On the way to the Fourneau Saint-Michel

Starting from Masbourg, the forest trails will take you halfway to the Fourneau Saint-Michel, an estate comprising the open-air museum of rural life in Wallonia and the Iron Museum, with a return trip through the heights of the Masblette valley.

Details

n°3340443
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.70 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 928 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 928 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,424 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 768 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

Car park along the Masblette in the centre of Masbourg.

(S/E) With the walking signs and the bus shelter on your left, head towards the road bridge spanning the Masblette.

Green Diamond markings

Cross the bridge and turn left at thefirst road. Ignore the path on your right and continue along the road, which turns into a footpath. At the Fork in the road (not shown on the map), continue to the right. Turn left at the steps. The path then bends sharply to the left. Once back on a forest track, turn left. Ignore the path on your right and the fording point for vehicles.

(1) Turn right onto the footbridge. Walk uphill to the road, taking the path opposite. At the road, turn right and ignore the road leading towards Nassogne on your left.

(2) Cross over and take the next dirt track, at a place called Pointe du Crawi. Walk uphill for 800 m to the T-junction at a place called Sol Vau.

(3) Turn right and cross the Ri des Misdreux.

(4) At the crossroads, carry on straight ahead until you reach the road.

(5) Turn left and walk carefully along the road and the estate fence for 1 km.

(6) Turn right, passing the entrance to the Fourneau Saint-Michel estate. After the bridge over the Masblette, take the forest track on the right.

(7) At the fork in the road, keep left. Walk uphill for 800 m until you reach the road, cross it and continue along the path opposite.

(8) At the junction, turn right. The path runs through the meadow for a short while. Pass the hamlet of Aux Gendarmes. The path runs alongside a fence until it reaches the track and the hamlet of Mormont. Turn left, leaving the signposted route.

No Signposting

(9) Turn right at the first, less clearly marked path and walk for just under 1 km along a little-used path, occasionally having to go round fallen trees. The path turns sharply to the left, widens and leads to a forest track. Head right until you reach the road.

Cycling Signpost 4: Red Triangle on two Red Circles

(10) Turn left onto the forest track. At the crossroads, carry on straight ahead for 1.5 km.

(11) At the junction, turn right. The path descends, bends sharply and climbs again. Leave the forest and follow the edge of an orchard. The path becomes a road. At the junction with another road, turn right, passing a chapel. At the church, keep to your left and head downhill, leaving the signposting behind.

Cross the bridge over the Masblette again and return to your car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 768 ft - Car park along the Masblette
  2. 1 : mi 0.9 - alt. 827 ft - Footbridge on the right
  3. 2 : mi 1 - alt. 846 ft - Dirt track
  4. 3 : mi 1.51 - alt. 1,086 ft - At the junction, turn right
  5. 4 : mi 1.92 - alt. 1,076 ft - At the crossroads, go straight on
  6. 5 : mi 2.38 - alt. 988 ft - Road, on the left
  7. 6 : mi 3.01 - alt. 988 ft - Turn right at the fork
  8. 7 : mi 3.18 - alt. 1,010 ft - Fork in the road, turn left
  9. 8 : mi 3.73 - alt. 1,211 ft - At the junction, turn right
  10. 9 : mi 4.17 - alt. 1,335 ft - First, poorly marked path on the right
  11. 10 : mi 4.88 - alt. 1,266 ft - Road, on the left
  12. 11 : mi 5.81 - alt. 974 ft - Junction, turn right
  13. S/E : mi 6.7 - alt. 768 ft - Car park along the Masblette

Notes

There is another car park opposite the church.

Domaine du Fourneau Saint-Michel: there is an entry fee, but it’s very reasonable. Allow an extra 1 to 2 hours to explore the estate.

From October to December, please note the hunting season dates: the ‘Green Diamond’ walk and mountain bike route 4.

There is no water along the route.

Worth a visit

During

The Domaine du Fourneau Saint-Michel comprises two separate museums: the Open-Air Museum, which takes you back to 19th-century rural life south of the Sambre-et-Meuse valley, and the Iron Museum, housed in a former blast furnace – a listed and exceptional heritage site offering a glimpse into early-industrial steelmaking.

Reviews and comments

4.9 / 5
Based on 7 reviews

Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
albinetdenise.lejeune29
albinetdenise.lejeune29

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 23, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk, mostly through the forest, but without any exceptional views, apart from the Fourneau Saint Michel estate, the beautiful orchard on the way back to Masbourg, the large crows seen and heard near the place known as Les Gendarmes, and the pheasants after the 815 m climb after Fourneau Saint Michel, the robins, blackbirds, flowering broom, chickweed... All in all, it's not too bad. Thank you for creating and sharing it.

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carnaval
carnaval

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 15, 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 through wooded areas untouched by human intervention. However, there are a few challenging climbs.
We set off from and returned to Fourneau Saint Michel, which offers convenient parking and, on arrival, a delicious lunch offering excellent value for money.

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lazzerini
lazzerini

Hello Bernard Thiry,

The duration is calculated automatically by the Visorando software.
Depending on each person's walking speed, it can vary greatly.

Kind regards

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Bernard Thiry
Bernard Thiry

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 16, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful route, a bit muddy today. Estimated time: less than 1.5 hours at a brisk walking pace.

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Marie-Anne Bétermier
Marie-Anne Bétermier

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 25, 2021
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Nice walk. Impeccable signposting. Few roads. Best done in dry weather (here the snow was melting) as it was very muddy and the paths were flooded.

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lazzerini
lazzerini

Indeed, she ticks all the boxes.

Kind regards

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Fontaine BER
Fontaine BER

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 31, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Thank you for the information sheet, which helped us discover a hike that met our expectations: forest paths, few roads, route, and passages near a river!

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P Dardenne
P Dardenne

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 10, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Lovely walk in the shade of the forest given the scorching weather conditions.

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Girard Daniel
Girard Daniel

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 06, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Thank you!

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