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Pèlerinage en armes Rochefort - Foy-Notre-Dame

Bewapende bedevaartstoet van Rochefort naar Foy-Notre-Dame, jubileumeditie van 400 jaar.

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Celebrate a historic 400-year pilgrimage tradition with faith communities and heritage tourism through local event activation and cultural storytelling.

Relevance 25low intent
  • 400 years of tradition: the story behind Rochefort's armed pilgrimage
  • Plan your pilgrimage: heritage tourism guide to Foy-Notre-Dame
  • Local pride moment: jubilee edition draws faith communities together
Programme

A historic armed pilgrimage from Rochefort castle to Foy-Notre-Dame, recognised as intangible oral and cultural heritage of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation since 2023. The armed pilgrimage version dates back to 1627, and remarkably has had very few interruptions in four centuries. The 2026 edition was the 400th anniversary: 150 uniformed members of the "Notre-Dame de Foy-Soldiers of Foy" Confraternity plus over 100 civil participants undertook a nocturnal 25 km march.

Line-up
150 uniformed members of Confrérie Notre-Dame de Foy-Soldats de Foy29 cavalry ridersPages, Gonfaloniers (flag bearers)Infantrymen, Cavaliers in historical costumeMilitary musicians & fanfareCannoniers firing cannonCount's Court in period dress100+ civil pilgrimsBishop Fabien Lejeusne (signal giver & celebrant)Löwenstein princely family (German descendants, special guests for 400th anniversary)

Sunday 24 May 2026

23h40 departure cortège from Rochefort castle, traverse town, gather at church before midnight departure signal by Bishop Fabien Lejeusne

Sunday midnight to Monday 7 AM

Nocturnal 25 km march through countryside toward Foy-Notre-Dame

Monday 25 May – Morning at Foy

Arrival c. 7 AM at Foy-Notre-Dame; 8h30 Eucharistic celebration presided by Bishop of Namur-Luxembourg

Monday 25 May – Afternoon/Evening

10h30 return journey toward Rochefort; final cortège 17h–18h at Rochefort

  • Pages, Gonfaloniers, Musicians, Infantrymen, Cavalry, Count's Court, flag bearers, cannoneers participate in a historical procession cortège.
  • Armed pilgrimage on foot and horseback with 29 cavalry riders.
  • 54 km round-trip route from Rochefort through Conjoux–Foy-Notre-Dame–Chevetogne–Frandeux–Rochefort.
  • All generations mobilised in the armed cortège, with approximately 150 people firing cannon.
  • Presence of the Löwenstein princely family from Germany, descendants of the count who originated the pilgrimage.
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