The Transardennaise by roadbike

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 located on the meander of the Ourthe. The town is situated at 220 m above sea level and surrounded by wooded hills. The townscape is dominated by the ruins of a medieval castle, from which there is a beautiful view of the city and its surroundings. Luggage and bike drop-off at La Roche-en-Ardenne. Transfer of the vehicles to Bouillon (departure from La Roche-en-Ardenne around 4pm, transfer time: about 2 hours). Evening meal included.

Day 2

La Roche-en-Ardenne – Saint-Hubert (45 km; +740 m)
You start the day with a steep climb out of the La Roche valley. Then the road crosses a gently sloping landscape to Hives. You arrive in Cens, once a prosperous village, but today only about twenty houses are inhabited. The road is then uncovered and you will have beautiful views over wide wooded hills. In Wyompont, you cross the Ourthe.

Then the route passes through the village of Lavacherie where you can still admire many typical Ardennes houses. In the forest of Freyr, you will discover a magnificent forest of preserved nature. Near Vesqueville, you start the descent towards Saint-Hubert, European capital of nature and hunting.

Day 3

Saint-Hubert – Daverdisse (54 km ; +1050 m)
This day allows you to cross some of the most beautiful deciduous and coniferous forests in the Ardennes. You will pass by the Saint-Michel Furnace estate, where you can visit the “Iron Museum” which houses a rich collection of tools used in the metallurgical industry at the time. There is also a cosy café with regional dishes. The “Museum of Rural Life” is an open-air museum covering 32 hectares. A few solid climbs separate you from Nassogne, one of the oldest villages in the Ardennes.

From Nassogne, the differences in height are smaller. The hike passes partly through forests, but mostly through fields and hilly meadows. In the Masblette valley, we find ourselves in an agricultural area. After Mirwart, you cross the Marsau valley and the Haute-Lesse valley near Daverdisse. The road takes you to the book village of Redu. Every year, during the Easter weekend, a “book festival” is organised there and attracts thousands of people. After Redu, the road winds through the Lesse valley, it is certainly one of the most beautiful roads in the Ardennes. It gradually climbs up to Daverdisse, the last village for today.

Day 4

Daverdisse – Bouillon (64 km; + 920 m)
This day is not really difficult as there are only a few gradients, the only real slope is at the start in Daverdisse. In addition, the landscape opens up again and you benefit from wide views. The first village you pass through is Porcheresse, a village which, together with Daverdisse, belonged to the Stavelot Abbey. After Opont, you have about twenty kilometres of descent to reach the village of Vresse-Sur-Semois.

Then you cross the Semois and climb to Rochehaut to see the magnificent viewpoint on the “Tomb of the Giant”. You then reach Mogimont, then Sensenruth with its huge Saint-Lambert church. Then you drive further south. You end the route with a beautiful descent to Bouillon, the oldest capital of the duchy. Due to its unique location, it has always been a border town, the medieval castle dominates the town. The Ducal Museum houses an interesting section on the history of the Crusades. Bravo, you’ve done 164 km in 3 stages. Possibility to visit the town and the castle. You can choose to return in the late afternoon or relax for an extra night in Bouillon!