River, railway and geological heritage trail in Bernissart

Park at the car park by the first lock of the old Antoing–Pommeroeul Canal.

(S/E) Cross the road carefully (poor visibility) and follow the canal along the left bank. Pass under the RAVEL masonry bridge spanning the old canal and continue to lock no. 5, where you will find an old barge.

(1) Continue straight ahead and take the bridge on your right, then head towards the metal footbridge spanning the main Antoing-Nimy Canal, which runs parallel to the green-painted RAVEL bridge. At the end of the footbridge, join the Blaton-Ath Canal on your left and follow it to Blaton.

(2) Cross the road bridge on your left and then turn right to continue along the left bank of the canal towards lock no. 4.

(3) Before reaching it, cross the bridge on your right and follow Rue de Condé towards the railway bridge.

(4) Once you’ve crossed it, turn onto the first road on your left, Rue du Mont d’Or, until you reach the cycle path.

(5) Take it on your left and follow it to Bernissart. Pass along the Grande Bruyère de Blaton Nature Reserve and cross the large Antoing-Nimy Canal. Watch out for the slippery surface in wet weather; you will also cross the bridge over the old canal (slippery surface!).

(6) At the end of the cycle path, after the disused Bernissart station, turn left onto Rue de Valenciennes, cross it and follow it to the left until you reach the first small street on your right.

(7) Turn into this lane and follow the geological trail (free entry!).

(8) After passing a wasteland on your left and a concrete fence on your right, take the alley on your right which leads to Rue Lotard.

(9) Cross this street and take the grassy alley opposite, slightly diagonally, between a hedge on the left and barbed wire on the right, until you reach Rue Grande.

(10) Turn left and, after 100 m, turn right into Rue du Marais until you reach the first path on your left.

(11) Follow it to reach Rue du Fraty, which you take to the right, then continue on Rue des Préaux, which will take you back to the starting point (S/E).

The 11th-century church in Blaton.
Grande Bruyère Nature Reserve in Blaton.
Geological Garden in Bernissart.
The Iguanodon Museum in Bernissart.
The Harchies Marshes Bird Reserve.