Roundtrip with curves in the Pays des Collines
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RouteXpert Catherine De Groote RouteXpert
Last edit: 06-06-2021
Route Summary This region east and south of Ronse is much more beautiful / quieter to drive through than the Flemish Ardennes. Another advantage is that you don't get any cobbles under your wheels here, with the exception of the cobbled Mont Saint-Laurent that you drive down. You mainly drive through grain fields and meadows, which makes for beautiful views. The route also receives 5 stars.
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Animation
Verdict
Duration
9h 54m
Mode of travel
Car or motorcycle
Distance
202.72 km
Countries
RouteXpert Review The tour continues through the quiet landscape to the Côte des Papins. The Hameau des Papins or Le Rossignol is often included in the Walloon semi-classic Le Samyn. It is a steep slope with a large difference in height for this region. After the beautiful curves at the start of the climb, the whole flattens out again towards the top. The houses on the top have a beautiful view over the valley. The ideal place to have a photo stop.
You pass the donkey breeding farm 'Asineries du Pays des Collines'. The Asinerie du Pays des Collines is part of the Belgian donkey milk producer. About 150 donkeys live a real "prince's life" so that visitors and fans can enjoy this beneficial elixir. A herd of donkeys graze the green pastures in the shade of the Château des Mottes. In this scenic and somewhat surreal setting, the dynamic Marie Tack lives with her family. The restoration of the castle went hand in hand with the building of the breeding farm. Since 1999, the donkey stud has been selling milk with surprising properties. Its beneficial effect on the skin has been recognized for centuries: Cleopatra and then the Ottoman princesses bathed in it. You can still use this cosmetic today, because the donkey stud offers care creams, soaps and other beauty products. An idyllic place to discover donkey milking, the taste of donkey milk or the romantic magic of the castle.
The Ecomusée Pays des Collines provides an overview of the knowledge and craftsmanship in Le Pays des Collines, focusing on the region and daily life on the field. Presentation of old objects, agricultural tools and machines, testimonials, temporary exhibitions, animations in different buildings, and guided tours and walks to discover the rural heritage of Lahamaide. Not to be missed: the Maison Louise, a small, well-preserved farm from the 1950s, right next to the main building. Meet the 1st Sunday of August for "Lahamaide during the harvest season": traditional harvest festival (16th - 20th century) with people working in the fields and craftsmen from the time.
The Côte du Hurdumont is only 600 meters long, but on that short distance you have to climb 57 meters, which brings you to a gradient of 9.5%. The first 100 and the last 200 meters are at an average of 5%, but what is in between…. First 100 meters at 12%, then 100 m at 14% and then 100 meters at 16%, including peak up to 18%.
Located on a hillside along the road connecting Lessines to Ronse, the Moulin du Cat Sauvage, the emblem of the Pays des Collines, is land with living rural traditions: 255 years old and still in good condition. Built in 1750 for the Countess of Rohan-Soubise, this central revolving windmill will undergo several modifications without altering its original condition too much. Several families of millers will succeed each other. Threatened with disappearance in the 1950s, this mill was saved by the action of the Syndicat d'Initiative d'Ellezelles. The mill was purchased in 1958 by the Federation of the Province of Hainaut. It has been restored several times and has been listed since 1960.
After the Mont Saint-Laurent you descend to Saint-Sauveur, but pay attention because the descent is a cobbled road!
Anvaing Castle dates back to the 16th century. The castle is strictly symmetrical and is built in brick and limestone and rests on a sloping base. The ground plan is rectangular and has four corner towers. Shortly after 1800 it underwent quite thorough changes, but fortunately the beautiful bricks and limestone were not really damaged at all. It still forms a rectangular block with quadrangular towers. The interior is French and has several lounges. The staircase is elaborated in Empire style. The 18th century gardens are also French in style. A historic event took place here at the end of the Eighteen Days' Campaign. On May 28, 1940, the capitulation of Belgium was signed here by General Desrousseaux, around 10 o'clock in the morning. Major General Friedrich Paulus and General Walter von Reichenau were present on the German side. After the capitulation of Belgium, von Reichenau informed Hitler about the capitulation. There would also be a bullet hole visible in the dining room where the capitulation was signed and the bullet hole would belong to a German officer who went nuts.
Le Bourliquet is often included in tours for cycling tourists and was even part of the 1st stage in the Eurométropole Tour in 2014. The climb starts in Frasnes-lez-Buissenal, a district of Frasnes-lez-Anvaing. You start from the center of Frasnes-lez-Buissenal. The slope is 1.6 km long with 90 vertical meters and on average you climb at 5.6%. Nice is that near the top is also the top of La Croisette.
There is a nice descent to Saint-Sauveur, where you turn left to the N60 to get to your end point of this route.
This region east and south of Ronse is much more beautiful / quieter to drive through than the Flemish Ardennes. You mainly drive through grain fields and meadows, which makes for beautiful views. There is little to no traffic and the road keeps turning and turning, going up and down with a real 'col' here and there that you drive over ... 200 km to enjoy!
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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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Hainaut Province
About this region
Hainaut (, also US: , UK: , French: [ɛno]; Dutch: Henegouwen [ˈɦeːnəɣʌuə(n)] (listen); Walloon: Hinnot; Picard: Hénau), historically also known as Heynowes in English, is a province of Wallonia and Belgium.
To its south lies the French department of Nord, while within Belgium it borders (clockwise from the North) on the Flemish provinces of West Flanders, East Flanders, Flemish Brabant and the Walloon provinces of Walloon Brabant and Namur.
Its capital is Mons (Dutch Bergen) and the most populous city is Charleroi, the province's urban, economic and cultural hub, the financial capital of Hainaut and the fifth largest city in the country by population. Hainaut has an area of 3,831 km2 (1,479 sq mi) and as of January 2019 a population of 1,344,241.
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To its south lies the French department of Nord, while within Belgium it borders (clockwise from the North) on the Flemish provinces of West Flanders, East Flanders, Flemish Brabant and the Walloon provinces of Walloon Brabant and Namur.
Its capital is Mons (Dutch Bergen) and the most populous city is Charleroi, the province's urban, economic and cultural hub, the financial capital of Hainaut and the fifth largest city in the country by population. Hainaut has an area of 3,831 km2 (1,479 sq mi) and as of January 2019 a population of 1,344,241.
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Route Collections in this region 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
Vosges Mountains The Ultimate Collection out of Col de Bussang
The "Vosges Mountains Ultimate Collection" is an ultimate route collection that allows you to enjoy the Vosges in many ways. There is absolutely something for everyone in this collection, which includes arrivals and departures from Belgium (Hasselt, Kortrijk). from 17 different routes: 13 local and 4 transit routes.
The collection is also neatly divided into four groups, each of which in turn consists of a small, medium & XXL route version.
This makes this route collection extremely suitable for a group outing where different driving styles can be connected without any problems and you can also get to know the Vosges in a different way.
The more experienced 'iron butts' can try their hand at the XXL routes that will really get the most out of it, while the tourist rider will find something to his liking again in the small versions with its tourist stops and interesting facts.
Driving pleasure can be found for everyone in this collection that covers the full spectrum of the Vosges. You will of course cross the more famous parts such as the 'Route des Crêtes' and the famous 'Ballon', but we go much, much further in this ultimate collection. For those who really want to get to know and master the Vosges, this collection is a must.
For example, the Northeastern Vosges show their hidden gems (Riquewihr) and how about - you read that right... - an uninterrupted curve course of no less than 175 kilometers? And that's only part of the route..... Your tire dealer will recommend this route with a smile...
Your partner, on the other hand, will probably have some objections and will not share the tire farmer's smile. You pass virgins (Col du Vierges), neurotes (Col du Neurot), you get worms where you would rather not have them (Col du Wormspel) and you do not come home without alcohol (Col du Rothenbach) in the calvary tours (Col du Calvaire) which we present to you here.
You ride them all.... all the peaks of the Vosges slide under your wheels while unique vistas from the four corners of the world become your part. Perhaps you will not be able to stop talking about this at the tables of Motorhotel 'Col de Bussang' in the south of the Vosges. This hotel, completely renovated in the spring of 2022, has been selected as the departure and arrival point for all the routes in this collection.
You are of course free to look for an alternative here, but the excellent cuisine of 'Col de Bussang' and the renovated hotel are certainly recommended, partly because you will find a lot of like-minded (motorcycle) souls here. The location is also ideal for (re)discovering the four corners of the Vosges.
Fun not only during the day but also in the evening can be enjoyed extensively with all motorcycle friends while enjoying a tasty snack and a drink.
So add this "Ultimate Collection" to your motorcycle travel bucket list. You will not regret getting to know the Vosges Mountains in such a diverse way, while each route perfectly suits your individual driving needs.
So do. With greetings from your tire farmer and a tear from your partner.
The collection is also neatly divided into four groups, each of which in turn consists of a small, medium & XXL route version.
This makes this route collection extremely suitable for a group outing where different driving styles can be connected without any problems and you can also get to know the Vosges in a different way.
The more experienced 'iron butts' can try their hand at the XXL routes that will really get the most out of it, while the tourist rider will find something to his liking again in the small versions with its tourist stops and interesting facts.
Driving pleasure can be found for everyone in this collection that covers the full spectrum of the Vosges. You will of course cross the more famous parts such as the 'Route des Crêtes' and the famous 'Ballon', but we go much, much further in this ultimate collection. For those who really want to get to know and master the Vosges, this collection is a must.
For example, the Northeastern Vosges show their hidden gems (Riquewihr) and how about - you read that right... - an uninterrupted curve course of no less than 175 kilometers? And that's only part of the route..... Your tire dealer will recommend this route with a smile...
Your partner, on the other hand, will probably have some objections and will not share the tire farmer's smile. You pass virgins (Col du Vierges), neurotes (Col du Neurot), you get worms where you would rather not have them (Col du Wormspel) and you do not come home without alcohol (Col du Rothenbach) in the calvary tours (Col du Calvaire) which we present to you here.
You ride them all.... all the peaks of the Vosges slide under your wheels while unique vistas from the four corners of the world become your part. Perhaps you will not be able to stop talking about this at the tables of Motorhotel 'Col de Bussang' in the south of the Vosges. This hotel, completely renovated in the spring of 2022, has been selected as the departure and arrival point for all the routes in this collection.
You are of course free to look for an alternative here, but the excellent cuisine of 'Col de Bussang' and the renovated hotel are certainly recommended, partly because you will find a lot of like-minded (motorcycle) souls here. The location is also ideal for (re)discovering the four corners of the Vosges.
Fun not only during the day but also in the evening can be enjoyed extensively with all motorcycle friends while enjoying a tasty snack and a drink.
So add this "Ultimate Collection" to your motorcycle travel bucket list. You will not regret getting to know the Vosges Mountains in such a diverse way, while each route perfectly suits your individual driving needs.
So do. With greetings from your tire farmer and a tear from your partner.
View Route Collection