Trappisten proeven in de Ardennen
This route was brought to you by:
RouteXpert Stijn Claus
Last edit: 27-06-2021
Route Summary
Nice route through the Belgian and French Ardennes along 3 Belgian Trappist abbeys (Rochefort, Orval and Chimay). On the way we also visit the cities of Durbuy, Bouillon and Dinant.
This route can be driven on a day or on several days. However, to fully enjoy the sights on the way, it's best to take two days for this trip.
The route can be split up according to your wishes, there are more than enough accommodation options along the way.
The route mainly follows the banks of the Ourthe and the Meuse. We follow secondary roads, but also much smaller roads. The cornering in this route in more than average. The quality of the road varies, as is often the case in the Ardennes from good to bad.
Share this route
Animation
Verdict
Duration
7h 52m
Mode of travel
Car or motorcycle
Distance
443.03 km
Countries
Het graf van de reus
RouteXpert Review
The route starts at the Total gas station located on the N633 at Comblain-au-Pont. This service station is accessible from the E25 Liège-Luxembourg motorway exit 45. Along the banks of the Ourthe, Durbuy, La Roche and Marche and Famenne we arrive in Rochefort. Here lies the Abbey Notre-Dame de Saint-Rémy, or the Abbey of Rochefort.
The Notre-Dame de Saint-Rémy Abbey in Rochefort belongs to the Cistercians of the strict observance, better known as the Trappists. The foundation deed was granted in 1230 and the abbey was named Secours de Notre-Dame.
In 1899 they established a small brewery. The brewery became the main source of income for the abbey.
Rochefort is one of the abbeys that can use the name 'Trappist beer'.
From Rochefort the route descends further to the south where we cross the Notre-Dame d'Orval Abbey.
The abbey settled here in 1132. The monastery is known for its history and spiritual life, but also for its Trappist beer and typical Trappist cheese.
The route leaves Orval and meander along the Semois further towards Bouillon.
Bouillon is dominated by the medieval fortress of Godfrey of Bouillon and the old town center.
The origins of Bouillon would date from the 8th century. Its existence is confirmed from 988.
The city lies on a meander of the Semois at an altitude of 383 meters above sea level.
The route follows the banks of the Semois further towards France. We pass a number of spectacular views such as the Tomb of the Giant, the panorama of Frahan in Rochehaut and Les Dames de Meuse to arrive at the Abbey Notre-Dame de Scourmont.
The abbey was founded in the summer of 1850 by a small group of monks on the wild highland of Scourmont near Chimay. A farm, a brewery and a cheese factory will be built around the monastery. The first Chimay beer was brewed in 1862. In 1876 the Trappist monks of Chimay tried an old recipe to make a semi-hard cheese, which they allowed to ripen in the cellars of the abbey.
Via France and the banks of the Meuse, we drive via Dinant towards Namur and the terminus of this route.
The end point of this route is at the entrance of the E42 Liège-Charleroi motorway.
Attention: as a driver, the limit is 0.5 per mille alcohol or 0.22 per mil per liter of exhaled air. In case of violation, you will therefore lose your driver's license.
Abdij van Orval
Het kasteel van Bouillon
Links
Usage
Want to download this route?
You can download the route for free without MyRoute-app account. To do so, open the route and click 'save as'. Want to edit this route?
No problem, start by opening the route. Follow the tutorial and create your personal MyRoute-app account. After registration, your trial starts automatically.
Disclaimer
Use of this GPS route is at your own expense and risk. The route has been carefully composed and checked by a MyRoute-app accredited RouteXpert for use on TomTom, Garmin and MyRoute-app Navigation.
Changes may nevertheless have occurred due to changed circumstances, road diversions or seasonal closures. We therefore recommend checking each route before use.
Preferably use the route track in your navigation system. More information about the use of MyRoute-app can be found on the website under 'Community' or 'Academy'.
Changes may nevertheless have occurred due to changed circumstances, road diversions or seasonal closures. We therefore recommend checking each route before use.
Preferably use the route track in your navigation system. More information about the use of MyRoute-app can be found on the website under 'Community' or 'Academy'.
Nearby routes
Namur Province
About this region
Namur ( nə-MOOR, nam-OOR, French: [namyʁ]; German: [naˈmyːɐ̯] (listen); Dutch: Namen [ˈnaːmə(n)] (listen); Walloon: Nameur) is a city and municipality in Wallonia, Belgium. It is both the capital of the province of Namur and of Wallonia, hosting the Parliament of Wallonia, the Government of Wallonia and its administration.
Namur stands at the confluence of the Sambre and Meuse rivers and straddles three different regions – Hesbaye to the north, Condroz to the south-east, and Entre-Sambre-et-Meuse to the south-west. The city of Charleroi is located to the west. The language spoken is French.
The municipality consists of the following districts: Beez, Belgrade, Boninne, Bouge, Champion, Wallonia, Cognelée, Daussoulx, Dave, Erpent, Flawinne, Gelbressée, Jambes, Lives-sur-Meuse, Loyers, Malonne, Marche-les-Dames, Naninne, Saint-Servais, Saint-Marc, Suarlée, Temploux, Vedrin, Wépion, and Wierde.
Read more on Wikipedia
Namur stands at the confluence of the Sambre and Meuse rivers and straddles three different regions – Hesbaye to the north, Condroz to the south-east, and Entre-Sambre-et-Meuse to the south-west. The city of Charleroi is located to the west. The language spoken is French.
The municipality consists of the following districts: Beez, Belgrade, Boninne, Bouge, Champion, Wallonia, Cognelée, Daussoulx, Dave, Erpent, Flawinne, Gelbressée, Jambes, Lives-sur-Meuse, Loyers, Malonne, Marche-les-Dames, Naninne, Saint-Servais, Saint-Marc, Suarlée, Temploux, Vedrin, Wépion, and Wierde.
View region
Statistics
16
Amount of RX reviews (Namur Province)
15369
Amount of visitors (Namur Province)
3280
Amount of downloads (Namur Province)
Route Collections in this region
25 Magnificent trails in France
This MRA route collection contains 25 beautiful motorcycle routes in different parts of France, such as the Ardennes, the Alsace, Vercors, the Drôme, the Ardèche, Cote d'Azure, Gorges du Verdon, the Ariège, the Dordogne and Brittany.
The routes have been carefully created by Bert Loorbach, who is an enthusiastic motorcyclist himself. He lived in France for a year and a half, during which time he devoted himself to mapping the unknown and beautiful back roads of France especially for motorcyclists.
The routes are bundled in the Motortourgids France part 1 of Kosmos publishing house and now also available in MyRouteApp.
I have taken over the routes in MRA and sometimes adjusted them slightly to make them even more interesting for the motorcyclist.
The routes have been carefully created by Bert Loorbach, who is an enthusiastic motorcyclist himself. He lived in France for a year and a half, during which time he devoted himself to mapping the unknown and beautiful back roads of France especially for motorcyclists.
The routes are bundled in the Motortourgids France part 1 of Kosmos publishing house and now also available in MyRouteApp.
I have taken over the routes in MRA and sometimes adjusted them slightly to make them even more interesting for the motorcyclist.
View Route Collection
25 Routes
4106.1 km
106h 0m
5 tours in Belgium in flat Flanders the hills of the Pays des Collines and the Ardennes
Those who like a winding and hilly course, along many small lanes with little to no traffic, will certainly find what they are looking for in the Pays des Collines, the region east and south of Ronse.
Between Diksmuide and Ypres there are many commemorative monuments of the First World War. In Vinkt in East Flanders, the monument commemorates the massacre that took place in May 1940.
Along rural quiet roads you can taste the history of World War I and II.
Marche-en-Famenne is an excellent starting point to thoroughly explore this plateau, which is cut by rivers and strewn with coniferous forests. The real Ardennes are the most hilly areas of Belgium behind the Meuse. Nature plays an all-important role on this trip.
In addition to the Ardennes, the route with start and end point in Huy also goes through a part of Condroz and Famenne. The Condroz, where wooded hills and valleys alternate, and the Famenne, which makes the transition to the Ardennes plateaus. In the summer it is wonderful motorcycling in the vast forests. You will not only enjoy the natural beauty, but you will also pass numerous castles, wild flowing Ardennes rivers, quiet villages and authentic tourist towns.
The tour from Namur runs through the Meuse area where you discover that the tributaries of the Meuse are of picturesque beauty. You will pass a large number of castles and fortresses. The roads along the Maas are busy arterial roads. But as soon as you can you will look for the smaller roads that are immediately a lot quieter and take us through forests and meadows.
Between Diksmuide and Ypres there are many commemorative monuments of the First World War. In Vinkt in East Flanders, the monument commemorates the massacre that took place in May 1940.
Along rural quiet roads you can taste the history of World War I and II.
Marche-en-Famenne is an excellent starting point to thoroughly explore this plateau, which is cut by rivers and strewn with coniferous forests. The real Ardennes are the most hilly areas of Belgium behind the Meuse. Nature plays an all-important role on this trip.
In addition to the Ardennes, the route with start and end point in Huy also goes through a part of Condroz and Famenne. The Condroz, where wooded hills and valleys alternate, and the Famenne, which makes the transition to the Ardennes plateaus. In the summer it is wonderful motorcycling in the vast forests. You will not only enjoy the natural beauty, but you will also pass numerous castles, wild flowing Ardennes rivers, quiet villages and authentic tourist towns.
The tour from Namur runs through the Meuse area where you discover that the tributaries of the Meuse are of picturesque beauty. You will pass a large number of castles and fortresses. The roads along the Maas are busy arterial roads. But as soon as you can you will look for the smaller roads that are immediately a lot quieter and take us through forests and meadows.
View Route Collection
5 Routes
1263.43 km
44h 49m