Between Sambre and Hantes

Starting from the dinosaur car park in Merbes-le-Château, the walk offers a circular route through the Upper Sambre Valley, passing by the first two locks on the Belgian side and through the countryside overlooking the Hantes Valley.
The route follows two pretty little sections of the tram line that once linked Binche to Montignies-Saint-Christophe.
The architectural highlight of the route is the magnificent Château de Solre-sur-Sambre.

Details

77407967
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 14.42 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 92 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 87 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 173 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 118 m

Photos

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 119 m - Dinosaur car park - Sambre à finaliser
  2. 1 : km 2.68 - alt. 122 m - La Buisière lock - Sambre à finaliser
  3. 2 : km 3.35 - alt. 149 m - Cross
  4. 3 : km 5 - alt. 164 m - Crossroads in the middle of the fields
  5. 4 : km 6.58 - alt. 135 m - Chemin du Tram
  6. 5 : km 7.43 - alt. 146 m - Sharp-angled fork
  7. 6 : km 8.13 - alt. 128 m - The - Hantes (rivière)
  8. 7 : km 8.57 - alt. 155 m - Rue de Wihéries
  9. 8 : km 10.67 - alt. 133 m - Chemin du Tram - bis
  10. 9 : km 11.28 - alt. 131 m - La Cavée
  11. 10 : km 11.6 - alt. 122 m - Solre-sur-Sambre Castle - Château de Solre-sur-Sambre
  12. 11 : km 12.15 - alt. 121 m - Solre-sur-Sambre lock - Sambre à finaliser
  13. S/E : km 14.42 - alt. 119 m - Dinosaur car park - Sambre à finaliser

Reviews and comments

5 / 5
Based on 1 review

Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
jacques.nys
jacques.nys

Hello Arina,
i'm glad to hear that the hike lived up to your expectations.
The bridge has been accessible without any problems for several years, including during my last visit just two months ago, on 15 June 2025.
I will try to get some information from the local council and/or the tourist office about its condition and, above all, how long it will remain closed to traffic. I will post a message as soon as I receive any useful information.
Best regards
Jacques

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ArinaTomberg
ArinaTomberg

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 22, 2025
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant, varied and easy walk through fields, picturesque villages and towpaths. Despite the lack of a detailed description of the route, it is very easy to find your way thanks to a reliable app, with one exception. From the car park, it is advisable to follow the river on the same bank, but the bridge you then have to cross is in poor condition and closed to pedestrians. You must therefore cross the bridge near the car park to reach the other bank and continue along the towpath. Along the calm and peaceful river, similar to the Sambre Canal, seagulls, ducks, swans and herons fly overhead with the rustling of their wings. If you are lucky, in the La Buissière area, you can see the old locks still in operation, where some operations are surprisingly done by hand.

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