Marche Sainte-Rolende
Meest prestigieuze UNESCO-mars van de Entre-Sambre-et-Meuse: 35 km met ~4.000 marcheurs op Pinkstermaandag.
Activate regional tourism and sports participation around Europe's prestigious UNESCO walking pilgrimage, drawing 4,000+ walkers annually on Whit Monday.
- 35km UNESCO heritage walk: endurance challenge content for fitness/travel audiences
- Whit Monday tradition: position local hospitality, food, and retail as essential pit-stops for pilgrims
- Community pride angle: celebrate Entre-Sambre-et-Meuse region as walking destination
- Gear & wellness tie-in: hiking equipment, nutrition, recovery products for long-distance walkers
A secular tradition celebrated each year during the Pentecost weekend, the Marche Sainte-Rolende is a major folkloric pilgrimage . This march is part of the Marches of the Entre-Sambre-et-Meuse, inscribed in UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage of humanity . The approximately 35-kilometre route connects the villages of the Gerpinnes entity in an atmosphere of fervour, respect and cohesion . Nearly 4,000 soldiers marching in Napoleonic-era costume participate in this major folkloric event . [ "UNESCO-inscribed cultural heritage march spanning ~35 km through rural Walloon villages", "3,700+ Napoleonic-uniformed marchers, 12 companies, 8 musical societies in solemn procession", "Sacred relic procession (Châsse) of Saint Rolende escorted through dawn-to-dusk ceremony", "Military masses, flag-raising ceremonies, volleys (décharges) honouring Saint Rolende and war veterans", "Grand nocturnal parade with 3,000+ marchers, drum major contests, ecclesiastical honour guard—return to Gerpinnes ~18:00–20:30", "Rare moment of rural communion: thousands of spectators line village streets" ]
Sunday 24 May 2026
Military masses at Tarcienne, Joncret, and Les Flaches (9h00–11h00). Flag-taking ceremonies. Evening volleys at multiple locations. Compagnie de Gerpinnes Centre tour of the town and cemetery.
Sunday 24 May evening
First discharges (volleys) in villages: 10h00 Tarcienne, 13h15 Biesme, 14h Joncret, 14h30 Acoz, 15h Villers-Poterie, 15h30 Gougnies.
Monday 25 May 2026 (night 24–25 May)
03h00 Mass at Gerpinnes. 03h45 Châsse departure with drum major staff exchange. 05h20 Hanzinne chapel (Saint-Oger meeting). 09h00 Gougnies exceptional parade and flag ceremony. 11h00 Acoz château: Flaches, Joncret, Acoz companies parade. 11h40 Villers-Poterie Châsse re-entry (6-company escort). 14h00 Gougnies battle descent. 17h30 Sartia assembly (12 companies, 8 bands). 18h00–20h30 Solemn Gerpinnes re-entry procession with 3,700 marchers, Hanzinne salvo, drum major and officer parade.
Tuesday 26 May 2026
Final discharges, official receptions, town quarter processions in Gerpinnes Centre, closing volley at Place des Combattants.