"Hasta la vista" is a Spanish expression that literally translates to "until seeing you". It is used as a farewell greeting and means something like "see you later", "see you later" or "farewell". The routes under the umbrella Hasta la Vista have in common that they all head towards the Spanish sun and along the way you will encounter the (almost) forgotten sights again, refresh your memories and revive the fun.

Eersel, the place where you start, belongs, together with a number of other villages in the area, to the Acht Zaligheden, a collective name for eight places ending in -sel from the Dutch province of Noord-Brabant, located in the Kempen. In the museum De Acht Zailgheden you will discover how the Kempen people lived, worked and lived, in a time when farmers could barely survive on the barren heathland.

In Postel, across the Belgian border, there is an impressive Norbertine abbey that was founded in the twelfth century. Because of their white robes, they are called 'whiteren'. They do forestry, agriculture and cattle breeding. To provide for their own maintenance, they brew beer and make cheese.

You can fill up in Mol and then drive on to Diest. The first stop there is the Beguinage in the heart of Diest. Behind the old walls lies an oasis of peace and beauty. The St. Catherine's Church and the houses with patron saints above the doors give a peaceful feeling that makes all the hustle and bustle disappear from your head. The beguinage was founded in 1253 by Arnold IV, Lord of Diest and closed in 1796 by the French government. Most of the 90 houses and convents date from the 17th and 18th centuries. The beautiful baroque beguinage gate dates from 1671. The whole is part of the UNESCO world heritage.
At first glance, Diest itself is a charming town with a pleasant centre, but when you delve deeper into the past, it turns out to be a special city full of stories. The city walls and citadel from the time of the war, old buildings, narrow streets, a river that used to flow right through the city, old breweries, and so on. Diest owes its title of Orange City to the fact that it came into the possession of Engelbrecht II of Nassau in 1499. One of his successors bore the title of 'Prince of Orange'. Philips Willem, the eldest son of William of Orange, who conquered the city in 1572, is buried in the Sint-Sulpitius church in Diest. Because there is quite a lot to see here, it is a good idea to combine the coffee stop with a city walk.

After coffee, you will hit the road again for the route to Namen. But first you will visit the sugar city of Tienen. This very old city, already praised in the Roman almanacs, is still very interesting today. Especially the old city has a lot to offer. The Haspengouw, where Tienen is located, is famous for its fruit cultivation and that is why a sugar refinery is located here, hence the nickname.

Just south of Tienen runs the language border. One of the most well-known differences between Wallonia and Flanders, which we can talk about, is the fact that a different language is spoken. In 1963, Belgium decided to implement an official language border in which the main languages of the regions were officially named. For Wallonia, the main language became French, while the main language in Flanders became Dutch. At this time, it was also decided that both languages would be retained as main languages in Brussels. In fact, this means that companies in Flanders mainly have Dutch-speaking employees, while in Wallonia, they mainly have French-speaking employees.
You also notice in this area that the region changes character. The area that follows to Namur is clearly less populated and the landscape hilly. Here you will find many castles near the villages.

Namur, where you will have lunch, is according to insiders the most pleasant city in the Belgian Ardennes. You don't have to make an effort to experience that. Walk through the historical centre on the left bank of the Sambre and you will automatically be embraced by the cafés, the facades, the squares, the small shops and always and everywhere suddenly that phenomenal view of the main attraction of the city: the citadel. You can also reach this fortress on the mountain ridge of the Champeau by cable car, but this time you drive past it yourself. The citadel is a good place to end a visit to the city. It offers an overview of the city.

After Namur, the High Meuse Valley follows. This valley of forts and castles, carved out by the Meuse, takes you back in time! First, you pass the forgotten village of Poilvache. This historic place, located near the city of Dinant, bears silent witness to a rich past. The ruins of Château Poilvache not only offer a spectacular view of the surroundings, but also give you an idea of the time of chivalry. And so you can experience the grandeur and mystery of this once so impressive castle.

Then comes Dinant, "Daughter of the Meuse", which owes its nickname to its special location between cliffs and river. There are few places in the Ardennes with such a characteristic appearance as Dinant. The skyline alone: tall mansions, higher church, even higher cliffs and on top of that the citadel. And then there is also that famous son: Antoine Joseph 'Adolphe' Sax, the brilliant inventor of the saxophone who was born here, experienced success but died poor and destitute in Paris. Just look at the bridge over the Meuse. The Leffe brewery is also located here. You can visit the Leffe Museum just outside Dinant.

The Meuse is at its most beautiful here. Magnificent views of numerous castle ruins on the slopes, interspersed with abbeys, such as Waulsort and estates, such as the castle of Freyr in Hastière along the peacefully flowing river.

You are approaching the end point, just over the French border in Givet. And that is visible. The castle, also called the Citadel of Givet, was built under Charles V in 1555. Charles V needed a strategic location and the city of Givet was perfectly situated along the Meuse. In 1680, the citadel came into the possession of Louis XIV of France. During the visit to the citadel, you can see all the tunnels, storage rooms and other underground rooms. Then it is time to find a spot by the Meuse to relax afterwards.