Grand Tour between Famenne and Ardenne

Program

Day 1

La Roche-en-Ardenne
Welcome in La Roche-en-Ardenne in the afternoon and handing over of the complete file. Possibility to visit the village of La Roche and its castle. Evening meals included.

Day 2

La Roche-en-Ardenne – Sainte-Ode (25.3 km; +537 m)
The departure is from the Place du Bronze in La Roche-en-Ardenne. This first stage presents no difficulties, apart from a fairly steep climb out of La Roche-en-Ardenne, to convince you from the outset that there’s more to Belgium than the “Plat Pays” sung by Jacques Brel. You then pass through open countryside and undergrowth towards the commune of Sainte-Ode.

Day 3

Sainte-Ode – Saint-Hubert (20.3 km ;+ 365 m)
This stage takes place mainly in undergrowth and has a relatively hilly profile. It will allow you to discover the Great Forest of Saint-Hubert and is, without doubt, one of the most pleasant stages of La Transardennaise for those who love solitude and the invigorating air of the great forests. At the end of the stage, you’ll arrive in Saint-Hubert, the European capital of nature and hunting, where you can enjoy a drink on the terrace overlooking the famous basilica.

Day 4

Saint-Hubert – Nassogne (27.5 km ;+722 m)
Today’s stage ignores the flat: climbs are followed by descents and vice versa, but effort is rewarded as it passes through some of the most beautiful forests in the Ardennes, forests of beech, oak and especially conifers. You will also pass by the magnificent site of the Fourneau Saint-Michel with its museum of iron and rural life. You’ll arrive in the evening in Nassogne, a charming village on the border between the Ardennes and the Famenne. The stage can be shortened to 23 km by turning left before the Fourneau Saint-Michel.

Day 5

Nassogne – Marche-en-Famenne (17.6 km; + 292 m)
This first stage takes you from Nassogne to Marche-en-Famenne. This stage takes you to the heart of the Ardenne-Famenne Geopark. You start out on foot from the center of Nassogne, quickly crossing open countryside offering beautiful views. You’ll then pass through the village of Ambly and Waha, famous for its Saint-Etienne church, a Romanesque building dating from 1050. You finish your stage in Marche-en-Famenne.

Day 6

Marche-en-Famenne – Marcourt (24.8 km; + 517 m)
From Marche-en-Famenne, head up towards the village of Verdenne. Continue on the signposted route to Hotton to discover this village on the banks of the Ourthe. From Hotton, the route to Marcourt is very hilly and takes you past a cemetery where 666 British soldiers who fell in the Second World War are buried.

Day 7

Marcourt – La Roche-en-Ardenne (14 km; + 455 m)
This last stage is not the longest but it is hilly. It takes you from Marcourt to La Roche-en-Ardenne, dominated by the ruins of a medieval castle. End of the hike on arrival at the Bronze Square. Possibility to visit the town and its castle before returning to the starting point. You can also choose to spend an extra night on site and return the next morning.