The best family-friendly hikes and walks around Ath

The castle of Anvaing is a strictly symmetrically built water castle with four corner towers. Dating from the 19th century, the castle is the main residence of the Count de Lannoy. Stephanie de Lannoy, the Grand Duchess consort of Luxembourg, grew up in this castle with her family. The 18th-century gardens are French in style and were laid out at the behest of the Marquis Jean de Mesgrigny. The large pond by the castle is filled with water from the neighboring river, the Rhosnes. On May 28, 1940, the castle was the scene of an important historical event: the Belgian capitulation to the Germans was signed there. The castle is not open to the public... but from the street side, you get a beautiful view of the castle and its reflection in the pond. For a few years now, wine has been cultivated on the castle estate. In 2022, the first vines were planted on the estate, located on a south-facing slope with a well-draining loamy-calcareous soil. On an area of three hectares, there are approximately 18,000 Chardonnay and 2,000 Pinot Meunier vines, which equates to a relatively high planting density of around 6,600 vines per hectare compared to the Belgian average. The chosen rootstocks and planting density are intended to produce grapes with a high concentration. The estate focuses primarily on the production of still wines from a single grape variety. Source: Wikipedia

The Pays des Collines (Land of Hills) is a land of legends and folklore. In Ellezelles, witches still haunt the village, and their representations can be seen in front of the church… They serve as a reminder that in 1610, five women were condemned to be burned at the stake for witchcraft. The Sentier de l’Étrange (Trail of the Strange) is an artistic walk that leads visitors to discover the works of Jacques Vandewattyne (1932-1999), also known as Watkyne, who resurrected all these myths and beliefs, passed down orally since time immemorial.

Michel Raulier: The Nail Tree of Stambruges Tree worship in our region is very ancient. Proof of this is the discovery in Blicquy, in the place called "Ville d'Anderlecht," of a set of 120 posts up to 90 cm in diameter. These may have served as supports for offerings, as evidenced by the numerous iron pins found in the filling holes. This could correspond to an artificial sacred grove housing deities, similar to Lucan's description of petrified forests in Pharsalia. In the past, trees, with their longevity and majestic shape, aroused a sense of sacredness in the minds of our ancestors. They were also believed to be capable of helping people solve their problems, particularly health problems. Many customs exist: walking around the tree, driving nails to fix the ailment, and tying cloths or fabrics to bind it. These trees were often Christianized by the installation of religious images or a chapel nearby. One example among others is that of Notre Dame de Foy. In Foy, near Dinant, a woodcutter discovered a 15th-century statuette in the heart of a very ancient oak tree in 1609. Long forgotten, the figurine bearing the image of the Virgin had been placed in a niche carved into the trunk. Over time, the wood completely covered it and erased its memory. In Stambruges, there is one of these remarkable trees, and beside it is a chapel, called "the chapel of Erconpuch" or, by another name, "the chapel of Arc-au-Puche," dedicated to the Virgin Our Lady of Arc-au-Puits, formerly called the Virgin of the Woods.

Please note that depending on the plantations, currently corn, the view is obstructed.

A remarkable journey due to its landscapes, its relief, its fields and its farms

Walk the roads around for a better view.

Very beautiful brick castle, typical of Belgian architectural heritage

The Saint-Luc de Flobecq church is a historic building whose origins date back to the 12th century. Initially attached to the abbey of Saint-Martin de Tournai, it retains the base of its tower in Collines sandstone and limestone from this Romanesque period. The church has undergone several modifications over the centuries, integrating Gothic elements and successive renovations to maintain its architectural heritage.