Four passionate mountaineers have created a stunning climbing space in an abandoned Brussels church.
The 1905 neo-gothic church dedicated to St Anthony of Padua lay abandoned for many years in a neglected area of Forest commune.
The climbers approached the church with a bold plan to turn the building into a climbing school. The project was approved and the church is now a cool school with high walls where you can practise rope climbing, bouldering and speed climbing.
The school named Maniak Padoue also organises special events including DJ nights. Meanwhile, church services are still held in a small side chapel.
Derek Blyth’s hidden secret of the day: Derek Blyth is the author of the bestselling “The 500 Hidden Secrets of Belgium”. He picks out one of his favourite hidden secrets for The Brussels Times every day.
