Circular route between the 1815 site and Maransart

Access: By car, take exit 25 from the Brussels Western Ring Road. Parking is available at the Site 1815 car park.
By train, get off at Braine-l'Alleud station on the Brussels-Mons line. Reach the 1815 site either on foot – about 3 km – or by taking a TEC bus parked in front of the station.

(S/E) Turn your back on the car park and the ring road. Head towards the Butte du Lion.

(1) Turn left and head towards the Chaussée de Charleroi: be careful, this road is very dangerous. Only cross when the traffic lights allow you to do so. Continue straight ahead along Rue de la Croix, which is paved with very old cobblestones. At the first Fork in the road, turn left. Pass in front of the former Fichermont monastery and continue straight on along the dirt track.

(2) At the first crossroads, go down the sunken lane on the right, first on earth, then on cobblestones, until you reach the tarmac road called Chemin de la Sablonnière. Turn right and, 20 m further on, left. With your back to the Papelotte farm, follow the sunken lane under the trees. At the Fork in the road, take the left-hand branch, Rue Babeau.

(3) Cross Chemin de Plancenoit, go down Rue Babeau and then back up it to the private property. Continue along the path down to the left and keep going straight on, ignoring all other paths.

(4) Cross Rue de Fichermont and continue straight ahead along the path across the field. This path is officially designated as open to cyclists and horse riders. When you reach the first houses, take Rue Bois Eloi to the right, then cross Rue Bois Paris.

(5) A little further on, turn right onto Rue du Payot. Cross Rue de Fichermont again and continue straight ahead. At the start of the right-hand bend, turn left onto Chemin de Faweyat: be careful, there are two paths starting from the same point and you must take the one on the right, which takes you back down a little further along Rue de Payot. * If you are cycling, see the Practical Information below. Continue downhill to the Étangs de Maransart, then turn left onto Rue d'Anogrune to join the N271.

(6) Turn right, then take the first road on the right, Rue d’Hubermont. Keep going straight on, ignoring all the paths to the left or right, until you return to Rue d’Anogrune.

(7) Turn left, then right into Rue du Mouton. At the third junction, turn right up Place de Plancenoit. At the first left-hand bend, a footpath continues straight ahead. Take this and join Rue Culée, which you follow to the right. After the farm on your left, the road becomes a farm track, the Sentier de Plancenoit no. 96.

(8) At its junction with Chemin de la Belle Alliance (No. 45), turn left and then left again at Chemin de Camuselle (No. 42). Walk past the dog shelter, ignore the path on the right and walk past the monument to the Prussians.

(9) At the next junction, turn right onto Chemin du Lanternier, which further on becomes Chemin de la Belle Alliance. Join Route No. 5, Chaussée de Charleroi.

(10) Caution: heavy and fast-moving traffic. To cross, use the pedestrian crossing in front of the building, then take the farm track opposite, Chemin de Plancenoit, until you reach Chemin des Vertes Bornes.

(11) Turn right and head towards the Butte du Lion.

(1) Turn left to return to the car park (S/E).

• For those doing the route by bike, do not take Chemin de Faweyat – there is a dangerous descent at the end – but continue along Rue du Payot, which turns left a little further on and descends.

Pass point (6), Rue d'Hubermont, and take the time to admire the magnificent trees along the path once you reach the woodland at the top of the hill.