The best hikes from bus stations in Hauts Pays Natural Park

Marchipont is a Belgian village located on the border with France. The Aunelle river has divided the village in two since 1779, thus forming a natural border between Belgium and France. Historically, Marchipont was a place of passage and smuggling due to its strategic geographical position.

Athis is a village in the commune of Honnelles. Before the merger of the municipalities in 1977, Athis was a municipality in its own right. Historically, the village was home to the Saint-Ursmer parish, which depended on the abbey of Saint-Ghislain and the diocese of Cambrai. The Saint-Ursmer church, notable for its 13th century Romanesque tower and its 15th century blue stone baptismal font, is an example of local religious architecture.

Erquennes is a small agricultural village located in the commune of Honnelles, in the province of Hainaut, Wallonia. Historically, it included two lordships, one belonging to the abbey of Saint-Ghislain and the other to the Count of Hainaut. The locality covers an area of 400 hectares and has around 470 inhabitants.

The Bois d'Angre, located in Honnelles, is a forest renowned for the Caillou-qui-Bique, a 370 million year old pudding rock. This forest is home to rich biodiversity with oaks, ash trees and various rare species. A place of legends and hikes, the Angre woods is a precious natural site in Wallonia, managed by Natagora and other organizations to preserve its unique fauna and flora.

Fayt-le-Franc is a village in the commune of Honnelles, in the province of Hainaut, Wallonia. Its history dates back at least to the 13th century, with mentions of local lordships and the castle farm of Rampemont, dating from the 16th and 17th centuries. The village is crossed by the Petite Honnelle, where the Fayt-le-Franc mill is located, an old water mill built before 1523.

Passe-tout-Outre is a locality in the Belgian village of Autreppe (commune of Honnelles) located in the Walloon Region in the province of Hainaut. Being at the crossroads of the old Brunehaut road linking Bavay (in France) to Tournai (in Belgium) and the border road from Fayt-le-Franc to Roisin, and located exactly on the French border, the locality owes its name and its reputation to the fact that its café was the usual stopover for smugglers of all kinds, waiting at night to smuggle their goods into France. Only an old and modest customs post and the Auberge du Passe-Tout-Outre (former 18th century farm) keep the memory of these bygone times.

The Saint-Pierre d'Onnezies church is a historic building probably dating from the Middle Ages. This church has witnessed many events over the centuries. It is notable for its priests, listed since 1600, and for its active parish community. The church and surrounding area also offer hiking trails.

A very rough dirt farm road, probably with puddles that are impossible to get around after a recent rain. Fortunately, some uneven cobblestones made it possible to walk without getting our feet wet.