The best traffic-free bike rides around Andenne

The trail no. 37 that goes up the stream is a very pleasant place to ride gravel. Forest, quiet, pretty, rideable. We arrive at Landenne somewhat unexpectedly, rue champs des oiseaux.

At the end of 2025, the urban planning permit for the renovation of the castle and its outbuildings was granted. It will be a large-scale restoration project – the complete renovation of the main castle and the improvement of the facades and roofs – aiming to breathe new life into this 17th-century gem, classified as exceptional heritage of Wallonia. The project includes the operation of the castle as a large guest house, combining historical preservation with public access. During my visit in July 2026, it was clearly visible that the works had started: there were construction containers along the driveway, where there was quite a bit of activity. source: haltinne.be

The domain of the Haltinne castle covers 279.98 ha of agricultural land, forests and meadows. The 'Struviaux' stream and several springs supply water to four ponds and the castle's moat. From an architectural point of view, the Haltinne castle is an exceptional heritage. Its appearance today is the same as when it was built in the mid-1600s. The imposing towers, loopholes and moat are reminiscent of a military function, but this is indeed a castle farm. Not only the facades, roofs and moat, but also the castle's monumental staircase are protected as exceptional heritage of Wallonia. This stone staircase has steps two meters wide, with a wide handrail also in stone. The massive character of this staircase contrasts with the statuettes representing the allegories of the four seasons. The wrought iron gate originally intended for King Leopold II and the 'Ciergnon' castle, the false windows in the east tower and the barn with a straw roof consisting of round limestone pillars are some other points of interest of the castle, which is however not publicly accessible. source: haltinne.be

The Château d’Ahin belongs to the oldest noble estates in the region between the Meuse Valley and the Condroz plateau. It was presumably built in the 13th century, but its ownership history is only well-documented from the mid-14th century onwards. Between 1350 and 1468, the estate was owned by the Dominion, de Faulx, and Aubrion families, respectively. These successive changes of ownership illustrate the dynamics of marriages, inheritances, and feudal realignments that characterized the noble landscape of the Prince-Bishopric of Liège. From 1618, the castle was inhabited by the d’Arberg de Valagin family, who resided there for more than a century and a half and owned the estate until the end of the 18th century. In 1811, the Château d’Ahin became the property of the Huytens family, during a period marked by political upheavals and administrative reforms under French and later Dutch rule. The castle largely retained its older structure, built of limestone and brick, with architectural features dating back to the Romanesque tradition, adapted and expanded in later centuries. The estate is set in an extensive park of approximately 20 hectares, which was laid out in the 19th century according to the principles of the English landscape style. A significant transformation took place in 1852, when Prince de Looz-Corswarem acquired the castle. He had the building extensively renovated and redesigned in the Flemish Renaissance style. This renovation largely gave the Château d’Ahin its current appearance and marked a break with the more sober, medieval character of the original building. At the end of the 19th century, the castle changed hands twice more. Finally, in 1931, the castle was purchased by Baron Pierre van Zuylen. The heirs, Thierry and Antoinette Van Zuylen, gave the outbuildings a new function, respecting their historical character, by converting them into guest rooms. Source: burchten-kastelen.be

The bridge over the Meuse in Ben-Ahin is a cable-stayed bridge. It was put into position on 18 September 1987 by rotation around its concrete pylon. This construction method remained the world record for the heaviest bridge (16,000 tons) erected by rotation for over 30 years. In 2019, however, this record was shattered when a bridge weighing no less than 46,000 tons was put in place by rotation in the Chinese city of Baoding. The design and construction of this 341 m long structure were developed by the Greisch firm. The longest span (the central part over the water) is 126 meters. It was named the 'Pater Pire Bridge', named after the winner of the 1958 Nobel Peace Prize, a Dominican who worked at the Sarte monastery in Huy. source: greisch.com and news.cgtn.com

Views of Ahin Castle, built in red brick with a natural stone base. Its history dates back to the 12th century. Today, it houses guest rooms in the castle and adjacent castle farm.

visible from the road

Very nice tour with a few tough calf biters. Beautiful views with beautiful authentic villages. Well signposted with cycle junctions and very quiet roads.