Estinnes walks

For this circular, park in the small car park in front of Bonne Espérance Abbey. On your return, you can enjoy a beer or a slice of sugar tart...

A walk starting from the centre of Binche to discover the town’s and the region’s medieval and ancient past.

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.

The route forms a circular route that takes you on a journey of discovery along the small paths of Leval-Trahegnies.

An easy country walk starting from the German-British cemetery of the 1914–1918 war. This cemetery is well worth a visit for its unique layout and its century-old trees, which make it a small botanical park. Here lie the first Commonwealth soldier killed in action and the last! You will notice the presence of numerous flint fragments, which gave the Champ à Cailloux its name.

This cross-border route follows the Sambre and rural paths in France and Belgium, allowing you to discover the magnificent Solre-sur-Sambre Castle. Stroll in peace and quiet and observe the landscapes and biodiversity.

The appeal of this walk lies in the way it combines the region’s mining history with the tranquil beauty of the historic Canal du Centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, featuring its boat lifts—now operational again—and other infrastructure dating back over 100 years, bearing witness to the ingenuity of their designers.

During this walk, discover three slag heaps situated relatively close to one another: the AlbertI, Quesnoy and Saint-Emmanuel slag heaps. Slag heaps are man-made hills formed by the gradual accumulation of mining waste produced by mining operations. These hills stand as a testament to an iconic industrial activity that provided a livelihood for several generations of locals, and which has now ceased.

Streets and small country roads meander along the Sambre and cross a former site where red and white marble and sandstone were quarried, used for our beloved cobblestones in the North.

Thieu, a village situated between two waterways – between the new and old Canal du Centre – offers a wide variety of landscapes, ranging from waterside views to countryside scenery.

Set off on a 44 km bike ride to discover the varied landscapes of the Sambre Avesnois. This circuit takes you from Boussois to the superb site of Watissart, crosses Jeumont and crosses the Belgian border. You will then follow the Salmagne aerodrome before enjoying the peaceful calm of the towpath. An ideal getaway combining nature, industrial heritage and the pleasure of cycling.

As you travel along both the old and new canals, journey from Thieu to Ville-sur-Haine whilst discovering or rediscovering the engineering structures of the waterways (drawbridges, locks and lifts, etc.). Enjoy the peace and quiet as you stroll at your leisure along the towpaths.

Departure from Place Hardat in Thieu (part of Le Roeulx). Follow the two canals, the old and the new, from Thieu to Ville-sur-Haine, discovering or rediscovering the engineering structures of the waterways (drawbridges, locks, lifts). Enjoy the peace and quiet as you stroll along the towpaths at your leisure.

A magnificent 9 km hike, following the old tram line, with views of the Hantes valley and crossing the Roman bridge.

During this easy walk, you will discover some prodigious engineering works built on the Canal du Centre, culminating in the Strépy-Thieu funicular lift,the second largest boat lift in the world.

The central canal and the historic canal have joined forces with a short stretch of the Haine to create a delightful walk along the water.

Starting from the Strépy-Thieu funicular lift, the walk takes you on a discovery of the infrastructure of both canals, the historic and the recent.Four lifts, two drawbridges, two swing bridges and a few other remains, documented on four-language information panels, enhance the walk along the historic canal to its junction with the new canal at its eastern end.

Admire the landscape of the Canal du Centre, the century-old drawbridges and the lifts that operate solely on hydraulic power.

A route through the Bois d'Havré and its beautiful paths, accessible to pushchairs and wheelchairs. With a lovely chapel halfway along the route. The route is dotted with benches and features a fitness trail. A lovely, flat walk.

The name of this village is said to come from the presence of a Roman villa built along the Haine River. The name evolved over the centuries, becoming 'Villa-Super-Hoeniam' (1240), 'Ville-Sour-Haine' (1293), 'Ville-sur-Haysne' (1660) and 'Ville-Sur-Heine' (1744). This walk will take you mainly along the towpaths of the Canal du Centre and the Canal du Centre Historique.

Take a stroll along the Sambre, passing by the two nautical stops at Boussois and Marpent, as well as Fort Boussois. The latter belongs to the military and is inaccessible, but you can admire its silhouette through the trees that surround it.

A challenging hike combining heritage, nature and history, the 66 km cross-border trail is for you. Pass from France to Belgium, then from nature to history, in just a few pedal strokes.

Start this loop at the Roman bridge in Montignies-Saint-Christophe. This circuit will take you through the countryside and woods, as well as past some characterful buildings between Montignies-Saint-Christophe and Solre-sur-Sambre. Throughout this loop, you will enjoy exploring all types of terrain and appreciating the rural character of this region.