Aulne Abbey, Bois du Grand Bon Dieu and Hourpes through the forest

de fr

A little countryside, a little forest, a little town, a little of the Sambre with a lock and an old drawbridge, Aulne Abbey, Thuin, Hourpes with its strange castle and, to finish, lots of forest: that's what's on the programme for this walk.

Details

n°77729267
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 18.86 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 336 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 333 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 209 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 108 m
Downloads
Open in the mobile app
Download GPX GPX
Download PDF PDF

Photos

Hourpes Castle

Description of the walk

In spring, the Bois de Biesme is covered with a magnificent carpet of hyacinths, rapeseed fields adorn the surroundings of Aulne Abbey, and cherry and apple trees in bloom brighten up the surprising Château de Hourpes.

Thuin, with its belfry, ramparts, cobbled streets and terraced gardens, and the Bois du Grand Bon Dieu are well worth a visit.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 110 m - Lock No. 8 - Leernes - Fontaine-l'Évêque - Sambre à finaliser
  2. 1 : km 0.54 - alt. 112 m - Route
  3. 2 : km 1.85 - alt. 189 m - Le Chêne
  4. 3 : km 3.96 - alt. 205 m - Le Gibet
  5. 4 : km 5.6 - alt. 186 m - Bois de Biesme
  6. 5 : km 7.23 - alt. 136 m - Former Haut-Marteau railway station
  7. 6 : km 7.65 - alt. 134 m - L'Ermitage
  8. 7 : km 8.06 - alt. 173 m - Bois du Grand Bon Dieu
  9. 8 : km 8.77 - alt. 166 m - Terraced gardens
  10. 9 : km 9.44 - alt. 163 m - Place de Thuin
  11. 10 : km 10.47 - alt. 116 m - Lock No. 5
  12. 11 : km 11.55 - alt. 117 m - Railway Bridge - Steep path
  13. 12 : km 11.99 - alt. 178 m - Viewpoint over Thuin
  14. 13 : km 14.6 - alt. 126 m - Hourpes
  15. 14 : km 16.17 - alt. 182 m - Pond
  16. S/E : km 18.86 - alt. 109 m - Lock No. 8 - Leernes - Fontaine-l'Évêque - Sambre à finaliser

Notes

Several establishments await you for a drink or a meal when you return from your hike.

Reviews and comments

5 / 5
Based on 1 review
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
User 20134356

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 09, 2026
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Magnificent hike, perfect trail and exceptional setting.

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

Walking A loop on the heights of Aulne Abbey

Visorando member
Une boucle sur les hauteurs de l'Abbaye d'Aulne
↔7.06 km ↗+133 m ↘-132 m ◔2h 25 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Thuin (Hainaut)
Here is a short, easy walk in the woods of Leernes and along the Sambre.

Walking Circular Landelies loop to Aulne Abbey

Visorando member
Boucle de Landelies vers l’Abbaye d’Aulne
↔11.98 km ↗+122 m ↘-119 m ◔3h 45 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Montigny-le-Tilleul (Hainaut)
A circular route starting from Landelies, alternating between forest paths, views of the Sambre valley and the remarkable heritage of Aulne Abbey. A varied, accessible route, ideal for a contemplative walk combining nature, history and open landscapes.

Walking Sambre et Bois via Landelies

Visorando member
↔16.59 km ↗+275 m ↘-273 m ◔5h 30 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Montigny-le-Tilleul (Hainaut)
Take a walk in the woods of the Sambre valley around Landelies and Aulne Abbey.  Bois du Prince, Bois de la Grattière, Bois communal, a bit of towpath, a bit of traffic-free tarmac with distant views of the region's mining and industrial past, two lift bridges, Aulne Abbey: that's the programme for the walk.With hyacinths as a bonus in mid-April. 

Walking Gozée towards Bois dè Pè and Reumont

Visorando member
↔5.07 km ↗+40 m ↘-40 m ◔1h 35 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Thuin (Hainaut)
Hike starting from Rue de Paris; also possible from the square near the church 200 m away. The route mainly follows country and forest paths away from traffic. A very peaceful route with a small wood that is interesting for its flora, especially in spring and early season.

Walking Loop between Bomerée and Jamioulx

Visorando member
Boucle entre Bomerée et Jamioulx
↔9.78 km ↗+175 m ↘-174 m ◔3h 20 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Montigny-le-Tilleul (Hainaut)
A pleasant circular walk in the woods near Charleroi. Discover part of the Eau d'Heure valley and the charming village of Jamioulx. The Eau d'Heure is a small river that flows into the Sambre at Marchienne-au-Pont. It gets its name from its unique ability to rise in an hour and fall just as quickly.

Walking Around Thuin

Visorando member
Autour de Thuin
↔6.53 km ↗+105 m ↘-107 m ◔2h 10 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Thuin (Hainaut)
Around Thuin, a charming little fortified town, this short hike partly follows the Ravel 3 and Ravel line 109/2, passing through typical streets on the ramparts of Thuin and the magnificent Grand Bon Dieu woods.

Walking Marbaix-la-Tour and its countryside

Visorando member
↔4.83 km ↗+11 m ↘-10 m ◔1h 25 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Ham-sur-Heure-Nalinnes (Hainaut)
Starting from the church in the village centre, the route takes you along quiet lanes and small roads in the centre before heading out into the countryside. An easy family hike with convenient parking at the start.

Walking Sambre and Biesmelle valleys in Thudinie

Visorando member
Vallées de la Sambre et de la Biesmelle en Thudinie
↔15.13 km ↗+233 m ↘-236 m ◔5h 00 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Thuin (Hainaut)
This circular route will take you on a tour of the Upper Sambre Valley, home to Lobbes and the medieval town of Thuin. You can also admire the meanders of the Biesmelle river and take the RAVeL path, which runs alongside a tram line connecting Biesme-sous-Thuin to the Thuin tram museum.

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.