Sometimes you come across pictures and think: I want to see that for myself. That's what happened to us when we saw photos of a church in Brussels that's been transformed into a climbing gym. During a weekend trip to Belgium, it seemed like the perfect chance to check out this unique climbing gym ourselves. We stayed at a hotel just around the corner and were standing outside Maniak Padoue in Brussels on Sunday morning before it even opened.
The layout of the climbing church
While the front of the church is still officially used for church services, we were able to enter through the back at 10:00 am. You head upstairs via a staircase, where we checked in at the front desk. We noticed that we didn't have to fill out any forms. Apparently they trusted us enough since we had our own climbing gear with us. Later on, we were glad to see that there is indeed supervision. Staff walk around and speak to climbers whenever the safety rules aren't being followed properly.
From the bar, you head back downstairs via a staircase and walk straight into the climbing gym. The first thing that catches your eye is the huge stained-glass window. Especially in the morning, when the sunlight streams through it, it looks stunning.
The available space in the church has been put to good use. There are more than 45 ropes, and the climbing walls are about 15 meters high. On the sides of the main area, you'll find two spaces for beginners, a bouldering section, and an adjustable Kilterboard. There are also a few auto-belays available, which were being used pretty actively during our visit. Ideal for whenever you don't have a climbing partner.
Our climbing experience at Maniak Padoue
The walls are nicely packed with routes, and there's plenty to choose from ranging roughly between 5a and 6c. I tied in with a figure-eight knot and started off, as always, with a few easy routes to warm up. You can tell a lot of care goes into the routes. They felt really smooth for me, and the footholds were often exactly where I expected them to be.
I hadn't climbed routes in a while, so I wasn't sure how long I'd last. The roughly 15-meter walls actually turned out to be the ideal height for me. I had to fight off the pump pretty hard at times, but I still managed to flash a few 7b routes. The selection of holds is varied too. A lot of the holds are relatively big, which makes the routes look inviting. Either way, it definitely gets you in the mood to climb.
Unusual things we came across
Maniak Padoue has a few things I hadn't seen in a climbing gym before. For instance, there were routes built with hexagonal panels featuring a sort of rock-like texture. These elements had been used earlier this year during a competition. It looked interesting, but in the end I didn't try them myself.
Even more striking, I thought, was the ProGrade. This is a device that can belay you while lead climbing. You could think of it as a kind of auto-belay for lead climbing. Unfortunately it was out of service during our weekend visit, so I couldn't experience what that actually feels like.
An extremely steep bit at the back
Since the church is fairly narrow, the gym doesn't have one massive overhanging wall. Still, they managed to create a small section at the back that's pretty steep. In fact, the start is so steep that the belayer isn't allowed to take in rope during the first few meters. Otherwise, there's a risk you'd end up pulling the climber off the wall as the belayer. That's why there's an extra crash pad on the ground for those first few meters.
Of course, I had to give an 8a a shot here. Unfortunately, I fell halfway up. During one move, the rope from the neighboring route got caught between my fingers, and that was the end of my attempt. Not quite how I'd hoped that route would end, but it was a solid attempt nonetheless.
Conclusion: is climbing in a church worth it?
There's just something magical about climbing in a church. The brick vaults above your head, the stained-glass window, and the old wall paintings make Maniak Padoue in Brussels a place you won't forget anytime soon.
Luckily, it's not just about the special location. The routes were also really fun to climb, there's plenty of variety, and the space in the old church has been put to clever use. Either way, we headed home feeling pretty stoked. If you're ever in Brussels and looking to visit a unique climbing gym, Maniak Padoue is definitely one to put on your list.
