Little Switzerland in the Rhone Valley

Discover the village of Gottignies with its hills, valleys, magnificent panoramic views and tranquillity. A bucolic landscape waiting to be explored.

Details

1661425
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.52 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 52 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 54 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 110 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 69 m

Description of the walk

Parking Place de Gottignies in Gottignies (Le Roeulx)

(S/E) Take Rue Saint-Léger, opposite Gottignies church, join Rue du Vent Val and turn left at the next crossroads.

(1) Leave Rue des Salinques on your right. Continue straight ahead for 150 metres and turn left into Rue du Puits Salomon until you reach the junction with Rue de la Place. Turn right and pass the Basse farm, leaving Rue de la Casse on your right.

(2) Just after the Basse farm, go down the path on the left to Rue des Fonds. Go up Rue des Fonds on the left until you reach Rue de la Biercée.
Go down Rue de la Biercée on the left until you reach the crossroads at a bend in Rue du Mont Coupé. Take this road on the left until you reach the next crossroads.

(3) Turn right onto Chemin du Gué. At the end of this road, take the path on the left that descends towards La Wanze. Cross two small bridges over the river. Go up the stairs to Rue du Mont Coupé. Turn right and then right again onto Rue des Prêtres. At the crossroads, turn right onto Rue du Vent Val.

(4) 150 metres before the cemetery at the crossroads, take the country lane on the left.
At the junction with Rue de la Grange aux Dîmes, continue straight ahead on the country lane to reach the paved section of Rue du Bourbier. At this point, turn left onto the path that winds between two meadows and continue on Rue de la Grange aux Dîmes.

(5) At the crossroads, turn left. After 100 metres, at a small wayside cross, take the path on the right which will lead you to Rue de la Cure, where you turn right to return to your starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 95 m - Church car park, Place de Gottignies
  2. 1 : km 0.2 - alt. 101 m - Crossroads of Rue des Salinques
  3. 2 : km 0.72 - alt. 91 m - The Basse farm
  4. 3 : km 2.15 - alt. 104 m - Chemin du Gué
  5. 4 : km 3.42 - alt. 102 m - Cemetery
  6. 5 : km 4.19 - alt. 93 m - Grange aux Dîmes
  7. S/E : km 4.52 - alt. 95 m - Church car park, Place de Gottignies

Notes

This route is marked with yellow signs. QR codes will give you additional information about where you are via your smartphone.

Worth a visit

(S/E) St Léger Church. This church dates back to the 9th century. From the early 12th century until the 18th century, the altar was managed by the monks of Saint-Denis-en-Brocqueroie. Afterwards, having ceased to depend on the Abbey of Saint-Denis, it was decided to build a new church as we know it today in a style that is half classical, half Renaissance.
Inside, there is a symbolic painting that appears to date from the 16th century: Christ on the cross on a cloth of honour. The three ends of the cross represent hands: one is making the sign of blessing, another is knocking down an idol with an arrow, and the last is holding a key and appears to be opening the heavens.

The Basse farm. It is located on the site of the former seigneury of Gottignies (+ 1115 to 1786). This fiefdom overlooked one of the meanders of the Wanze.

Rue des Fonds. It is difficult to imagine today that this was once the most important road in this charming village. You are actually walking along the old road that linked Mons to Le Roeulx. The bed of the Wanze river occupies the lowest part of the road.

Gottignies beach. The famous Gottignies 'beach' was located on the site of the property at No. 8. Created in 1934 on the initiative of a garage owner from Jolimont, swimming pools, 'gloriettes' (open-air cafés, as they would have been called across the Quiévrain), a velodrome, a kiosk and a slide adorned this site covering more than one hectare. On Ascension Day in 1935, no fewer than 1,500 visitors were counted! Unfortunately, four years later, a serious accident put an end to the adventure.

Rue de la Grange aux Dîmes. The name of this street presupposes the former existence of a building on this site where the clergy collected "tithes". Opposite this old road stands the village's calvary. Made of brick and blue stone, it was the fourth station during the procession on 15 August. It dates from the first half of the 19th century.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 8 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
coco1939
coco1939

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 31, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

On 31/05/2021, we discovered this hike.
The signage was excellent. It was a relaxing hike with no difficulties.
We were afraid to hike on the streets. There are very few of them and there is no traffic.
The trails are well maintained.
Highly recommended for getting your legs moving.
My wife and I are back in Belgium after 20 years south of Perpignan.
There's no comparison. Here, the elevation gain on hikes is immediately over 300 metres!
Marie-Ange and Francis COLIN, ATH.

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tuabiht
tuabiht

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 19, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Gottignies is a very quiet village, even on a Friday afternoon... Very good.

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PRLBINCHE
PRLBINCHE

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 10, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant walk in nature that can be enjoyed with the whole family.
A lovely spot to discover.
Our only regret is that we couldn't see the 16th-century painting because the church was closed.
We will return in the spring for another look at Gottignies.

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Madness44
Madness44

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 27, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant route through the charming village of Gottignies!

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Mimie Lemoine
Mimie Lemoine

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 28, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

It was a discovery just a few minutes from our home. Impeccable description and specifications.

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Florine Dela
Florine Dela

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A lovely walk, we easily followed the yellow signs from Place de Gottignies. We finished the route (according to the signs) in an hour, so we extended it with a short section of another walk thanks to the sign on the square, which shows three walking routes. The paths were in good condition and nicely laid out (small wooden bridge, stones, etc.). Lovely village and beautiful countryside views.

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Phil/Kafka
Phil/Kafka

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 19, 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 fine weather

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tribu226
tribu226

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 07, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The yellow arrows indicated do not entirely correspond to the route described; the end of the route is different, but for the better (field path and small trail). The QR codes do not work either, except for one, which is a shame. Otherwise, it is a peaceful, rural route with no particular difficulties.

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