From Vieux-Reng to the Sambre

Park at Place de Lameries, in the hamlet of Vieux-Reng.

(S/E) Walk up the road and turn left twice to reach Rue de l’Olletiaux; follow this path, pass the hamlet known as Les Trois Maisons and continue to the second drinking water catchment area.

(1) Take the path on the left which leads to a tarmac road.

(2) Follow the tarmac road to the right as far as the junction with the D159 (Le Quatre Bras) and carry on straight ahead towards Boussois. Follow this small road lined with hedges, which still serve as boundaries here.

(3) Turn left, pass under the N49 expressway and follow the tarmac road to the entrance to Boussois. On your left, on the wooded hill, stands the Fort de Boussois, which overlooks the area from
from a height of 166 metres. From this spot, you’ll have a panoramic view of the Sambre valley.

(4) Walk down Rue des Bonniers (a ‘bonnier’ was a unit of area equivalent to 3 ‘journels’, a ‘journel’ being the area of land a man could plough in a day).

(5) When you reach the departmental road (D959), turn right and follow it for 50 metres, before turning left onto the Chemin des Marpigneaux, near the Chapel of Notre-Dame-des-Affligés, built in 1866. After 50 m, take the path on your right towards the Sambre, then follow the towpath to the left. You’ll walk alongside the river and a wetland area where you’ll be able to spot various birds (moorhens, herons, kingfishers, etc.). Pass under an old railway bridge.

(6) At the end of the path, turn left onto the D59, go under the D649 and continue to the T-junction.

(7) At the top of the hill, take the first street on the right, then follow Rue de Grand Reng straight ahead. A little further on, on your left, you’ll see an old windmill. Carry on to the boundary marker.

(8) Carry on to the café, then take the dirt track straight ahead. This track becomes increasingly sunken as it runs alongside the French-Belgian border. At the end of the track, just past the low wall, an old blue stone marker dating from 1819 indicates the border.

(9) At the end of the track, turn left towards the water tower before joining the road that will take you back to your starting point. You’ll be able to see a remarkable ‘porche de cense’ (a farm with an enclosed courtyard) as well as various shrines and chapels. You’ll reach Place de Lameries (S/E).

In wet weather, waterproof footwear is essential on farm tracks.

This route is listed in the PDIPR (Departmental Plan for Walking and Hiking Routes).

Follow the yellow markings.

Did you know? In Vieux-Reng, the Church of Saint-Cyriaquedu (17th century) features a stained-glass window depicting Saint Roch carrying a scallop shell, bearing witness to the pilgrims who once passed through on their way to Santiago de Compostela.

Fort de Boussois: the scene of fierce and heroic battles, this fort was razed to the ground in 1914. Rebuilt, it was the most powerful fort in the Maubeuge defence line in 1940. Following several days of bombardment, its occupants were forced to surrender to the enemy on 22 May 1940.

Windmill: this mill, whose origins are unknown, has not been in use since 1850. Before the First World War (1914–1918), it served as a military landmark, enabling communication with the Fort de Boussois via light signals – which may explain why its sails were dismantled.

Fort de la Salmagne Museum.
Salmagne Airfield.
Verrière Memorial Centre.