The Waulsort water crossing

de fr

At the beginning of the 19th century, there were around ten water crossings on the Meuse between Givet and Namur. After the railway line between Givet and Dinant was opened in 1863, the water crossing – which was then in operation in both summer and winter – enabled the inhabitants of Falmagne and Falmignoul to cross the Meuse to catch the train at Waulsort.
The Waulsort water crossing is the only one still in operation, but only during the (good) tourist season.

Details

n°77436959
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 17.39 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 460 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 462 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 267 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 94 m
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Photos

The Waulsort water ferry

Description of the walk

As the elevation chart shows, this walk takes you on a journey of discovery through the landscape on the back of a three-humped camel: up-down-up-down-up-down is the motto.
On the programme: pretty countryside, a few steep forest paths, beautiful views of the Meuse, the former Ermitage des Cascatelles near the point (11), originally built as a flour mill and then an oil mill, in ruins in 2020 and undergoing reconstruction in 2025, as well as the Romanesque abbey church (19) shortly before the finish.

It is impossible to do this walk as described outside the opening hours of the water passage (see practical information), but it is possible to take the path on the right at km 5.4 (4), quickly reach the Waulsort lock, then cross the Meuse via the island and the Waulsort dam and rejoin the original route at km 11.8 (12), thus shortening the walk by about 6 kilometres.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 101 m - Church of Hastière-Lavaux
  2. 1 : km 0.4 - alt. 151 m - Power line
  3. 2 : km 2.69 - alt. 190 m - Crossroads
  4. 3 : km 4.36 - alt. 187 m - Camp
  5. 4 : km 5.37 - alt. 107 m - Alternative water crossing closed
  6. 5 : km 5.84 - alt. 106 m - Rue de Noizay
  7. 6 : km 6.15 - alt. 98 m - Water crossing - Meuse (fleuve)
  8. 7 : km 7.58 - alt. 209 m - Top of the hill
  9. 8 : km 8.15 - alt. 233 m - Crossroads
  10. 9 : km 9.92 - alt. 259 m - Entrance to the woods
  11. 10 : km 10.26 - alt. 203 m - Ranle stream
  12. 11 : km 10.95 - alt. 143 m - The Cascatelles
  13. 12 : km 11.84 - alt. 95 m - Waulsort dam
  14. 13 : km 12.44 - alt. 150 m - Pond
  15. 14 : km 13.52 - alt. 236 m - Fish farm
  16. 15 : km 13.87 - alt. 240 m - Blaimont
  17. 16 : km 14.12 - alt. 238 m - Blaimont Cemetery
  18. 17 : km 15.33 - alt. 194 m - N915
  19. 18 : km 15.98 - alt. 188 m - Les Spineuses
  20. 19 : km 16.98 - alt. 102 m - Romanesque Abbey Church of Hastière - Meuse (fleuve)
  21. S/E : km 17.39 - alt. 101 m - Church of Hastière-Lavaux

Notes

Please note: the ferryman is available every day from the beginning of April to the end of September from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., as well as on weekends in October. Please check https://hastiere-tourisme.be

Other walks in the area

Walking Les Cascatelles starting from Hastière

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Walking The Hermeton Valley from Hastière

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Walking The Pont d'Arcole Caves

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Walking Along the Hermeton

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↔9.34 km ↗+176 m ↘-168 m ◔3h 10 ▲Moderate
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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).

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La vallée de l'Hermeton avec un retour par le bois des deux fonds de Lays
↔18.55 km ↗+288 m ↘-285 m ◔6h 05 ▲Moderate
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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.

Walking Tour along the rocks of the Meuse

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Walking Circular route starting from Falmagne

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↔13.83 km ↗+240 m ↘-240 m ◔4h 40 ▲Moderate
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This circular walk allows you to combine two of the Dinant region’s finest attractions: the Rocher de Freyr and the Chemin des Cascatelles.

Walking The Cascatelles from Falmignoul

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Les Cascatelles au départ de Falmignoul
↔7.10 km ↗+204 m ↘-196 m ◔2h 35 ▲Moderate
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From Falmignoul, descend via the Chemin du Crestia, followed by a short walk along the Meuse before returning to the village via the enchanting Cascatelles trail.

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