Walzin, Chaleux and the ancient Roman camp

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Starting from the small car park at the end of Pont-à-Lesse, this walk takes you on a journey of discovery, covering less than 15 km, to some of the most interesting sites in the Lesse Valley just before it joins the Meuse at Anseremme: Walzin Castle perched on its rock overlooking the river, the Aiguilles de Chaleux, part of the Furfooz Nature Reserve and the ruins of the Roman Camp (please note: there’s an admission charge!), the pretty village of Furfooz, and the Ferme de Sûre, which overlooks the agricultural plateau.
And for those who are unaware, the Lesse has another sinkhole apart from the Gouffre de Belvaux and its resurgence at Han-sur-Lesse. There is a partial sinkhole at Furfooz, slightly downstream from Gendron Gare, with a resurgence after the Aiguilles de Chaleux. The ‘Trou qui Fume’ is situated directly above the underground course and sometimes emits steam in winter when there is a marked difference between the temperature inside (the cave) and outside (frost).

Details

n°99306482
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.82 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,004 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 994 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 873 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 318 ft
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Photos

View over the Lesse valley

Description of the walk

A few details to supplement the introductory text:

(S/E) Young and old alike will probably enjoy discovering the wild boar farm at the Moulin de Walzin.

(5) Here, you have to choose: Camp Romain (entrance fee applies) or not. If yes, turn left. If not, turn right until you reach (8).

(6) Roman Camp and Furfooz Nature Reserve. There’s an admission charge (and it’s not exactly cheap!), but the site is well worth a visit, if only for its natural beauty. The Roman fortifications and other structures are a bonus. Exit at (8) near La Flobette (refreshment bar and light refreshments by the banks of the Lesse). Check opening times for both the site and the refreshment bar in advance.

(9) Carry on straight ahead. If you want to take a shortcut and avoid Gendron Gare, turn left onto the trail that climbs up (10).

(12) On the path leading down from the Ferme de Sûre, just before the tree, turn right onto the path (which is sometimes barely visible) that crosses the field towards Dréhance.

(14) End of the path. Go left past the ‘livestock-proof’ gate and cross the pasture in a south-south-easterly direction towards the woods.

(15) Follow the inter-village signposts towards Walzin.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 341 ft - Car park below Walzin - lesse (rivière) - Belgique
  2. 1 : mi 0.11 - alt. 328 ft - Footbridge - lesse (rivière) - Belgique
  3. 2 : mi 0.42 - alt. 390 ft - Views of Walzin Castle
  4. 3 : mi 0.86 - alt. 364 ft - Bridge - lesse (rivière) - Belgique
  5. 4 : mi 1.75 - alt. 335 ft - Aiguilles de Chaleux - lesse (rivière) - Belgique
  6. 5 : mi 2.4 - alt. 413 ft - Fork - lesse (rivière) - Belgique
  7. 6 : mi 2.72 - alt. 528 ft - Entrance to the Roman Camp
  8. 7 : mi 3.12 - alt. 499 ft - Smoking hole (in winter)
  9. 8 : mi 3.44 - alt. 404 ft - Exit from the Roman Camp - lesse (rivière) - Belgique
  10. 9 : mi 3.83 - alt. 367 ft - Shortcut - lesse (rivière) - Belgique
  11. 10 : mi 4.95 - alt. 640 ft - End of the shortcut
  12. 11 : mi 5.61 - alt. 692 ft - Furfooz
  13. 12 : mi 6.4 - alt. 853 ft - Crossing a field
  14. 13 : mi 6.79 - alt. 850 ft - Dréhance
  15. 14 : mi 7.34 - alt. 692 ft - Crossing a pasture
  16. 15 : mi 7.95 - alt. 571 ft - Fork in the road towards Walzin
  17. S/E : mi 8.82 - alt. 341 ft - Car park below Walzin - lesse (rivière) - Belgique

Notes

There are very few benches or picnic tables along this route. La Flobette is probably the ideal place to stop, whether it’s open or not!

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