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Doing this hike during the week offers a good chance of seeing fighter planes landing and/or taking off... but it is very noisy. Hiking at the weekend is probably a better option if you want to enjoy the peace and quiet of the forest and countryside, even if you still have to put up with a few motor sports, such as motocross on the country lanes or the take-off (in a circular pattern) of a glider and its tow plane on one of the base's runways.
The circular route allows you to discover some architectural and/or religious gems such as a small castle in Chaumont (shortly after (S)), a church bell tower or two, a cave (in Chaumont shortly before (E)), a very old shrine dedicated to Saint Gérard de Brogne (in Stave shortly before (4)) and the old railway roundhouse in Florennes (5).
Apart from its length, the only difficulty encountered is crossing the embankment of the old railway line ( 1) shortly before km 2. The path only appears on maps, not at all on the ground. You therefore have to cross this high embankment by climbing up one side and scrambling down the other. Choose a spot with lots of trees and use your hands to help you, as the ground is very slippery underfoot because the slope is so steep. To avoid this difficulty, you will need to walk about 1.5 km further by continuing straight ahead instead of turning off to reach the point (1), then either take a path on the left before the main road or continue to the main road and then turn left to reach the other 'side' of the embankment!
Around Florennes Air Base
This long circular route alternates harmoniously between countryside and forest, making a complete tour of the Florennes (military) air base via the (almost) shortest possible route on public paths and trails, avoiding busy roads. One difficulty on this route: see the "description" box.
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Activity: Walking -
Distance: 22.81 km -
Average duration: 7h 00 -
Difficulty: Difficult -
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Back to start: Yes -
Ascent: + 181 m -
Descent: - 184 m -
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Highest point: 314 m -
Lowest point: 246 m
Photos
Description of the walk
Waypoints
- S/E : km 0 - alt. 273 m - Church of Chaumont
- 1 : km 1.56 - alt. 293 m - Embankment of the old railway line
- 2 : km 8.49 - alt. 269 m - Jusaine
- 3 : km 10.47 - alt. 253 m - Corenne
- 4 : km 14.81 - alt. 263 m - Stave
- 5 : km 19.71 - alt. 270 m - Former Florennes Railway Roundhouse
- S/E : km 22.81 - alt. 273 m - Church of Chaumont
Notes
No shops in the village of Chaumont (S/E), no shops in the hamlet of Jusaine (2), a village grocery store (slightly) off the route in Corenne (3 continue straight on the road until the traffic lights), a bakery (slightly) off the route in Stave (4 turn right on the road), all shops (completely) off the route in Florennes (head to the town centre from (5)).
Worth a visit
The Vauban underground passages in Philippeville.
The Spitfire Museum within the Florennes air base. Please note that as this is a military site, access is restricted. See the access request form on the museum's website.
Other walks in the area
Le Richa via the old Namur road
Visorando member 6.85 km
+37 m
-37 m
2h 05
Easy
Departure from Florennes (Province de Namur)
You can start from Florennes Central Station. Head towards Rue Gérard de Cambrai, and when you reach Rue de Corenne, go under the Ravel bridge and continue for about 2 km. You will come to a second bridge, with a sawmill on your right. Take the path on the left after 60 metres, turn right for 1.5 km, turn left at the first crossroads and continue until you cross a large brick bridge. Go down this bridge onto the Ravel on the right, which will take you back to Florennes Central Station. After a beautiful walk in the woods, this hike joins the Ravel line 136A, which can take you to Maredsous or Fosses la Ville.
Circular in Entre-Sambre-et-Meuse
Visorando member 
19.23 km
+188 m
-181 m
6h 00
Moderate
Departure from Philippeville (Province de Namur)
Here, as elsewhere, take advantage of the beautiful autumn colours to leave behind the deep, dark forests of certain areas of the Ardennes, where spruce trees reign supreme, and explore the countryside and deciduous forests of the Entre-Sambre-et-Meuse region.
Franchimont and Florennes
Visorando member 21.50 km
+230 m
-235 m
6h 50
Moderate
Departure from Philippeville (Province de Namur)
Hike through the countryside and the Florennes national forest. It is possible to complete the route in less time. There are about a hundred metres on the main road, but the pavement is wide.
Long circular of Fraire
Visorando member 
20.11 km
+184 m
-184 m
6h 15
Moderate
Departure from Walcourt (Province de Namur)
A walk that is half forest, half countryside between the villages of Fraire, Saint-Aubin and Morialmé.The route takes you along paths connecting villages, forest and country lanes, and small country roads. Please be careful not to take any paths or forest lanes that are closed to the public (to preserve the peace and quiet of the wildlife).
Long circular loop around Lautenne and Surice
Visorando member 
23.28 km
+292 m
-292 m
7h 30
Difficult
Departure from Philippeville (Province de Namur)
Partly rural, partly forest, this rather long hike is a circular route to the east of the municipality of Philippeville with detours to Doische (Soulme) and Florennes (Rosée). Beautiful view (behind) of the church and the old castle next to it from the Omezée cemetery. Centuries-old lime trees and a grotto dedicated to the Virgin Mary in Omezée. Soulme has been named one of the most beautiful villages in Wallonia. After Soulme, the hike enters the Hermeton valley, home to one of Wallonia's wildest rivers (with active beavers). You can't miss the imposing church of Romedenne or any of the wheelbarrow decorations. Romedenne has been the scene of a big wheelbarrow festival every first weekend in August for over 40 years. The northern part, which is also partly wooded and partly rural, is usually very quiet... but this calm can be severely disrupted when military aircraft take off from the nearby Florennes air base.
The Tournibus forest at the start of Hanzinelle
Visorando member 
12.80 km
+150 m
-155 m
4h 05
Moderate
Departure from Florennes (Province de Namur)
Set off to explore the woods of Tournibus and the vast, gently rolling landscapes of this part of Entre Sambre-et-Meuse along wide forest paths and discover its history, which was sometimes tragic, such as the Battle of Wagnée on 24 August 1914. It was at Hanzinelle Castle that the "Hanzinelle Agreements" were signed in 1978, restructuring the Walloon steel industry. Not to mention its folklore with the famous Marches de l'entre Sambre-et-Meuse, re-enactments in period costume of Napoleon's armies.
Circular between Romedenne and Rosée
Visorando member 
14.48 km
+177 m
-185 m
4h 40
Moderate
Departure from Philippeville (Province de Namur)
A circular that is half countryside, half forest, allowing you to discover the region east of Philippeville between Romedenne, the village where the wheelbarrow festival has been in full swing (with participants and spectators from all walks of life and, above all, a friendly atmosphere and good humour) every first weekend in August for over 40 years, and the southern borders of Rosée (part of Florennes). Surice Castle is easy to spot but rather difficult to photograph (trees, surrounding walls, electric wires, etc.). The castle in Omezée, on the other hand, is clearly visible from the cemetery at the entrance to the village (in the direction of the route) but it is rather neglected. Omezée, the smallest village in Wallonia, has two hundred-year-old lime trees, one next to the church and the other in Champelle at the entrance to the village on the way back, after the northern tip towards Rosée.Don't miss the work of art 'La vie éternelle' (Eternal Life), on display along the main road between Lautenne and Surice, while it is still there.
Soulme and Omezée from Romedenne
Visorando member 
13.90 km
+166 m
-160 m
4h 25
Moderate
Departure from Philippeville (Province de Namur)
This hike is a shorter version of the Grande Boucle around Lautenne and Surice, southern section, cut off at Omezée, reversed and starting from the Romedenne cemetery. As indicated, the route passes through Soulme, ranked among the most beautiful villages in Wallonia, after descending into the Hermeton valley (home to beavers). Here you will see the old Moulin Bayot mill, which has been beautifully renovated. Partly rural, the circular route follows country and forest paths, a few trails, some local roads with little traffic and crosses a nature reserve shortly before the finish. Of the three villages, Romedenne has the most monumental church. It is also where the annual wheelbarrow festival takes place on the first weekend of August. In Omezée, there is a beautiful view from the cemetery at the entrance to the village of the church and the old castle next to it. There are also two lime trees and a grotto dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
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