Royal route around Ciergnon

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The Belgian royal family owns an estate in Ciergnon comprising a château and a large private (fenced) park overlooking the Lesse.
It is clearly visible from the RAVeL below, as well as from the countryside near Jambjoûle Farm. The Belgian Royal Foundation also owns the Fenffe estate, comprising a castle, park and ponds. This castle, hidden behind high walls facing the street and the tall trees of its park at the rear, is far less visible. Between the two lies several hectares of woodland: this is the royal hunting ground, some of whose paths are open to the public... except on hunting days.

So here is the itinerary for the first 14 km of this walk in Wallonia: the Lesse, a stretch of the RAVeL, two castles and a beautiful forest. Afterwards, the route leaves the woods and descends towards Briquemont and its beautiful Queen Astrid Chapel. On the return journey, there are another 3 km of forest before reaching the countryside near the farm at Jambjoûle.

Details

n°97197353
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.55 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,165 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,155 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 938 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 433 ft
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Photos

The Royal Castle of Ciergnon

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 469 ft - RAVeL car park in Vilers-sur-Lesse
  2. 1 : mi 0.1 - alt. 459 ft - Splendid view of the Royal Castle of Ciergnon
  3. 2 : mi 0.6 - alt. 502 ft - Chemin de la Colyre
  4. 3 : mi 1.76 - alt. 472 ft - Chemin de la Reine
  5. 4 : mi 2.7 - alt. 528 ft - Waterfall – spillway of the Fenffe ponds
  6. 5 : mi 5.67 - alt. 568 ft - Fenffe Castle
  7. 6 : mi 7.23 - alt. 883 ft - Mont-Gauthier Wood
  8. 7 : mi 8.2 - alt. 764 ft - Bois de Briquemont
  9. 8 : mi 9.12 - alt. 541 ft - Briquemont
  10. 9 : mi 9.45 - alt. 531 ft - Queen Astrid Chapel
  11. 10 : mi 12.32 - alt. 509 ft - Jambjoûle Farm
  12. S/E : mi 12.55 - alt. 469 ft - RAVeL car park in Vilers-sur-Lesse

Notes

The Chemin de la Colyre was once a charming, mainly pedestrian path along the banks of the Lesse. With the development of the RAVeL and the decision not to repair the railway bridge (in very poor condition) over the Lesse between (1) and Vignée, the Chemin de la Colyre has become a fully-fledged RAVeL and is now also suitable for cycling. Take care on this section as the path is narrower here than on most other RAVeLs.

For your information: all cross-country forest tracks between (4) and (5) are off-limits. Consequently, do not expect any forest shortcuts in this area, except for the tarmac road – which has virtually no traffic, as Fenffe is a cul-de-sac.

Worth a visit

A few kilometres away:
- the Chevetogne Provincial Estate (entrance fee applies)
- the Han Caves estate and its wildlife park (entrance fee applies).

Other walks in the area

Walking In the footsteps of the Belgian monarchy from Villers-sur-Lesse

Visorando Member
↔7.31 mi ↗+446 ft ↘-456 ft ◔3h 45 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Rochefort (Belgique) (Province de Namur)
Follow in the footsteps of the Belgian royal family on this walk around Villers-sur-Lesse. Located on the Royal Donation estate (former royal properties), this circular takes you on a tour of various buildings: Villers Royal Farm, Villa Léopold, House of the Counts of Cunchy, Villers-sur-Lesse Castle, Ciergnon Castle, Queen Astrid Chapel. You will also have the opportunity to observe the typical landscapes of Famenne: fields, grasslands, forests and hills.

Walking Circular via Briquemont

Visorando Member
↔13.36 mi ↗+912 ft ↘-909 ft ◔6h 55 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Rochefort (Belgique) (Province de Namur)
A magnificent circular that takes you through unspoilt woods, starting from Éprave and connecting Briquemont, Ciergnon and Jamblinne, for experienced walkers. In Briquemont, take the path that climbs up to the farm next to the remains of a bus stop, continuing straight ahead until you reach the road, which you cross. Then continue straight ahead until you reach Ciergnon.

Walking Forest walk in Rochefort

Visorando Member
↔11.62 mi ↗+696 ft ↘-689 ft ◔5h 55 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Rochefort (Belgique) (Province de Namur)
A magnificent, airy forest where, with a bit of luck, you may see a deer or two frolicking.The view opens up and offers countryside landscapes as you approach the villages of Frandeux, Laloux, Briquemont and Éprave.

Walking Around Lissoir

Visorando Member
Autour de Lissoir
↔4.63 mi ↗+472 ft ↘-472 ft ◔2h 30 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Houyet (Province de Namur)
A hike with a slight elevation gain, mostly on passable paths. The route is perfectly feasible with children, but not with pushchairs. Only the first 800 metres are on the road, after which there are only paths reserved for pedestrians, cyclists and possibly horse riders.

Walking Caves and resurgences near Han-sur-Lesse

Visorando Member
Grottes et résurgences du côté de Han-sur-Lesse
↔10.42 mi ↗+1,066 ft ↘-1,066 ft ◔5h 45 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Rochefort (Belgique) (Province de Namur)
This beautiful nature walk takes you close to Belgium's most famous resurgences: the Lomme and the Lesse, as well as the associated caves. It also offers some lovely views of the surrounding valleys.

Walking Circular in Famenne starting from the Château de Lavaux-Sainte-Anne

Visorando Member
Boucle en Famenne au départ du Château de Lavaux-Sainte-Anne
↔13.83 mi ↗+1,020 ft ↘-1,014 ft ◔7h 15 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Rochefort (Belgique) (Province de Namur)
Lavaux-Saint-Anne is an ideal place to start a hike that is half countryside, half forest, not only in Famenne but also in Calestienne. The route offers beautiful panoramic views of the Famenne depression. The Château de Lavaux-Sainte-Anne is listed as a major heritage site in Wallonia. It is open to visitors and features 32 furnished and decorated rooms, 3 themed museums, a wetland area and a deer park.Revogne Castle is not open to visitors but is clearly visible on arrival in the village from the other side of the Wimbe. The route passes through the old gate of the medieval enclosure and the small church located on the hillside below the castle. The third historical gem of the hike is the imposing building of the Ferme d'Esclaye. However, the castle is not visible from public paths.

Walking From Hour to Petite Hour via Grande Hour

Visorando Member
De Hour à Petite Hour en passant par Grande Hour
↔5.52 mi ↗+312 ft ↘-335 ft ◔2h 50 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Houyet (Province de Namur)
Interestingly, it was in Petite Hour, a hamlet in the village of Hour, that Louis Marion, the oldest man Belgium has ever known, was born in 1893. After spending his entire life in the village, he died there at the age of 110. It was also from Hour that Max Cosyns, assistant to Professor Picard, took off in 1934 in his stratospheric balloon, landing 1,800 km away in Ljubljana, in the former Yugoslavia.

Walking Around Ave-et-Auffe

Visorando Member
Autour d'Ave-et-Auffe
↔6.47 mi ↗+446 ft ↘-446 ft ◔3h 20 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Rochefort (Belgique) (Province de Namur)
An easy hike accessible via the E411 motorway. Just 5 km from the Caves of Han-sur-Lesse, come and discover the charming village of Ave-et-Auffe, the village of my childhood. Formed by a merger in 1820, it stretches on either side of the Ry d’Ave, on the border with the province of Luxembourg but still within the province of Namur. Beautiful views over the Famenne and the foothills of the Ardennes. Breeding of Ardennes horses and alpacas. In March and April, daffodils, flowerbeds and hawthorns will delight you.

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