Centuries ago Sint-Anna-Pede was simply known as Pethe. Now Sint-Anna-Pede stands as a testament to time. This quaint village in Dilbeek gets its unique name from the Pedebeek stream. It gently meanders through the landscape.
Sint-Anna-Pede has a rich history. It whispers tales dating back to the 12th century. Imagine a time when it was referred to as “capelle beatissima Anna in Peda.” This hints at a venerable past and possibly an older structure gracing this very site.
Look at St. Anna’s Church. It stands proudly. Its 13th-century Romanesque origins whisper stories of faith. Restored in the 17th century with a touch of Gothic elegance, it has been protected since 1948.
Did you know Pieter Bruegel the Elder immortalized Sint-Anna-Pede? His painting “The Blind Leading the Blind” features St. Anna’s Church. It forever links this village to artistic history.
Step into Bruegel’s world at the Bruegel Museum here. Twelve large reproductions of his landscapes invite you to explore the very scenes that inspired him. Bruegel sought inspiration in this area.
Marvel at the Zeventien bruggen or Seventeen bridges. This concrete viaduct stretches 520 meters. It soars 28 meters high across the Pedebeek valley. Sixteen bridges form the viaduct, with the seventeenth tucked beneath an arch.
Legend says that luminaries rested at the Klein Sint-Anna-kasteeltje or Small Saint-Anna Castle. Charles V of Spain, Pieter Bruegel, and Louis XIV of France supposedly slept within its walls.
The Sint-Annakerk is built in sandstone. Layers of bricks complement the structure. The church has Romanesque and Gothic architectural elements. Inside, discover the wooden pulpit with the Good Shepherd. It dates to the 18th century. Statues of Saint Joseph and Saint Anna with Maria adorn the space.
The churchyard here was once a cemetery. A copse of trees surrounds it adding to the peaceful atmosphere of Sint-Anna-Pede.
Sint-Anna-Pede offers more than just historical sites. The Sint-Annakasteel once boasted six ponds. The classicist land house was built around 1770. Russell Page, a landscape architect, redesigned the park in 1947. Jacques Wiertz further renovated the area in 1998.
The Sint-Anna-Hof, also called Breugelhof, sits south of the church. This closed farm dates to the 18th century. It was adapted in the 19th century and later divided into homes.
Sint-Anna-Pede is a rural haven near Brussels. A place where art, history, and nature intertwine. Take in the picturesque views and step back in time. Let the stories of Sint-Anna-Pede captivate you.