Woods, Samson valley and former quarries in Gesves

Gesves, a charming village in the Namur Condroz region, is said to take its name from "Gengeavia", which means "running water". Numerous streams criss-cross its territory before flowing into the Samson. The walk starts at the municipal administration building, winds its way through a few quiet streets and then joins the Bois de Gesves. After descending into the Samson valley, you reach the site of the old Bizonzon sandstone quarries, which were abandoned more than half a century ago.

Details

3182808
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.38 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 180 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 182 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 277 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 184 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the small car park behind the municipal administration building.

(S/E) At Chaussée de Gramptinne, turn right towards the shops on your left. After 250 m, take the path on your left between the stone house at No. 171 and the shed. Follow this path until you reach Burton Lane. Turn left and note the contrast between the old sandstone houses and the contemporary buildings.

When the road ends, continue straight ahead on the path through the woods. You are now on part of the Art Trails; note the two works of art on your left. At the end of the path, follow the street to the right and cross a small bridge over the Fonds de Gesves stream. Leave Rue Ry des Fonds on your left.

(1) In Rue Inzéculot, after about a hundred metres, take a short path on your left immediately after passing a double garage. This will take you to Rue Les Fonds, which you should follow to the left.
After passing a DIY shop, at the crossroads, go up Rue de la Chapelle on your right.

(2) 100 metres from the crossroads, don't miss the path on your right leading into a steep wood. Be careful, after only a few metres, the path splits. Follow the one on the right and continue along the back of the houses on Rue Les Fonds. At the end of this forest path, which ends with six steps, you will reach Rue des Fontaines. Follow it to the left and at the top of Rue des Fontaines, take Rue de la Chapelle on your left.

(3) Turn left onto Petite Corniche and follow it until you return to Rue de la Chapelle, which you take to the left. You will then arrive at the Chapelle du Pré d'Amite. Go up to the right, leaving Rue de la Sapinière on your left. Continue straight ahead for about 400 metres until you reach a T-junction.

(4) At this point, you will see a potale (a niche containing a statue of the Virgin Mary or a patron saint) on your right. Turn left and after about 100 metres, enter the Bois de Gesves on your right. Follow the path through the forest for about 1 km until you reach a crossroads at the edge of the forest, where there is a small hunting observatory.

(5) At this observatory, take the path on the left and follow it between the forest and the edge. After 400 m, take the path that enters the woods, following the markings (green rectangle), and join the Samson River at the bottom of this path. Follow the path to the left and walk along the Samson until you reach the Chaussée de Gramptinne (N942).

(6) Do not take the road, but stay on the narrow path that runs alongside and overlooks it. The path then leads to a road that climbs steeply.

(7) After 300 m, descend to the right towards the Chaussée de Gramptinne. When you reach the road, follow it to the left for about 100 metres and turn right onto Rue des Carrières towards Assesse (signposted Assesse 5). Pass in front of the old Bizonzon quarries and observe the rusted metal structures.

(8) Further on, opposite the house on your right, take the path on your left. At first, this path runs alongside the magnificent Béronsart estate, crossed by the Samson stream. At the top of the path, follow Rue des Moulins, leaving Rue de Houte on your right.

(9) Take the next street on the right, Rue de Surhuy, and continue along this street until you reach a T-junction with Rue Ry del Vau.

(10) Turn left and go up the hill. At the top, take Chaussée de Gramptinne on the right, which will take you back to your starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 264 m - Gesves municipal administration
  2. 1 : km 1.84 - alt. 217 m - Double garage
  3. 2 : km 2.05 - alt. 237 m - Path on the right
  4. 3 : km 3.29 - alt. 262 m - Rue Petite Corniche on the left
  5. 4 : km 4.13 - alt. 272 m - Potale du Pré d'Amite
  6. 5 : km 5.23 - alt. 254 m - Hunting observatory
  7. 6 : km 6.66 - alt. 200 m - Junction with Chaussée de Gramptinne
  8. 7 : km 7.39 - alt. 231 m - Rue Les Forges, turn right at the fork
  9. 8 : km 8.26 - alt. 205 m - Path on the left
  10. 9 : km 9.15 - alt. 261 m - Crossroads of Rue de Surhuy
  11. 10 : km 9.92 - alt. 255 m - Crossroads of Rue Ry del Vau
  12. S/E : km 10.38 - alt. 264 m - Gesves municipal administration

Notes

1. In the centre of Gesves, the municipal administration has a car park located at the rear of the building.
2. There are a few small shops near the starting point where you can buy refreshments.
3. Wear suitable footwear for walking on paths that are sometimes steep and wet in places.

Worth a visit

Km 3.6: the Pré d'Amite chapel, dedicated to the Sacred Heart, was built in 1916 by the local residents.
Km 6.5: Along the Samson, about 200 metres before reaching point 6, you will find a picnic area.

Km 8: the Bizonzon quarries. More than fifty years ago, sandstone was quarried here for use in the construction of local houses, among other things. You can still see the remains of a lift used to handle the wagons.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 12 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.2 / 5
Jean Mathias
Jean Mathias

Thank you for your positive review 😀

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dlefebvre
dlefebvre

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful loop between villages, with panoramic views, woods, valley floors and old quarries.
The only downside is a bit of tarmac, but there were few cars...
The route was very enjoyable to ride.
The GPX was perfect, I didn't need any explanations.

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Jean Mathias
Jean Mathias

Thank you for your review 😀

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PolGillet
PolGillet

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 26, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk in pleasant surroundings.

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SDE
SDE
Jean Mathias
Jean Mathias

Thank you for your feedback. Which artwork has been vandalised so that I can update the description?

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SDE
SDE

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 22, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

It's a nice route, easy and quite varied. It would be even better with less road. The section along the Samson is very pleasant.
Note that one of the artworks no longer exists (vandalised).

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Jean Mathias
Jean Mathias

Thank you for your review 😀

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ArinaTomberg
ArinaTomberg

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 09, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant and enjoyable hike.

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Testeur
Testeur

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 30, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

Too many roads and not enough forest paths, which is a shame. Visiting part of the village of Gesves doesn't add much to the walk. For me, it was rather disappointing. The wooded section and descent to Samson was more enjoyable and pretty.

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Jean Mathias
Jean Mathias

Thank you for your review.

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Ardennes addict
Ardennes addict

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 15, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Nice, but zigzags a lot in Gesves. Lovely valley along the Samson. Old quarry worth seeing for fans of abandoned places.

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Jean Mathias
Jean Mathias

Thank you for your review.

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Markozzz
Markozzz

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 07, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike with varied scenery (woods, countryside, art trail, Samson Valley, remains of a quarry, etc.). For a Sunday, the trail was not too crowded. The distance indicated is accurate.

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Jean Mathias
Jean Mathias

Thank you for your feedback. The idea of indicating the picnic location is a good one. I will add it.

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