Cycling through Wallonia and southern Belgium

NAMUR

Arrive at your leisure in Namur, and take time to visit the town after you’ve settled in. Welcome to your new cycling adventure!

From NAMUR to DINANT 31km 100m

You can follow the Meuse all day along the old towpaths. Less than a kilometer from the river, horticultural enthusiasts won’t want to miss the enchanting gardens of Annevoie, renowned for their water features. At the end of the day, you reach the Mosan city of Dinant.

• For a few more km 55km 480m

  A few kilometers further on, you leave the Mosane valley on an old railroad line and discover the hinterland as far as Maredsous Abbey, with a historic detour to the ruins of the medieval castle of Montaigle. After passing Maredsous, you return to the Meuse through the villages of Sosoye and Falaën, which are classified as among the Most Beautiful Villages in Wallonia!

• For a few more km 68km 710m

  By opting for this alternative, you leave the course of the Meuse after Annevoie, where you climb to higher ground. This detour justifies the difference in altitude, giving you the opportunity to explore the village of Crupet, renowned for its old farm-dungeon surrounded by a pond, listed as one of the Most Beautiful Villages in Wallonia.

From DINANT to ROCHEFORT 42km 580m

Leaving Dinant, your first stop is Walzin Castle, perched like an eagle’s nest above the Lesse and nicknamed the “Belgian Neuschwanstein”. Leaving the Lesse valley behind, you reach the Condroz plateau, a charming countryside region dotted with beautiful stone villages such as Furfooz and Celles. As you ride along these winding roads, the Vêves Castle appears on the horizon, standing proudly with its five angular, pencil-shaped towers, offering a resolutely Romanesque style. The gradual descent of the Condruz plateau then takes you to the Famenne, a natural region characterized by a vast limestone depression that separates the Condroz from the Ardennes massif. The gentle relief of this region can momentarily mislead cyclists, giving them the impression that the expression “flat country” isn’t just an overused cliché.

From ROCHEFORT to PALISEUL 44km 530m

Leaving the Famenne, you cross the Calestienne, a narrow limestone strip that has given rise to some impressive underground caves. One of the most magnificent of these is the Han Caves, which are sure to attract you, as the route passes right by them! These internationally renowned caves are home to stalactites, stalagmites and other rock formations in a breathtaking mineral setting, which you can explore on an underground trail of around 2 kilometers. You then find yourself at the foot of the Ardenne massif, where vast forests and lush green pastures alternate pleasantly. An old railroad line transformed into a greenway (a RAVeL, as they say over there) allows you to gently gain altitude. After a few typical villages and the gentle mooing of cows, you reach the peaceful village of Paliseul, nestled in a landscape of extensive meadows.

From PALISEUL to CHASSEPIERRE 48km 610m

Back on the road, you reach the Semois valley. The Tombeau du Geant lookout offers a splendid view of one of its largest meanders. Heading downstream, you follow the Semois through a bucolic landscape, passing the Cistercian abbey of Clairefontaine, ideally nestled in the heart of this valley. You then reach the small medieval town of Bouillon, whose famous fortress dominates a rocky ridge in the middle of a meander. This was the home of the famous Godefroy de Bouillon, who led the first crusade to Jerusalem. Today, his historic residence can be visited, offering valuable insights into life at the time. Bouillon’s charming town center surely invites you to take a gourmet break, with some welcome calories as leaving the Semois valley involves a significant climb. After passing through a vast forest, you leave the Ardennes massif behind and enter the picturesque Gaume region, where the gentle hills are sometimes reminiscent of Tuscany. Villages with distinctive architectural styles reveal a different geology. At the end of the day, you arrive in the village of Chassepierre, which, with its postcard charm, is undeniably one of the most beautiful villages in Wallonia!

From CHASSEPIERRE to ORVAL then private transfer to NAMUR 18km 170m

The day is punctuated by a visit to a place emblematic of the country’s rich brewing tradition: Orval. Nestled in the heart of a dense forest, the Cistercian abbey where Trappist beer, probably the most famous in the world, is brewed, is a remarkable architectural ensemble. A visit to the abbey will take you back in time to the 11th century.

A private shuttle will take you back to Namur. The meeting point is the restaurant Brasserie d’Orval at 2pm. Have a safe return!