Trappisten proeven in de Ardennen
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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.
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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
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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'.
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Grand Est
About this region
Grand Est (French: [ɡʁɑ̃t‿ɛst] (listen); Alsatian: Grossa Oschta; Moselle Franconian/Luxembourgish: Grouss Osten;
Rhine Franconian: Groß Oschte; German: Großer Osten [ˈɡʁoːsɐ ˈʔɔstn̩]; English: "Greater East") is an administrative region in Northeastern France. It superseded three former administrative regions, Alsace, Champagne-Ardenne and Lorraine, on 1 January 2016 under the provisional name of Alsace-Champagne-Ardenne-Lorraine (pronounced [alzas ʃɑ̃paɲ aʁdɛn lɔʁɛn]; ACAL or, less commonly, ALCA), as a result of territorial reform which had been passed by the French Parliament in 2014.The region sits astride three water basins (Seine, Meuse and Rhine), spanning an area of 57,433 km2 (22,175 sq mi), the fifth largest in France; it includes two mountain ranges (Vosges and Ardennes). It shares borders with Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany and Switzerland. As of 2017, it had a population of 5,549,586 inhabitants. The prefecture and largest city, by far, is Strasbourg.
The East of France has a rich and diverse culture, being situated at a crossroads between the Latin and Germanic worlds. This history is reflected in the variety of languages spoken there (Alsatian, Champenois, and Lorraine Franconian). Most of today's Grand Est region was considered "Eastern" as early as the 8th century, when it constituted the southern part of the Francian territory of Austrasia. The city of Reims (in Champagne), where Frankish king Clovis I had been baptized in 496 AD, would later play a prominent ceremonial role in French monarchical history as the traditional site of the coronation of the kings of France. The Champagne fairs played a significant role in the economy of medieval Europe as well. Alsace and Lorraine thrived in the sphere of influence of the Holy Roman Empire for most of the Middle Ages and Renaissance, and subject to competing claims by France and German over the centuries.
The region has distinctive traditions such as the celebration of Saint Nicholas Day, Christmas markets, or traditions involving the Easter hare in Alsace and Lorraine. Alsace-Moselle are furthermore subject to local law for historical reasons. With a long industrial history and strong agriculture and tourism (arts, gastronomy, sightseeing), the East of France is one of the top economic producing regions in the country.
Read more on Wikipedia
Rhine Franconian: Groß Oschte; German: Großer Osten [ˈɡʁoːsɐ ˈʔɔstn̩]; English: "Greater East") is an administrative region in Northeastern France. It superseded three former administrative regions, Alsace, Champagne-Ardenne and Lorraine, on 1 January 2016 under the provisional name of Alsace-Champagne-Ardenne-Lorraine (pronounced [alzas ʃɑ̃paɲ aʁdɛn lɔʁɛn]; ACAL or, less commonly, ALCA), as a result of territorial reform which had been passed by the French Parliament in 2014.The region sits astride three water basins (Seine, Meuse and Rhine), spanning an area of 57,433 km2 (22,175 sq mi), the fifth largest in France; it includes two mountain ranges (Vosges and Ardennes). It shares borders with Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany and Switzerland. As of 2017, it had a population of 5,549,586 inhabitants. The prefecture and largest city, by far, is Strasbourg.
The East of France has a rich and diverse culture, being situated at a crossroads between the Latin and Germanic worlds. This history is reflected in the variety of languages spoken there (Alsatian, Champenois, and Lorraine Franconian). Most of today's Grand Est region was considered "Eastern" as early as the 8th century, when it constituted the southern part of the Francian territory of Austrasia. The city of Reims (in Champagne), where Frankish king Clovis I had been baptized in 496 AD, would later play a prominent ceremonial role in French monarchical history as the traditional site of the coronation of the kings of France. The Champagne fairs played a significant role in the economy of medieval Europe as well. Alsace and Lorraine thrived in the sphere of influence of the Holy Roman Empire for most of the Middle Ages and Renaissance, and subject to competing claims by France and German over the centuries.
The region has distinctive traditions such as the celebration of Saint Nicholas Day, Christmas markets, or traditions involving the Easter hare in Alsace and Lorraine. Alsace-Moselle are furthermore subject to local law for historical reasons. With a long industrial history and strong agriculture and tourism (arts, gastronomy, sightseeing), the East of France is one of the top economic producing regions in the country.
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