Longuyon walks

A walk along the Chiers, on a mainly tarmac-surfaced and easily accessible route. This walk takes you close to former industrial and production sites that are now disused. In the tranquillity of the forest, imagine the hum of activity from days gone by still echoing amongst the trees and the remnants of the past.

Set in a very pretty rural setting with lush green valleys and a traditional village.

A beautiful walking route amongst the old stone buildings, tunnel fountains and the countryside. Although described as a walking route, this route can also be tackled by mountain bike (in which case, adjust the starting point due to road signage; see description).

A route for fitness enthusiasts and walkers, for fans of beautiful photos, and lovers of peace and nature.

This very natural route takes you on a journey of discovery through the wooded hills on the border between the Batte (Belgium) and Coulmy (France) valleys.Anyone with even a passing interest in the region's industrial history will also discover its mining and steel-making past, highlighted by the Transfrontier Iron Mines Trail and a number of information panels along the route.The trail passes by some of the iron mines that brought prosperity to the region in the 19th and 20th centuries, as well as the Musson slag heap, which over time collected all the slag from the mines on the Musson and Halanzy sides. Now cleaned up, it has been turned into a nature reserve managed by the DNF (Nature and Forestry Division).

Here in winter, the meadows and fields are green! This lovely, undulating region with its varied landscapes is perfect for walking. On this side, there are no visible mining remains such as those located a little further south, straddling the Franco-Belgian border… apart, of course, from the reminders of this industrial past provided by the Corten steel signposts: a brilliant idea which also makes it fairly easy to find your way around, provided, of course, that you know the region a little and the names of the various localities. The walk does, however, pass by a cross (a protected heritage site in Wallonia) dating from the Napoleonic era. And occasionally, you come across strange works of art as you wander along the path.

This route straddles a linguistic border, the one that divides Belgian Lorraine into two cultural zones. To the west lies the Gaume, characterised by Gaumais, a Lorraine dialect of Latin origin. To the east, the Pays d’Arlon is characterised by a Germanic dialect, Moselle Franconian. The place-names, sometimes Latin and sometimes Germanic, allow you to trace the course of this cultural boundary.

As the weather is set to be rainy with thunderstorms all day, I’m sticking to the main roads – even the major routes – to get to my destination for the day, Habay-la-Neuve, as quickly as possible. I’m staying in a hotel in the town. The stop (E) is therefore at my discretion.

Gaume, this beautiful hilly region in southern Belgium, is known for its mild climate. However, I have no idea if the area is popular with hikers... There are hiking markers all along the route. It is possible that you will encounter few or no people.

Famous for its Witches’ Festival, Fillières also offers lovely countryside and woodland walking trails. This walk through the woods will let you discover the charms of the Crusnes through the seasons. The path is currently impassable due to fallen trees. Forestry work is not yet complete.

Famous for its Witches’ Festival, Fillières also offers lovely walking trails. This one combines a walk through the forest with country lanes. It runs alongside the River Crusnes and offers you peaceful spots to recharge your batteries in the heart of nature.

A pleasant walk in Gaume, even in gloomy weather, through countryside and forests.The route begins by climbing up to the plateau overlooking Rachecourt before descending into the depths of the Batte valley.After the small reed pond, the route crosses the country ridge before descending to Battincourt, where the playground offers a few benches and a welcome picnic table.In Battincourt, the walk follows the marked "Les Sept Sources" trail in the opposite direction until just beyond the Battincourt ponds.On the way back, the route passes through a lovely arboretum!Please note that some sections, such as the Bois de Pertot, can be very muddy.

The Étang d’Amel, owned by the Conservatoire d’espaces naturels de Lorraine, was designated, along with the adjoining land, as a Regional Nature Reserve in 2006 by the Lorraine Regional Council. The Étang d’Amel nature route, which runs through the villages of Senon and Amel-sur-l’Étang, features information boards and two observation points. This allows you to watch the birds without disturbing them.

Lasauvage and Fond-de-Gras are must-see sites for understanding the mining history of this cross-border region.The railway line between Fond-de-Gras and Pétange was built in the 19th century to facilitate the transport of iron ore from the hills to the steelworks and foundries located on the plain.The narrow-gauge network, which can be seen in both Lasauvage and Fond-de-Gras, was used to transport the ore from the underground mine galleries to the transfer points.Fond-de-Gras, formerly known as the Lamadelaine industrial station, has now become a living museum of the region’s mining and industrial past and houses magnificent relics from days gone by. It is also the home of the ‘Train 1900’ and ‘Minièresbunn’ (underground) tourist trains, which operate mainly at weekends and on public holidays from May to September.

Start at the Ermitage de Saint-Léger, continue towards the Trou du Pérou and its waterfall, pass by the Étang du Fourneau David, then the Source Pétrifiante, and finish by crossing the Bois de Saint-Léger.

A very pleasant walk with sweeping views.

Leaving Meix-devant-Virton via roads with light to moderate traffic and arriving in Halanzy via similar roads does not mean the entire route is like this. No, there are quiet country lanes with beautiful views, farm tracks that turn into woodland paths, and a steep downhill stretch through a neighbourhood of holiday homes. And then there’s the River Ton, which sets the tone in its valley, along with more unexpected and unlikely paths and tracks. As I’m staying with a local, my stopping point is open to chance.

A pleasant walk passing through Montauban, the Fourneau Marchand fish market and crossing the old railway line. In summer, you can enjoy a drink on the terrace at the Fourneau Marchand!

What a lovely, enchanting walk! Enter the great Gaume forest. Passing through another beautiful high forest, you’ll follow a magnificent path winding through a secluded valley, where you’ll discover the Trou des Fées right at its heart. This astonishing sand dune is made up of several galleries carved out by natural erosion.

Passing through woods, meadows and sites of First World War battles, we reach the River Meuse at Stenay, a small town in department 55. Our route crosses several meanders and enters the Ardennes via Mouzon, from where EuroVelo 19 takes us to Sedan. On the way, we’ll pitch our tent near Lake Douzy and return there in the evening.