The Hermeton and Bonne Fontaine

Discover the Moulin de Prêle, the marble sawmill, the mill and the village of Soulme, listed among the most beautiful villages in Wallonia.

A circular hike to discover the aquatic resources of the Hermeton between Vodelée and Soulme, as well as three listed sites: the Chapel of Notre-Dame de Bonne Fontaine, the Moulin de Soulme and the Church of Sainte-Colombe de Soulme.

Partly rural, partly forest, this rather long hike is a circular route to the east of the municipality of Philippeville with detours to Doische (Soulme) and Florennes (Rosée). Beautiful view (behind) of the church and the old castle next to it from the Omezée cemetery. Centuries-old lime trees and a grotto dedicated to the Virgin Mary in Omezée. Soulme has been named one of the most beautiful villages in Wallonia. After Soulme, the hike enters the Hermeton valley, home to one of Wallonia's wildest rivers (with active beavers). You can't miss the imposing church of Romedenne or any of the wheelbarrow decorations. Romedenne has been the scene of a big wheelbarrow festival every first weekend in August for over 40 years. The northern part, which is also partly wooded and partly rural, is usually very quiet... but this calm can be severely disrupted when military aircraft take off from the nearby Florennes air base.

A circular that is half countryside, half forest, allowing you to discover the region east of Philippeville between Romedenne, the village where the wheelbarrow festival has been in full swing (with participants and spectators from all walks of life and, above all, a friendly atmosphere and good humour) every first weekend in August for over 40 years, and the southern borders of Rosée (part of Florennes). Surice Castle is easy to spot but rather difficult to photograph (trees, surrounding walls, electric wires, etc.). The castle in Omezée, on the other hand, is clearly visible from the cemetery at the entrance to the village (in the direction of the route) but it is rather neglected. Omezée, the smallest village in Wallonia, has two hundred-year-old lime trees, one next to the church and the other in Champelle at the entrance to the village on the way back, after the northern tip towards Rosée.Don't miss the work of art 'La vie éternelle' (Eternal Life), on display along the main road between Lautenne and Surice, while it is still there.

This hike is a shorter version of the Grande Boucle around Lautenne and Surice, southern section, cut off at Omezée, reversed and starting from the Romedenne cemetery. As indicated, the route passes through Soulme, ranked among the most beautiful villages in Wallonia, after descending into the Hermeton valley (home to beavers). Here you will see the old Moulin Bayot mill, which has been beautifully renovated. Partly rural, the circular route follows country and forest paths, a few trails, some local roads with little traffic and crosses a nature reserve shortly before the finish. Of the three villages, Romedenne has the most monumental church. It is also where the annual wheelbarrow festival takes place on the first weekend of August. In Omezée, there is a beautiful view from the cemetery at the entrance to the village of the church and the old castle next to it. There are also two lime trees and a grotto dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

Set off to explore the natural, wild and rugged surroundings of the Hermeton by following it upstream to the Moulin de Soulme. The return journey takes you along small country roads, forest paths and trails where you can admire the landscape of the Meuse valley and its farmland.

Despite the first few kilometres being very easy, make no mistake, this walk still requires some stamina with a section featuring handrails along the Hermeton and the climb up the aptly named Tienne d'Enfer (Hell's Hill).

This hike takes you from the Meuse valley to the heights of the left bank and the village of Inzemont, initially following the course of the Feron, a small tributary of the Meuse. Along the way, you can visit the Pont d'Arcole caves, one of the many karst caves in the Upper Meuse region. The route also offers beautiful views of the valley.