Pont-de-Loup

Every year on the last Sunday of August, the village of Pont-de-Loup holds a procession of Our Lady Del Manock at a pilgrimage founded in her honor. It is also an important feast day for the patron church of Saint-Clèt. The procession in Pont-de-Loup is unique because of the presence of the group representing Our Lady of Manock, the local Virgin and pilgrims gather in the hopes of invoking the healing of deafness. The procession and pilgrimage are combined together in one large procession for the Blessed Notre Dame faithful and pilgrims.

The beginning of the celebration is marked by everyone attending Mass. During the service, many people gather outside the square, as the church is too small to accommodate all. After Mass, the procession forms at the church. It is led by a local group of around one hundred men called the "Walkers of Saint-Eloi" who march in time to pipes and drums. The procession proceeds around the first quarter of the church, and then onward to the river Sambre, finally stopping at the entrance of a narrow path which leads to the fountain of Our Lady Del Manock. This is the most essential part of the pilgrimage. Once arriving at the fountain, the afflicted drink the clear water which is deemed to be a miraculous cure for deafness. Since World War II, this religious procession has been the most striking attraction of this village.