Dog Escape: a walk between Lobbes and Thuin

The route starts at the Emporium in Lobbes at 11A Rue de l’Entreville. There is a car park opposite (board games shop and its tea room).
Access by train (Lobbes station) or by bus (TEC line 91).
For the route guide, see the details in the practical information section.

(S/E) Walk up the main street and take the^second right (Y-junction), heading up behind the Entreville chip shop and the École Libre de Lobbes. Take the^first right and walk past the cemetery.

(1) Carry on and take the small path to the right of the large renovated house. At the end of the path, cross the road and take the path directly opposite. At the end of this path, turn right onto the road, then immediately left to follow the track, then the path, until you reach a path leading into a wood.

(2) Follow this path. In the woodland, turn left, then head downhill, following the path that runs alongside the fence. Be careful, it can be slippery. At the T-junction, turn left again. At the end of the path, you’ll come to a small clearing; turn right, then straight left to head back up into the Thuin woods. At the top of this climb, you’ll arrive at a housing estate with new buildings in Les Hauts de Sambre.

(3) After the^first climb up the road, turn left to continue uphill until you rejoin the road (Rue d’Anderlues). Turn right to head down towards Thuin’s lower town. After the first two bends, take the path on your right, Ruelle Telly, which runs alongside a large house with a glass gate (No. 48)

(4) As you walk down the path, you can see, on your right, Château Beauregard on the heights of Thuin, and the Thuin Belfry appears ahead of you. You’ll reach the Thuin bridge.

(5) Follow it to the other bank. There, cross over and take the street leading up towards the Commune Libre du Rivage.

(6) Turn left onto Rue Saint-Roch, then right onto Ruelle Saint-Roch, and take the steps up to the upper town. At the top of the steps, turn right and climb the few steps leading to the Place du Chapitre, via the Northern Rampart (follow the sign for “Bibliothèque Communale”). You will then pass the Spantôle, a famous old cannon in Thuin. Next, turn left towards the square.

(7) You can admire the belfry. To leave the square, look for the FCI headquarters. Opposite it, turn right, then take the first alleyway on your left (Impasse Prince de Liège). At the end of this alley, look out for the Ruelle Dorée ahead of you and turn left until you reach the Posty Arlequin. Turn right to head down towards the Jardins Suspendus, then keep left at the bend.

(8) Once you reach the bottom of the Jardins Suspendus, turn right towards the playground. Walk along the edge of the playground and the lawn on the left until you reach the road (Avenue de Ragnies). Follow the road to the junction with the café Le Moustier. Turn left onto the street that slopes slightly uphill, then right to head down towards the railway bridge. Pass underneath it and head back up, walking alongside Thuin Cemetery.

(9) The road gives way to a footpath that runs alongside the railway and local track (still in use on Sundays and summer weekends). Continuing straight on, you’ll cross the bridge over the Sambre and begin the climb towards Lobbes (bus stop). After the climb, the road descends very steeply and, just after the bend, take the steps which then lead onto a path towards Lobbes Collegiate Church. Above the path, take the street on the left. You’ll arrive at the foot of the beautiful Lobbes Collegiate Church.

(10) Walk round it on the left to admire the view. You’ll pass a blue postbox, a checkpoint on the “Cultural and recreational walk: In the days of a Collegiate Church”.
Go down the first flight of steps onto the forecourt of the collegiate church. In front of the war memorial, take the small path directly in front of you to continue along the GR®^®. At the end of the path, turn right, then straight left to continue along the path to Ry Madame. Carry on straight ahead along Rue Albert 1er until you reach Rue de l’Entreville. From there, you’ll see the Emporium on your left, below you. (S/E)

The walk includes a route guide. This contains the route and puzzles for the Dog Escape, and can be purchased at the Emporium (€3) (during opening hours or by telephone on 0492/44 32 05).
Please note that dogs are welcome on the terrace, but not inside the tea room. In the event of bad weather, the terrace may be closed.

This walk takes you to the Place du Chapitre (Thuin), where you can visit the Belfry (by booking with the Thuin Tourist Office – on the Place du Chapitre).
On the way back, you’ll pass by Lobbes Collegiate Church (the oldest collegiate church in Belgium).