Saint-Léger (Belgique) walks

La Gaume, this beautiful hilly region in southern Belgium, is known for its mild climate. However, we have no idea if the area is very popular with hikers... There are hiking signs all along the route. It is possible to encounter few or no people.

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).

The mines, the mines of yesterday, the iron mines... this is the main theme of this hike.Fond-de-Gras is the most informative site on this subject: it was the station where narrow-gauge trains converged to unload iron ore into standard-gauge wagons bound for the steelworks and blast furnaces of Pétange, Differdange and others in Belgium and Germany.

This magnificent walk takes you on a journey of discovery through the former mining sites operated by the A.R.B.E.D between Esch-sur-Alzette, Schifflange and Kayl. It is offered by the CFL (Luxembourg's railway company) as part of its Hike & Rail range of hiking trails from station to station and has been slightly modified by us at the start and finish.

Set off to discover Luxembourg, its old town, its cobbled paths high up for changing panoramic views, cross a park surrounded by Vauban fortifications. Climb to the top of the Rock Bock and descend towards the old town.

Set off to explore Banibois, in the heart of the woods crossed by the stream of the same name. This walk will take you through hundred-year-old oak trees, majestic beech trees and spruce plantations. You will also enjoy vast meadows on the edge of the woods.

This unpretentious walk allows you to wander around the villages of Freux and Bras, through pastures and along country roads. The walk starts in front of the church in Freux, where there is a large car park.

Starting from Michelau station (free parking, free access by train or bus from anywhere in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg), the walk heads south, crosses the Sûre (a river similar to the Ourthe and Semois in Belgium) and climbs up the right bank, following its course along a forest path, a small country road and a slightly steep trail.