserve this magnificent heritage. It sits proudly in the middle of the village’s unnamed streets and alleys and next to several buildings preserved in the local Mosan style of the 17^th and 18^th centuries. Blending brick and sandstone or limestone, these dwellings give the village a beautiful, gentle harmony complemented by the surrounding landscape of orchards and hedgerows.

In the centre of the village, the imposing 18^th century Saint-Roch church is listed and seems quite out of proportion for its location! It was, in fact, rebuilt around the out-of-the-ordinary high altar of the Boneffe Cistercian Abbey. A presbytery and two castles complete this majestic procession. The first castle, the one of Soiron, dates from the early 18^th century and is in the style of Louis XV; the second, Sclassin Castle, dates from the late 16^th century. The picturesque character of the village is accentuated by the presence of small heritage features: crosses, religious niches, a washhouse, an old brewery. A marvellous discovery!