- 103 KM - 3 h

PROVINCE OF NAMUR

Castles, vineyards and farms around Namur
On the move all summer!

In BRUSSELS, from 25 June to 3 September, the “Tourism and Gastronomy" exhibition will offer you a chance to discover the many assets and treasures of Wallonia. Every two weeks, one Province will be given pride of place. However, we know there’s nothing like getting out and about if you’re looking for an in-depth experience, so why not try one of our “Gastronomic Treasure Trails"?

All the treasure trails are free and available from 25 June to 16 September 2012, (except for the Charleroi Pays de Geminiacum Treasure Trail). Simply turn up on one of the dates mentioned below and enjoy a delicious free welcome treat to send you on your way!

Province of Walloon Brabant
NIVELLES / Along the streets / On foot / Free breakfasts on Sundays 1 and 8 July
Rural excursion / By bicycle
Rural excursion in the “Roman Païs” / By car
Province of Liège
LIEGE
EUPEN / The historic centre of Liège / On foot / Free breakfasts on Saturdays 14 and 21 July
An encounter with Tchantchès and Simenon / On foot
The Eastern Cantons: nature, lakes and regional specialities / By car / Free breakfasts on Sundays 15 and 22 July
Province of Namur
NAMUR / Namur for the inquisitive and for gourmets / On foot / Free breakfasts on Wednesdays 1 and 8 August
Castles, vineyards and farms around Namur / By car
Province of Hainaut
CHARLEROI
MONS
TOURNAI / The Charleroi region, as you have never seen it before! / On foot / Free breakfasts on Saturdays 11 and 18 August
Regional products and heritage in the “Entre-Sambre-et-Meuse” / By bicycle or car
Pays de Geminiacum treasure trail / By car or bicycle / Treasure trail available only on Wednesdays 15 and 22 August
Heritage, Tourism and Gastronomy at the heart of Mons / On foot / Free breakfasts on Saturday 11 August – Free afternoon snacks on Saturday 18 August
From the “Château Montois” to “Caillou-qui-bique” / By car / Free breakfasts on Saturday 11 August
From “Caillou-qui-bique” to the “Château Montois” / By car / Free afternoon snacks on Saturday 18 August
The historic heart of Tournai / On foot / Free breakfasts on Saturdays 11 and 18 August
Landscapes of the Escaut plain / By car
Province of Belgian Luxembourg
ARLON / A small breath of Arlon air / On foot / Free breakfasts on Saturday 25 August and Sunday 2 September
A large breath of Arlon air / On foot

INFORMATION: – Freephone: 0800 11901 (in French)

or 0800 11902 (in German)

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SNCB BELGIAN RAILWAYS, TRAVEL SMART!

Travel to the starting points of our treasure trails with a “Weekend” ticket, which offers you a 50% discount on the price of a return journey by train.

If you are doing one of the treasure trails on a weekday in July and August, opt for the “Summer” ticket which also offers you discount on the price of a return journey by train.

For more information, visit

THE SUMMER GASTRONOMY TREASURE TRAILS

Discovering Wallonia, from Tournai to Eupen, from Nivelles to Arlon...

Does the summer sunshine make you want to get out and about?

Starting at the Espaces Wallonie, roads, streets, paths and tracks will lead you over hills and down valleys to discover the treasures of Wallonia. Heritage, gastronomy, landscapes and outstanding historic sites - there is something for everyone.

To ensure all participants, especially the gourmets, get off to the best of starts with a full stomach, free breakfasts or afternoon snacks will be available on certain days.

And, before starting your trails, why not find out more about the wealth of services offered by the Espaces Wallonie: from information about housing to debt conselling, from Equal Opportunities to the regional, federal and community mediation services, plus a range of regional publications and exhibitions. In short, a modern administration, close to your needs and ready to answer all your questions.

But, enough said, now it’s time to get on your bicycle, pull on your walking boots, or climb inro your car and take to the road...

COMPETITIONS THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER...

for those who enjoy a challenge...

The guide to each treasure trail includes a set of questions. Write your answers in the spaces provided, drop it off at the Espace Wallonie reception or letterbox when you have finished and you could win a prize!

Prizes

Every month:

A gourmet basket worth €60 will be awarded to the first correctly completed answer form pulled out of the hat at the end of July, end of August and end of September in each participating Espace Wallonie.

(Except for the Pays de Geminiacum treasure trail, where the prize draws will be held on 15 and 22 August only for a gourmet basket worth €50).

On the days when free breakfasts or afternoon snacks are offered (see table)

A voucher worth €150 for accommodation in Wallonia.

The prize draws will take place on the first working day following these days.

Two free return tickets for second-class travel on Belgian railways

offered by SNCB Belgian Railways. The prize draws will take place on the first working day following these days.

Prize winners will be informed by email, telephone or post.

Will you be the “Gourmet treasure trail (wo)man” of the summer?

There will be another prize draw for a special prize for participants who submit completed questionnaires for at least one treasure trail per province between 25 June and 16 September. To enter this draw, please ask for your entries to be validated at each Espace Wallonie.

The prize is a voucher worth €500 for accommodation in Wallonia and the draw will be held at the end of September.

PROVINCE OF NAMUR

Castles, vineyards and farms around Namur

Bonus!

Free breakfasts on Wednesdays 1 and 8 August, from 9am to 10am at the ESPACE WALLONIE DE NAMUR, 20, rue de Bruxelles – 5000 NAMUR

On these days, final departure at 4pm. Completed answer forms must be placed in the box at the Espace Wallonie before 6pm.

This treasure trail is free of charge and is open to all from 25 June to 16 September

Treasure trail bycar

Time: about 3 hours

Length: about 103km

Accessible by accompanied reduced-mobility participants

INFORMATION and CONTACTS

  • From Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 5pm

ESPACE WALLONIE DE NAMUR, 20, Rue de Bruxelles – 5000 NAMUR – Tel: +32 (0)81240 060 – E-mail:

  • At weekends:

MAISON DU TOURISME, Square Léopold, 5000 NAMUR – Tel : +32 (0)81246 449 – E-mail:

MISCELLANEOUS:

If you would like to follow the treasure trail in a group of more than 10 people, please inform us in advance by e-mail or telephone.

PROVINCE OF NAMUR

Castles, vineyards and farms around Namur

START: don’t forget to set your tripcounter to zero

(See useful addresses at the end of brochure)

0kmFrom the Espace Wallonie in Namur, take the first street on the right (Rue Godefroid) to Namur railway station. Take the left-hand lane and turn left onto the Rue Borgnet. Go right around the roundabout in the Place Léopold, and head back the way you came, passing the station and continuing along the Boulevard E. Melot keeping to the right-hand lane. Turn right onto the Avenue des Combattants, which crosses the railway lines: stay in the centre lane over the Pont d'Heuvy bridge. At the traffic lights, turn left and continue to the next set of lights in the Place d’Hastedon. Move to the right-hand lane and turn right (towards “Perwez, La Bruyère, Saint-Servais centre”) along the Route de Gembloux. Follow this road through Saint-Servais until the main road bends in a right-angle to the left, where you should turn right (towards “Saint-Marc – RAVeL 2”) and continue along the N904 (Chaussée de Perwez) towards Emines. Go through the hamlet of Saint-Marc, where, on the right, you will see the Puits Sainte Barbereservoir, below whose waters are the ruins of Frizet church.

5km Enter the village of Emines. On top of the hill on your right, just behind the village’s name sign, you will see a magnificent coppice which hides the ruins of Emines Fort, which was built in 1888 to defend Namur, but which was abandoned after being partially destroyed in 1914.

After crossing over the motorway, turn left at the roundabout onto the Rue de Rhisnes. After a few hundred metres, you will see on your left Emines Castle, a seventeenth-century fortified farmhouse which is now a tennis and conference centre.On your right, you will see the Ferme de la Tour, the heart of Emines village.

7kmAs you leave Emines, you will see the fortified Ferme d’Hulplanche, whose magnificent barn is now the “Les Sens Ciel” leisure and sensory education centre, with its bar “Le Bois Son”now occupying the old cart sheds.

9kmIn Rhisnes you will arrive at the Place des Combattants, a sort of roundabout which you must drive around and leave by the opposite exit (Rue des Déportés). Follow this road to the next crossroads, with the Town Hall on your left. Drive straight on, past the listed Presbytery’s beautiful stone wall on your right, then turn right past the Ferme des Dames Blanches and follow the Rue des Dames Blanches to the roundabout. Turn right onto the Rue Derrières les Monts, then bear right at the fork in the road and follow the Rue Bonwez past the minor roads on the left until you reach the Rue de Saint-Denis, where you turn left (towards Saint-Denis). On your right, you will see the Château-ferme de Saint-Martinfortified farmhouse and the ruins of Saint-Martin Huglisse, a village completely destroyed by King Louis XIV of France’s army during the siege of Namur in 1692. At the crossroads, where you will find a rest area with tables and benches, turn left towards Bovesse.

Le Chenoy

After passing some beautiful pastures, a small lane on your left leads you down a few hundred metres to the Le Chenoy vineyard, created in 2003 by Philippe Grafé, a wine maker who has taken up the challenge of growing organic grapes in a Northern European climate!. It’s been a huge success! The 12-hectare vineyard is planted with

Vitis vinifera vines which are naturally disease-resistant, and which were developed in Germany and Switzerland. Today, Philippe Grafé is indisputably the leading red wine maker in Belgium, but his range also includes white wines, dessert wine (Muscat Bleu) and sparkling wine (Perle de Wallonie).

All of Philippe Grafé’s wines reflect the characteristics of the Walloon region; they are naturally low in alcohol with an almost complete absence of residual sugar, and are fine and elegant. They have won several prizes at the leading international AWC Wine Fair in Vienna.

  1. What is the density of vines per hectare at the Le Chenoy vineyard?
  2. How tall are the vine stocks at Le Chenoy?
  3. How tall are the vines in leaf at Le Chenoy?
  4. What is the total capacity of the Le Chenoy vineyard?
  5. How many varieties of white grapes are planted at Le Chenoy and what surface area do they cover?
  6. How many varieties of red grapes are planted at Le Chenoy and what surface area do they cover?
  7. What is the total surface area of the Le Chenoy vineyard?
  8. In which year was the fermentation room (barn) built?

Continue your journey to Bovesse. At the T-junction, turn left onto the Rue de la Ronce and go to the crossroads. Go past the chapel on the left, straight over the next crossroads and continue along the Rue des Fermes.

13kmLa Ferme Mohimont and La Ferme aux Chiens

These fifteenth-century strongholds of the Counts of Namur were gathering places for the Count’s packs of hunting hounds. They now house a bee-keeping centre and a conference centre.

Continue straight along the Rue L.Séverin to the Place Séverin, both named after the mayor who had the church and schools built in 1882.

14kmContinue straight along the Rue de Bovesse, which joins the N912. At the T-junction, turn right (towards Eghezée) and make your way to Saint-Denis, with its listed church with a Romanesque tower dating from the twelfth century.

From Saint-Denis to Meux, the N912 follows the valley of the River Mehaigne, which you can see a few dozen metres away on the right. Its source is at Saint-Denis. You can also admire the modern-day Hesbaye countyside, whose large, fortified farmhouses built around square courtyards date back to the seventeenth century.

When you reach the grain silos, turn left towards the centre of Meux and park next to Notre-Dame church. This building is in a Neo-Romanesque style with three naves, and was built following a Royal Decree in 1889. It was completed and dedicated to Our Lady on 4 February 1891. Its foundations rest on wooden piles, owing to the marshy ground on which it stands.Theold Maison de Quartier (1874) is now the La Bruyère District Tourist Information Centre.

After visiting the church, turn right along the Rue Alvaux, then right again into the Rue de Sclef. Follow the N912 towards Eghezée for 1km, then turn right towards Villers-lez-Heest.

On your right, just after crossing the River Mehaigne, you will see the fifteenth-century former manor house of La Ferme de Mehaignoul, now a modern farm, which is also home to a conference centre and the headquarters of Walloon Community Television.

At Villers-lez-Heest, the magnificent tree-lined avenue leading to the crossroads offers a glimpse of Ostin Castle, hidden in the woods on the left. It was once home to a pioneering farmer who founded the Gembloux Institute of Agronomy. During the German occupation in the Second World War, it was a centre of Resistance activity, and now it is a music holiday centre for teenagers.

At Villers, the castle (by the architect Pitteurs de Budingen), and StGeorge’s church are eighteenth-century buildings in the Neo-Classical style.A large ceremonial courtyard separates the castle from the road, and it is surrounded by a large French-style park. From the path which runs along the right-hand side of the castle, you can glimpse one of the magnificent pillories that used to stand in the village square.

Just after the castle, turn left towards Warisoulx and go past the Neo-Romanesque St Martin’s Church, which has a nave and two aisles.

27km At the roundabout, follow the signs to Dhuy Cognelée along the Rue de Cognelée. After a long journey through the countryside and after passing under the E411 motorway, you will arrive at the former railway station in Cognelée, the starting point of the RAVeL 2 “green path”.Cross the N91 main road and follow the signs to the centre of Cognelée. Then turn left onto the Rue Basse Chaussée towards Marchovelette. At Marchovelette, continue straight ahead along the street which, further on, becomes the Rue de Cognelée, until you reach a crossroads. Go straight over the crossroads along the Grand Chemin. At the end of the street, turn right along the main street (Chemin des Prés) and enter Gelbressée.

36kmContinue straight along the main street which turns into the Rue Trieu Martin, then the Rue Ernest Moens. Along the way, admire Notre-Dame church.

At the intersection with the N80 (Route de Hannut), turn left towards Hannut and follow the road for about 2km. On your left, you will see the Chateau de Franc-Waret, a typical eighteenth-century aristocratic residence, built of brick and blue stone and surrounded by formal gardens and a large nineteenth-century landscaped park.

40kmTurn left onto the Rue de la Sauvenière, go under a small bridge and the chateau is on your right. Continue along the Rue du Village, which passes Franc-Waret church near the junction with the Rue du Sart Helman, where you should turn left, and then, a few hundred metres further on, turn right towards Noville-les-Bois along the Rue des Combattants which crosses over the E42 motorway. Slightly further on, after passing La Ferme de la Tour Gobin on your left, you will see Fernelmont Castle on your right. It was built in five phases from 1300 onwards, and today you can still see the medieval keep, which served to protect the town and dissuade attackers. Later, in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, additions were made to the castle, turning it into a prestigious country house.

43km Continue to Noville-Les-Bois and follow the slightly winding main road (Rue des Combattants) through the village. Pass the tourist information centre and then take the Rue Massart to Forville. Turn right onto the Avenue de Libération, then right again onto the Rue d’Eghezée. (N921). Just after the yellow sign in Bierwart, take the first street on the left (Rue du Tilleul). At the end of this street, turn right onto the Rue d'Otreppe.

The Old Lime Tree Snail Farm

After passing Bierwart Church, turn left towards La Ferme du Vieux Tilleul(Old Lime Tree Farm) which specialises in breeding, preparing and processing snails, according to HACCP standards, a European guarantee of quality.