The Seven Fountains, ponds, woods and countryside from Rhode-Saint-Genèse

For this hike, the easiest option is to park at the end of Avenue du Triangle, not far from Chaussée de Braine l'Alleud in Rhodes-Saint-Genèse.

(S/E) Head south to the end of Avenue du Triangle, then turn right onto Chemin des Sept Fontaines and continue along Chemin du Meunier, a large stone path that descends along the valley, until you reach the first crossroads after the small pond.

(1) Take the path on the left that passes between two ponds and continues to the right, following the large main pond that is now on your right. Shortly afterwards, a pedestrian chicane allows you to follow the bank to the end. Then follow the paved path on the right, leaving a higher pond on your left.

(2) After the large pond, another chicane on the left allows you to take a path that passes through a meadow, running along the right side of the small pond and the stream that feeds it. The whole area is partly hidden by trees. A small bridge crosses this stream a little further on. Continue along this path, which joins a roughly paved road.

(3) Turn right. This path passes in front of the huge Ermitage farm, which is currently being renovated (see "Nearby" section below), then climbs between meadows and a private wood. This is the Colipain drive.

(4) At the top, turn right onto Chemin Lazard. Continue along this straight path and, at the Y-junction, keep right, leaving Chemin du Bois du Vicaire on your left.

(5) Take a small path that descends to the right. This path is not very visible in autumn, hidden by dead leaves, but it becomes more obvious further on, turning into a sunken path. Further still, it joins meadows at a T-junction.

(6) At the bottom, turn right onto the path called "Kwademarasch", which is also part of the Grande Randonnée hiking trail. Watch out for the barbed wire on the right as the path becomes very narrow. Continue until you reach the main pond.

(7) Turn left to reach the initial fork.

(1) Continue straight ahead, still following the ponds, and join Avenue du Triangle (S/E).

This hike is short and therefore easy, but beware of the quality of the paths: some of them, which were paved a long time ago, are completely uneven. Good walking shoes are recommended.
At the end, from the point (5.), the path is very muddy because it is fed by springs. Good shoes will be necessary here too.

Refreshments: there is a restaurant, Friture, at the Sept Fontaines crossroads on the Braine l'Alleud road. There are no others along the way.

Public transport
To get to the start from Brussels, you can take the train to Uccle Calevoet station, then take TEC bus no. 40 towards Braine l'Alleud and get off at the Sept Fontaines stop. Unfortunately, there are few buses per day.
Another option is to take the train to Braine l'Alleud, then take TEC bus no. 40 towards Alsemberg and Uccle Calevoet, as there are more buses in this direction.
It is also possible to take the train to Rhodes Saint Genèse station, then take TEC bus no. 122 towards Braine l'Alleud. It stops at the Sept Fontaines stop, but the line is very poorly served.

The Catholic religion forbade the consumption of meat on Fridays and during Lent. In the Middle Ages, monks subject to this prohibition built a priory on the site where seven springs flowed, hence the name Sept Fontaines (Seven Fountains). They dug ponds to raise fish. This allowed them to consume protein on fasting days. The first settlement dates back to 1389. It became a priory in 1418, under the auspices of the Augustinian monks.
The priory buildings have disappeared as a result of successive wars and fires. However, the buildings of the Hermit's farm still exist and are currently being renovated. You will see them at point (3.) on this hike. Unfortunately, the estate has become private property.
The site is now listed, despite the numerous buildings that have disfigured the landscape. It is located in the municipalities of Braine-l'Alleud and Rhode-Saint-Genèse, straddling the linguistic border, in a spur of the Sonian Forest. It looks like a valley with a chain of ponds surrounded by woods.