The Écaillon de Louvignies-Quesnoy route

(S/E) With your back to Louvignies-Quesnoy Town Hall, head left and immediately towards Saint-Éloi Church. Behind the church, turn right and continue straight on along Rue Roger Robert.

(1) At the water tower, cross the D86 and, at the next fork, turn left. At the junction 250m further on, turn left.

(2) Continue to the right (do not head towards the brick chapel) and follow the edge of the plateau above the Écaillon valley until you reach the D942.

(3) Cross the D942 with care and turn immediately left onto the Calvaire path. At the bottom of the path, take the street on the right, Rue des Marlières, and, at the fork, go down to the left. Further down, at the crossroads, follow Rue Basse to the left.

(4) At the roundabout, head towards the town hall, passing Saint-Etienne Church. Behind the church, turn left and walk alongside the school.

(5) Leave the tarmac road and take the Sentier Notre-Dame de Lourdes opposite. Pass the Notre-Dame de la Victoire oratory (1849; column-shaped and built of Soignies stone, quite rare in this part of the Avesnois region) and then a small chapel in the middle of the pastures dedicated to Notre-Dame de Lourdes. Further on, cross the Écaillon via a small bridge.

(6) At the road, turn right (Rue de Vizin). This picturesque road follows the stream as it winds its way through slopes too steep to be cultivated. At the end, after 1.5 km, the road turns left then right. Head towards the square and the church in Ghissignies (1867) via Rue du Commandeur Lobry.

(7) Alongside the church, turn left onto Rue du Moulin then climb left up a path that joins the D86. If you leave this path for a moment, you can make a round trip to the mill (private property), which was once powered by the Écaillon stream. Turn right onto Rue de la Victoire (D86) and, at the bend, continue straight on along Rue de la Station. At the next fork, keep right. You will pass a 19th-century chapel dedicated to Notre-Dame de la Victoire.

(8) At the crossroads, turn left. Note the Notre-Dame de Lourdes grotto, built following a miraculous healing. After a kilometre, before the bridge over the Écaillon, turn right onto Rue de la Frête. At the end, follow the stream to the left and you’ll come out at the “dike area”.

Note the water pump and its dovecote roof, then head towards the small chapel, built on the site of a spring (according to legend, Saint Eloi caused water to gush forth there from beneath his horse’s hoof). Take the path up to the right. At the top, take Rue de l’École opposite and you will find the town hall on your left (S/E).

Take care when crossing the D86 and D942. In wet weather, wear waterproof footwear.

Route listed in the PDIPR (Departmental Plan for Walking and Hiking Routes)

Follow the yellow markings.

(4) Saint-Étienne Church. Rebuilt in 1823, it has retained its round turret with arrow slits. Inside the building, admire the wooden Gothic vault and the niches housing saints, including Saint Aldegonde, who in 646 donated the village to the monastery of Maubeuge.