The route begins by running alongside and then crossing the River Haine before climbing up the route of a former railway line from the Marie-José coal mine.
This is followed by several kilometres of countryside with no particular difficulties, including a tarmac section through the streets of Bray.
The Quesnoy slag heap is reached after a short stretch of the pre-RAVeL route (Line 402) and a walk through the western part of Trivières (a large square, a church and the local school, whose façade is decorated with a few works of art).
A short kilometre on tarmac along a relatively busy road then takes the walker to the Strépy ponds, a magnificent green setting on the banks of the Haine.
In the Haine region towards Maurage
The summit of the Quesnoy slag heap offers a 360° view of the region. You’ll see Estinnes and its wind turbines, the slag heaps and hospitals of La Louvière, the belfry of Mons, the cement works at Obourg, the Strépy-Thieu funicular railway, not to mention Binche. Please note: there is no orientation board, so you’ll need to find your bearings yourself.
Details
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
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Activity: Walking -
Distance: 10.98 mi -
Average duration: 5h 30 -
Difficulty: Moderate -
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Back to start: Yes -
Ascent: + 469 ft -
Descent: - 459 ft -
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Highest point: 486 ft -
Lowest point: 148 ft
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Country:
Belgium
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City:
La Louvière -
Start/End: N 50.458947° / E 4.097147° -
Hour-by-hour weather
Photos
Description of the walk
Waypoints
- S/E : mi 0 - alt. 154 ft - Maurage Place
- 1 : mi 0.14 - alt. 167 ft - Former railway line
- 2 : mi 0.73 - alt. 203 ft - Power line
- 3 : mi 2.4 - alt. 207 ft - Bray – village
- 4 : mi 2.92 - alt. 177 ft - Slag heap
- 5 : mi 5.35 - alt. 223 ft - Slag heap
- 6 : mi 6.55 - alt. 194 ft - Fonteni Castle
- 7 : mi 6.94 - alt. 197 ft - Trivières – School
- 8 : mi 7.37 - alt. 230 ft - Trivières – Chemin Vert
- 9 : mi 8.18 - alt. 482 ft - Quesnoy slag heap
- 10 : mi 9.82 - alt. 151 ft - Grand Étang
- 11 : mi 10.24 - alt. 194 ft - Champ Perdu
- S/E : mi 10.98 - alt. 154 ft - Maurage Place
Other walks in the area
Between two waters from Thieu to Ville-sur-Haine
Tourist office2.37 mi
+135 ft
-128 ft
1h 10
Easy
Departure from La Louvière (Hainaut)
As you travel along both the old and new canals, journey from Thieu to Ville-sur-Haine whilst discovering or rediscovering the engineering structures of the waterways (drawbridges, locks and lifts, etc.). Enjoy the peace and quiet as you stroll at your leisure along the towpaths.
The Grandes Eaux departing from Thieu
3.36 mi
+56 ft
-52 ft
1h 35
Easy
Departure from La Louvière (Hainaut)
Departure from Place Hardat in Thieu (part of Le Roeulx).
Follow the two canals, the old and the new, from Thieu to Ville-sur-Haine, discovering or rediscovering the engineering structures of the waterways (drawbridges, locks, lifts). Enjoy the peace and quiet as you stroll along the towpaths at your leisure.
Engineering structures around Strépy-Bracquegnies
Visorando Member
8.90 mi
+709 ft
-702 ft
4h 45
Moderate
Departure from Wallonie
During this easy walk, you will discover some prodigious engineering works built on the Canal du Centre, culminating in the Strépy-Thieu funicular lift,the second largest boat lift in the world.
The Canal du Centre
15.00 mi
+456 ft
-469 ft
7h 20
Difficult
Departure from La Louvière (Hainaut)
The central canal and the historic canal have joined forces with a short stretch of the Haine to create a delightful walk along the water.
The canals in the centre, the old and the new, via Strépy-Bracquegnies
10.82 mi
+331 ft
-328 ft
5h 15
Moderate
Departure from Wallonie
Starting from the Strépy-Thieu funicular lift, the walk takes you on a discovery of the infrastructure of both canals, the historic and the recent.Four lifts, two drawbridges, two swing bridges and a few other remains, documented on four-language information panels, enhance the walk along the historic canal to its junction with the new canal at its eastern end.
The Canal du Centre and its lifts
7.37 mi
+387 ft
-384 ft
3h 45
Moderate
Departure from Wallonie
Admire the landscape of the Canal du Centre, the century-old drawbridges and the lifts that operate solely on hydraulic power.
Havré Castle and the Bois du Rapois
4.89 mi
+259 ft
-266 ft
2h 30
Easy
Departure from Mons (Belgique) (Hainaut)
The Castle of the Dukes of Havré, numerous paths through the gardens and meadows, as well as the walk around the Bois du Rapois, which is less frequented and wilder than the Bois d’Havré.
Three slag heaps near La Louvière
7.61 mi
+692 ft
-801 ft
4h 05
Moderate
Departure from La Louvière (Hainaut)
During this walk, discover three slag heaps situated relatively close to one another: the AlbertI, Quesnoy and Saint-Emmanuel slag heaps. Slag heaps are man-made hills formed by the gradual accumulation of mining waste produced by mining operations. These hills stand as a testament to an iconic industrial activity that provided a livelihood for several generations of locals, and which has now ceased.
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