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The neo-Gothic Saint Gertrude’s church of Appelterre is a protected monument. A wide area around the church is a protected villagescape, including the heavily damaged farmstead Kapittelhof that was recognized as a protected monument.

The church is a gift from the abbey of Nivelles (hence the close connection to Saint Gertrude), and dates from the end of the 15th century (± 1487). Of the oldest construction phase, only the high choir in white marble and grey natural stone remains. The construction of the current church was resumed in 1899, with a following construction phase between 1906 and 1909. This is how the village got a new building 31 meters long, with a three-aisled ship of four bays. The tower is 45 meters high and consistent with the style of the monument.

Local families made considerable donations for the church's interior. For example, for the high altar, with on both sides three statues of a.o. that of Gertrude of Nivelles. The stained glass windows (Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows, the disciples on the road to Emmaus) are partially thanks to anonymous donors from the construction phase of the church. The pulpit is older (1764) and the organ younger (1924, restored in 1963).

The side chapels each have their own altar. The ship is shared with a “women’s side” and a “men’s side”, with six statues each. Gertrude and Apolonia stand on the men’s side.
The paintings of the Way of the Cross are by the artist Joseph Meganck (1867). With the paintings in the choir, goes an Our Lady of the Rosary by the artist Van Cleef de Oude (Or van G. De Crayer…).

Appelterre was known for its tobacco growers. A statue of the tobacco planter (by Willy Ronsmans) on the square reminds us of this fact. The farmsteads of Appelterre played a role in the increased value of the Belgian draught horse. And as regards to the classified farmstead Kapittelhof (1637): that was largely destroyed during a fire in August of 2019.

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